United States Eventing Association

Did you know that the United States has more frangible fences than any other country? Frangible technology has been around for nearly 100 years with the British Pin taking the honors as the first formal frangible device. The study of frangible fences has continued in the last decade, including the USEA Collapsible Fence Technology Study which was conducted through the University of Kentucky from 2016-2018.

Effective Dec. 1, 2023, USEF rule EV145.8 will require, whenever possible, new cross-country obstacles (for which frangible devices are appropriate) to be constructed with FEI approved frangible technology for the Training level and above (previously it was Modified and above).

In December 2020, Dr. Erin Contino, a practicing veterinarian and an active eventer in Area IX, gave a presentation at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Virtual Convention on advances in safety in the sport of three-day eventing.

In less than a year the USEA Foundation, USEA, and a group of passionate stakeholders have managed to raise $500,000 to build frangible fences thanks to donations from USEA members and eventing enthusiasts around the country. This money has gone directly to 116 different USEA recognized events with 151 frangible tables, 53 oxers, and 34 gate/wall fences already out on course – all built with grants distributed by the USEA Foundation.

In this video presentation, FEI Course Designer Tremaine Cooper explains the uses and designs of frangible technology. Learn the differences in frangible devices, how course designers incorporate these devices into courses, and overall course design. This educational video examines several jumps that were used on course at Morven Park.

Shannon Wood, a graduate student in the mechanical engineering program at the University of Kentucky, has published a thesis entitled “Safety Concepts for Every Ride: A Statistical Ensemble Simulation to Mitigate Rotational Falls in Eventing Cross-Country.”

We asked – you answered – and as a result, the USEA Foundation’s Frangible Technology Fundraising Initiative is closing in on its goal of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS! You, our members, made that happen, and there are not enough thank yous in the world to show you how much we value you.

The USEA Foundation has received pictures of the first frangible table built using funds donated by you to the Frangible Technology Fund. The fence was built by Andy Bowles of Burleson, Texas, co-chair of the Frangible Technology Fund’s Review Committee.

While eventing is currently on lockdown, the USEA Foundation, the USEA, and a group of organizers and eventing stakeholders have continued to work hard behind the scenes to make the sport safer for when the first horse is ready to leave the start box again. Today, the USEA Foundation is privileged to announce that the Manton Foundation has established a $250,000 matching grant to bolster fundraising efforts to improve safety on our cross-country courses.

At the end of last year, the USEA made a plea to our members to help us support a research study into collapsible and deformable fence construction. This was a concerted effort to improve safety in eventing by working towards eliminating rotational falls.