Rating System to improve Eventing safety tested in Britain

We have all seen the dangers of combinations who participate at an Eventing which has a level that is to high for the horse or for the rider. The British Eventing (BE) was concerned about the sport's image and for the safety of the riders, so decided to improve this. They are testing a new rating system this year that will be trailled at numerous eventing competitions in Great-Britain throughout the year.

The organization works together with Equirating, who has designed a safety-tracking method that will make the eventing sport more safe. It has been descibed as one of the most important changes in the history of eventing.

Horse and Hound reports that Eventing Ireland (EI) has already tested the ratings system in 2016, using it to create a “traffic light” entries system. This meant riders can see when attempting to enter an event whether their entry is marked as green (fine to enter), amber (a warning) or red (cannot enter). This adjusts depending on the horse’s ERQI rating, the level of class and which event the rider is trying to enter. Since it was introduced, there has been a 66% decrease in horse falls at national two-star level.

Before they can implement this system, the BE has to examine and evaluate the level of the course in order to create rating. They will rate the courses with difficult, average, and beginner. In this way riders can check on a list whether they are fit to ride this courses on the level of their other competitions or if it's better to start a class lower, a less difficult one in order to be safe.

They will have to make profiles of the riders en horses to check the experience of both parties in order to make their judgement. As always, there will be exemptions, but it will make the eventing sport a lot safer and better for horses and riders