In the wake of the deaths of Canadian Katherine Morel and her thoroughbred, Kerry On, the U.S. Eventing Association’s chairman of cross-country safety says it’s time for action.
The mare and her rider were killed in a rotational fall at a table jump in the Intermediate section of the Rocking Horse event in Florida over the weekend.
While Jon Holling noted that the USEA and U.S. Equestrian Federation donate about $26,000 toward frangible technology grants directly to competitions, “it’s a really good start, but it’s not nearly enough.”
Here’s his appeal: “We need to raise some real money. We need to raise $500,000, so in three years’ time at Preliminary level and above, there are no longer tables on our courses that are not collapsible or frangible.”
As he notes, “it will take more than $500,000 in the end, but that’s a really good start and we need to get it done.” You can donate directly to the USEA, or via a group of eventers who are organizing a private fund. That money will be going directly to frangible technology.
“Let’s get this done. There’s no more excuses,” he insists.
While the federation and association manage a lot involved with this, he noted, “It’s not just up to them, it’s up to all of us. I’m tired of watching us die because we make a mistake, when there’s technology that will help. Let’s do it, so we don’t have to be jumping around over fences we know can be made safer.”