2015 USEF statistics for eventing

and USEA Safety Task Force

• Number of competitions in national eventing competitions 2015

• Number of starters in national horse trials 2015

• Number of rider falls per level in National horse trials 2015

• Number of horse falls per level in national horse trials 2015

University of Kentucky Frangible/Deformable Fence Technology Research: Past Efforts and Next Steps

USEA Cross Country Course Design and Fence Construction Safety Task ForceandSuzanne Weaver Smith, PhDDonald and Gertrude Lester Professor of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Kentucky

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USEA Cross Country Design and Fence Construction Safety Taskforce» Dr. Kathleen Becker, veterinarian, Masters in engineering, currently president of Häst PSC manufacturer of large

animal rescue equipment» Sarah Broussard, organizer Of Rebecca Farm, VP of safety for USEA, Member of USEA Board of Governors,

Member USEF Eventing Technical Committee» Tremaine Cooper, competitor, 3*/4* FEI course designer, course builder » Andy Griffiths, international FEI TD, Chairman IEOC, FEI Development Officer for the FEI, former international

competitor» Jay Hambly, FEI "I" international cross country course designer,International cross country course builder, Equine

Canada course advisor and designer, Advanced level event rider, A level pony club» Jonathan Holling, international competitor, ICP level 4 certified instructor, Member USEF Technical Committee,

currently owns and operates Holling Eventing in Ocala Florida, surrounds himself with really smart people» Malcolm Hook, FEI TD, Member USEF Technical committee, Member USEF Safety committee, FEI National safety

officer» Lesley Grant-Law,magna cume laude with honors under-graduate degree international relations and philosophy,

summa cume laude with a masters in international relations specializing in human rights, long or short listed for Canadian Event team 5 times, placed at the 3 and 4 star level, numerous young event horse winners, currently runs Law Eventing based in Ocala Florida

» Doug Payne, USEF judge and TD, degree in mechanical engineering, member of USEA Board of Governors, international competitor, ICP certified instructor and trainer

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Aerospace Technologies for Sports Designs/Safety

• Aerospace technologies such as computer modeling, composite materials, testing techniques, risk analysis and reduction, and frangible designs are used in sports from golf and skiing to auto racing.

• Frangible/other technologies in aerospace applications include:– Frangible bolts for launch vehicle release– Frangible unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or “drones”) for safety– Rip-stitch technologies for parachute harness cushioning– Reusable spring-loaded deployment release mechanisms

Suzanne Smith Introduction• UK College of Engineering Faculty since 1990 (25 years)• Computer modeling and testing data analysis for vibration of the Hubble Space Telescope, Mir Space Station, International Space Station and first US small drone system (early 1980’s) • Research includes dynamics modeling and testing for cross-country fences, deployable-wing unmanned aircraft, cable-stayed bridges and a variety of other structural dynamics projects• “Married Kentucky”

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2009-2011 ObjectivesThe overall objective was to evaluate frangible and

deformable designs for improved rider and horse safety.

Study Overview- Laboratory and field testing of prototype devices- Analysis and design of new concepts- Collaboration with BE and other researchers- Demos and info for course builders/designers- Technical Advisory Group for FEI Standard development

2009 Emphases- Understanding contact forces and testing options- Hinged gate analysis and testing- Design options for EPS foam logs and timbers2010 Emphases- Device design, testing and demonstrations- Pathfinder analysis/testing of horse motion2011 Emphases- FEI Device Standard Technical Advisory Group and device testing

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Key IdeasFall Statistics indicate that rotational falls occur rarely, but the consequences are

very often catastrophic for the horse or rider or both. On-course device activation statistics should be related.

Course Designers have said that horses never experience rotational falls without rider influence. All designers and builders that we met were working to design questions and construct fences to avoid rotational falls.

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Stills (4 similar falls) from 2010 Rolex video, Horse Falls at the “Hollow”, with no downward contact force and no device activation

All designers and builders that we met were working to design questions and construct fences to avoid rotational falls. However, some fences are repeatedly problematic. This one was outfitted with original frangible pins.

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Stills from 2006 Rolex water fall video

Horizontal activation of safety device in similar setting

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Two Views of Safety Devices: Mechanisms vs. Materials

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2010 Analysis and Comparison of CM Data• Time Histories from 2008/2009 Top-20 impacts from Competitive Measures

research for British Eventing• Summary Data from 2008/2009 impacts• Examined force, force angle, left-right position along rail, impulse, more

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Significant differences are found in angle and impulse- 2008 impacts centered around 50 degrees above horizontal; 2009 impacts centered around 20 degrees- 2008 Top-20 impulses ranged from 100-1000 N-s, with most <500 N-s; 2009 Top-20 impulses were <100 N-s

Top-20 Impact Angles

2008

2009

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Collapsible Table Interesting initial conceptCollapsible Table ½-Scale Model-Activates with horizontal force, but not vertical- Resettable without new parts- Moving mass of full scale is a consideration

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Recommendations for Future ResearchFilling in the Missing Pieces for Improved Eventing Safety: Horse/Fence Interaction in Rotational Fall Dynamics•Task 1 – Phased Development of Validated Models

Sequence of increasingly complex models, validated with data from Tasks 2-4 to identify key parameters in device performance and for design guidance to reduce incidence of rotational falls•Task 2 – Revisit BE Non-rotational Contact Forces

Sub-categorize contact force and impulse data•Task 3 – Video Analysis of Rotational Falls

Extract approach speeds and rotational speeds•Task 4 – Expanded Literature Review

Relevant sports safety, overturning analyses, inertia•Task 5 – Review Safety Statistics

Compare original fall stats to device activation counts

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The Future direction of cross country safety

» Research into types of falls and fences that are causing serious or fatal accidents

» Development and use of reverse deformable technology, and it's correct implementation

» Education of course designers and builders» Development of other safety equipment eg. ..air

jackets ..back protectors ..protective clothing» Continued development of all safety aspects in the

sport and the funding of such projects

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Summary• Previous international efforts advanced safety technology to

address rotational falls, but our understanding of the motion and forces between the horse and fence remains incomplete.

• This project will fill in the missing pieces. As a result, the sport will see improved safety via the following:– Proper use of existing frangible devices to increase their impact for safety– More complete understanding of the benefits of geometric safety designs

to enable their inclusion in fences that are not amenable to other options– Requirements for frangible/deformable and resettable fence designs to

increase course design options– Education of participants, designers, builders and others

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