The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that it will continue the Eventing Frangible Technology Grant Program. Organizers of USEF-licensed eventing competitions can apply for a grant to supplement the use of frangible devices.

“A frangible/deformable fence is defined as a fence that is designed to break and/or deform to help prevent somersault falls that are induced by contact of the horse with the fence,” according to the Fédération Equestre Internationale’s industry standards. “Currently, frangible/deformable fences operate either by removing the fulcrum point on the fence over which the horse rotates, and/or by limiting the force that the fence exerts on the horse.”

The ultimate goal with frangible technology is to provide a safer cross-country experience for and reduce the incidence of potentially fatal injuries to both horse and rider.

In June 2008, the USEF began supplying frangible pins at no cost to organizers of USEF-licensed eventing competitions. Over the past few years, a number of new frangible technologies have entered the market place, prompting the USEF Eventing Technical Committee to revisit the current program. The USEF Eventing Technical Committee felt that organizers should have access to these new technologies and encourage their usage