BadEventer goes to the LandSafe – Reducing Rider Risk Clinic – Part 2

As excited as I was to sign up for the LandSafe clinic……

I really am a big chicken………..and of course the first step……..liability waiver………..

BadEventer = Massive scaredy cat

Fortunately they have a plan for that, and didn’t just toss us off the mechanical horse first thing!

But before I tell you the rest of my story…….

Safety in our sport and reducing rider risk is such an important topic to me that I’m going to make a rare exception to the BadEventer No-Real-Names rule.

The BadEventer stories have never used real names. Full disclosure, many of the “identifying details” of characters I describe are often changed to protect the innocent, or……. the not-so-innocent, in my tales.

So let me introduce for the first time some real names…..

This is about safety.

And reducing rider risk.

And saving lives.

So let’s start with the decidedly NOT fun part of this story.

If you’ve been around our sport for any length of time, you’ll quickly recognize these names. These are riders who died while eventing.

I truly believe this can change and that we don’t need to add any more names to this list. There are multiple pieces and parts to examine when it comes to reducing risk. While course design, fence construction, and qualifications get much deserved attention….. Safety is being suitably mounted on the “right horse” at the “right level” on the “right day”. In the summation….. nothing is more important to safety than rider responsibility.