Calls to ban showjumpers from using phones while riding at competitions

GIRL ON HORSE COMPETITION RIDING GROOM LADY ON PHONE IPHONE SOCIA MEDIA DIGITAL HORSE PONY WINTER COAT RUG OVER SHOULDER SCREEN STOCK

(Image credit: Lucy Merrell)

Calls have been made to ban showjumpers from using mobile phones while mounted at FEI competitions.

Last week the first draft of the proposed 2024 FEI rules changes was released to national federations and stakeholders. Among the rule changes put forward for showjumping was a proposal around the use of mobile phones when riders are on board at competitions.

Under the FEI rules review process, national federations and stakeholders had until 1 March to put forward proposals. The federations and stakeholders now have until 16 August to submit amendments and feedback, following which a final draft of the proposed rule changes will be released on 25 October. The rules will then go to a vote at the FEI general assembly in November, before coming into force next year.

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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

Calls to ban showjumpers from using phones while riding at competitions

The Dutch national federation KNHS proposed that the wording “no use of phone by hand while mounted” be added to the jumping regulations. The same proposal was not put forward for eventing or dressage.

A KNHS spokesman told H&H the federation’s jumping committee feels that using a phone while riding “causes distractions and therefore is a safety risk”.

“Apart from being a safety risk, we strongly believe that it is bad form and [a bad] example to the public to have your phone in hand in the warm-up or training arena. Riders should be 100% focused on their horse while riding,” said the spokesman.

Despite being asked, the spokesman did not explain why the rule proposal had only been submitted for showjumping.

The FEI feedback to the proposal was that the FEI jumping committee is not in favour of this change and believes that “the stewards can warn an athlete if this behaviour is unsafe”.

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