Rotational fall rates in eventing at all-time low – but more work ‘still to do’

frangible cross-country fences — The MIM frangible clip set on a cross-country fence. Library image.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Rotational fall rates reached an all-time low in international eventing in 2022.

Last year had a record number of events and starters, with 788 competitions and 21,560 starters – an increase of 19.4% on the number of competitions in 2021 and a 12.1% increase in starters.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS

Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.

Rotational falls in eventing at all-time low – but more work ‘still to do’

Rates of non-rotational horse falls at a cross-country fence are not as low as they were in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, but are lower than they were pre-pandemic and significantly below 2011, which was the first year of “realistic reliable data”.

With the exception of the two pandemic years, 2022 also marked the lowest number of horse falls and rotational falls in real terms since 2011.

Mr O’Connor said the reductions are “to be congratulated” but “there is still work to do”.

“Rotational falls have really reduced by a tremendous amount – we’re at our lowest rate,” he said.

“Everything that we’re doing from course-design to shapes of fences and frangible technology coming in, is what is driving that number down.”

Mr O’Connor also voiced concerns that he feels concussions may be under-reported. The FEI has collected concussion data since 2018. In 2022, 17 were reported – 10 linked to serious injury and seven to slight injury.

He added that his impression from dealing with other horse sports is that the figure is “underrated”, and questioned whether that is down to the reporting process or recognition of concussions.

You might also be interested in:

Calls for safety stirrups to be made compulsory in eventing

‘Hell no’ becomes ‘yes please’ on eventing flag rule debate