FRANGIBLE TECHNOLOGY
The USEA Foundation is focused on raising funds to pay for vital research, and safety device installation for all eventing competitions in the United States. The USEA Foundation has raised more than $800,000 for frangible technology. With those funds, the Foundation has conducted several efforts to reduce the risk for horses and riders competing in the sport. Examples of USEA Foundation funded efforts include:
· For over a decade, the USEA Inc. along with the USEA Foundation and U.S. Equestrian have committed funding to provide free frangible equipment to licensed USEA/USEF events.
· The USEA Collapsible Fence Technology Study was conducted through the University of Kentucky in 2016-2018 by Dr. Suzanne Weaver Smith and Shannon Wood. Thanks to the generous support of our members, and all who love eventing, the USEA Foundation was able to raise a total of $160,000 to fully fund the study. The study has concluded, a summary of the study’s work can be viewed here.
· The Frangible Technology Fund was established following the conclusion of the Collapsible Fence Technology Study to continue to raise funds to support research into frangible technologies that will continue to build on the work of the Collapsible Fence Technology Study. The Frangible Technology Fund increased the scope of the study and expanded to include additional research projects on the USEA Cross-Country Safety Committee's agenda.
· In March 2020, a group of event organizers launched a GoFundMe campaign in response to Katharine Morel and Kerry On’s devastating accident at the Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials on February 29 in Altoona, Florida. In partnership with the USEA Foundation Frangible Technology Fund, an initiative was created to raise $500,000 for the construction of frangible fences on cross-country courses at the Preliminary level and above around the country. With the support of the eventing community and a matching donation from the Manton Foundation, that goal was reached in less than 12 months.
· In 2023, the USEA Foundation Trustees committed an additional $150,000 towards the installation of frangible devices at recognized competitions, and they have committed to expand that investment in subsequent years. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that every fence at eventing competitions that is able to be frangible will be.
Grants applications for the Frangible Technology Fund can be found HERE.
