Hidden Dangers During the Equipment Check…

Click here to read the complete article
140 – May/June, 2018

BY DELORES KUHLWEIN

The Olympic gelding bolted, escaping the grasp of the Swedish team trying to restrain him, and he raced through the show grounds, riderless, with the bridle flapping around his chest and legs. A simple mishap had occurred when the groom tried to remove the fly veil, causing the headstall to come off as well. The noseband had already been unfastened for the bit check by the FEI steward, so the surprised gelding resorted to his natural instinct to flee from fear. The jaunt taken by the gelding, Buriel KH, who represented Sweden with rider Juliette Ramel during the 2016 Rio Olympics, resulted in a horse owner’s worst nightmare: injury. Luckily, the rider was able to slip off the horse’s back in time, and she was uninjured. The unfortunate event made a splash in the headlines.

Becoming indifferent or casual about the regular occurrence of the bit check is human nature, but those in the know, our dedicated equipment judges, understand the importance of formality during the process. We talked to experts for advice.

THE EXPERTS:

Bob Kail – APHA, AQHA, NRHA, NSBA, and USEF accredited Judge and Equipment Judge at the AQHA Select World, Open and Amateur World, Arizona Sun Circuit, and All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Delena Doyle – AQHA, NSBA, NRCHA, APHA, ApHC, PHBA, PtHA, and ABRA accredited Judge and Appaloosa and Paint World Show Equipment Judge since 2003.
Mary Ann Fielitz – PtHA, IBHA, PHBA, and ABRA accredited Judge and Palomino and Pinto World Show Equipment Judge.
Mark Smith – APHA, ApHC, ABRA, IBHA, NSBA, PtHA, and PHBA accredited Judge and Equipment Judge for the Pinto World, Pinto Congress, and Palomino World.
Ron McMillian – Ring steward of multiple breed associations and prestigious World Shows

The Danger Game

As riders, we often get very comfortable and trusting with our horses, which is natural. So, when the bridle drop comes before entrance to the pen at the Congress or World Show, most riders don’t dismount, and the stewards have to check in so many horses that it’s difficult to reinforce. But might it be worth those few extra few seconds it takes to dismount – to keep both you and your horse safe?

Absolutely, says Bob Kail, who has experienced a horse getting loose in the warmup pen in the past during the bit check. “No one got hurt, but it was an out-of-control situation for a minute,” he says. “In NRHA competition, it is mandatory that all exhibitors dismount to check the bit. This rule is also mandatory in AQHA, [which many people may not know, since few comply] although we do make exceptions for disabled riders with the inability to dismount and remount, keeping in mind that safety is of the utmost importance while making these exceptions.”

Click here to read the complete article
140 – May/June, 2018