New frangible fence makes its British eventing debut

The trakehner, which is designed to collapse forwards and down under impact, will be in use at Osberton this week

- LUCY ELDER

FRANGIBLE trakehners will be used for the first time at a British international event.

Aspen Cooling Osberton International Horse Trials cross-country course-designer Stuart Buntine is among a team that has been working with Swedish inventor Mats Bjornetun, who is behind the MIM safety clip system used on many cross-country fences.

The log sits on a deformable structure designed by Mr Bjornetun, the same kind as the device used in frangible tables. The support structure is created to give way and collapse forwards and down if hit with force, with the overall aim to prevent horse falls.

"Mats has been pushing all this forward," Mr Buntine told H&H, crediting Mr Bjornetun for the "amazing job" he is doing in eventing safety.

Two deformable trakehners will feature on Osberton's (3-6 October) cross-country tracks; one in the two-star classes and one in the three-star.