Safety

Safety has always been a top priority for the Alberta Horse Trials Association, and we are committed to continuing to support and improve safety for both horse and rider in the sport of eventing. Iniatives, funding and education are all vital parts of reaching our goal. Here are some of the ways the AHTA is helping to improve safety in our sport. 

• Purchased AED’s and First Aid Kits to have on site at all AHTA clinics.
• Implemented new Medical Services Policy to provide a higher of standard medical services at each event, and offered funding of $1000 for BLS level services, or $1500 for ALS level services to assist event sites with the increased cost.
• Coordinated a bulk purchase of MIM Kits and Frangible Technology for each event site, and purchased extra inventory to have on hand so that event sites do not have to place their own orders.
• In 2021, $15,000 was provided to event sites to build frangible cross country fences.
• Provides Annual Funding to Event Sites so they can improve courses, build new, safer cross country jumps, and implement frangible technology. In 2022 we provided our event sites with over $70,000 of funding, and over the past 10 years, upwards of $380,000 in funding!
• Provided a one time $5000 EV105 Grant to each event site to assist in the building of EV105 jumps, a level created to increase safety and bridge the gap between EV100 and EV110.
• Offers Clinics across Alberta for all levels, to promote safe riding and proper education of horse and rider. This includes advertising clinics that are suitable for those New To Eventing, to ensure horses and riders have a safe and confidence building introduction to our sport.
• Organized a Cross Country Safety & Course Design Education Course with Dylan Barry, EC Cross Country Course Designer & Builder.
• Provide regular Standard First Aid Course with CPR & AED training to our members at a reduced rate.
• Provided a Fall Safe Course organized in conjunction with Pegasus Gymnastics.
• Encourages Coaching Certification and provides funding for those who are in the process of getting certified, and for continuing education once certified.
• Appoints Rider Representatives at each event to record rider feedback and any issues that arise on our new rider representative form.
• Created an Event Evaluation Form so members can give feedback and constructive criticism about different aspects of any event they attended.
• Provides in person and online Educational Opportunities to anyone interested, free of charge!

The AHTA has been collecting information from our event technical delegate reports, as well as the online scoring since 2019. We are starting to be able to report on some general safety trends at our events, such as rider falls, horse falls and eliminations in all 3 phases.

If you have any recommendations for safety iniatives please reach out to our Safety Director