BE Safety Meeting at Stoneleigh next week - I've been invited!

[Festive_Felicitations]

Kerilli - My doubts about whether this is a practical suggestion come from design concerns. I don't see how it could be built and not be a liability in its self.
I have to admit my 1st mental picture came up with something that looked like it belonged to the Spanish Inquisition.

But having thought about it, I would still be concerned about it catching on things (trees/fences/horse hoof/studs). How you could design the hoops to go over a BP, but be tight enough to the body to not hinder arm movement and yet fit the varied shapes of the general public with out having them personally tailored to each rider.
Strenght of the material and behavoir on impact - If you had a series of hoops like external ribs and some point they would have to have a structure holding them in place (think backbone). To be strong enough to hold the hoops in place you would need a very rigid structure, which would surely inbibit movement or if you had something more flexible I would be concerned about it buckling.

You would have to cover the hoops with material to protect them and cover up any edges, once you include the supporting structure, you end up with something that can not be far off an Exo. and if combined with a 'standard' BP equally hot.

This is just my random musings, if there are rational answers to any of the above, or I am completely on the wrong track please let me know!

 

[kerilli]

Lu, the only reason i can think of which might hold water is that they wanted a current rider. Could be totally wrong though.

hottoddy, in the notes from the FEI Safety conference Jan 09, they specifically state that RIDER tiredness can be a factor. actually, if you don't mind, i think that could be the title of another thread...

OldGit, I think we need tiers within the tiers! We need Intro (Straightforward) and Intro (Technical, if the demand is there), then BE(100) Straightforward, and BE (100) Technical, then Novice (S) and (T), then Intermediate (2 tiers if necessary) then A.
Either not all to be qualifiers, only the T ones, OR more qualifying runs required, 6 xc clears at BE100 (at least 2 of which must be T), 6 Ns, ditto, etc.

Felicity - ah, okay, now i see why you thought i was joking about the hooped crush cage. i've only briefly had it explained, will ask further and try to see pics.
fwiw the Exo is not hot, in fact is it not as hot as my Rodney Powell bp, because it stands slightly off the body it allows a bit of air to circulate.
I do think they're trying to reinvent the wheel a bit, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Exo design, if they put money in to make a lighter alloy, and cleared up a few popular misconceptions, i think a lot more riders would get on board...