How dangerous?

[dieseldog]

My sister pointed out to me a report in H&H about how someone won the U21 OI at Thirlestane with only one rein. The other one broke half way round. in the riders own words, it happened just before 2 difficult fences the corner and the table and then after those he had another 6 fences to jump.

I'm not saying that the guy wasn't a good rider etc but eventing is a dangerous sport and if someone is going around with only one rein they are more likely to have an accident than someone with 2.

I think that he should have been pulled up and not allowed to continue

 

[MissDeMeena]

You can't really write one rule for one bit of tack, and another for another!
I'm sure you remember Mark Todd getting round Badminton with only one iron!!
It's up to the individual rider at that time, he obviously felt he had enough control!

 

[beckymed]

i was at an event once when a horse stopped at a fence got the bridle caught on something and the rider was still on then the horse bolted bk to the lorry park and the rider had to bail and jump off, luckily both were fine

 

[lil_northener]

I swear i read somewhere someones saddle sliiped in the jump off of a fairly big class but he carried on with the saddle on the side of the horse.

Either won or was highly placed but they wouldn't let him have his place because of unsafe riding!!

 

[MillionDollar]

Yeh i think that was Harvey Smith. The girth straps broke so he pulled up, gave the saddle to the course builder and carried on bareback, and of course won!!!

As for the guy winning with one rein, i think its the individuals decision and it just shows what an excellent rider he is!

 

[PapaFrita]

My grandfather once showed me a photo of him completing a round SJing with one rein... it was about 1.2m if I recall. I would definitely have stopped! Or tried to.

 

[CastleMouse]

Harvey Smith continued his round without a saddle!