Between attempts to translate comments on the Michael Barisone threads and the Maestro - whoever the h e double hockey sticks that is, if the USDF/USEF members on COTH could take a moment and sign into the USDF website, select Competition, then select USEF Rule Changes, there are USEF DR proposed rules that would really make a difference to the future of small community based, USEF licensed dressage shows.
Specifically, DR126.5 would eliminate the requirement for there to be an EMT on grounds for 1 ring dressage shows. Yes, there are still safety measures in place. Costs for EMT services are now exceeding the cost for a S judge and TD.
Adding your support to DR 126.5 will help keep USEF 1 ring dressage shows on the calendar.
Thank you
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Sorry, no. I admire your commitment to keeping small dressage shows viable; but eliminating EMTs on the grounds is NOT the way to do it.
In any competition environment where a competitor could have a serious injury (ie, all of them) there should be an EMT on the grounds.
It’s wildly irresponsible to suggest otherwise.
Don’t make me list all the fit, highly competent professionals who have been injured schooling or at lower level competitions to make my point.
Competitions should have an EMT on the grounds. Period.
If that raises the entry fees, so be it.
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If you can’t afford an EMT on site, you can’t afford to run the show.
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I would not want to skimp on EMT services. Just like any professional, you pay for their knowledge and expertise. And hope you don’t need it.
Our EMT costs run far less than S judge and TD rates. Perhaps you can shop around?
(My SO is a paramedic, I see his costs as well)
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To be clear, eliminating the requirement for an EMT on the show grounds is already a rule for the USEF Lite H/J show system. There are additional safety protocols required, it’s not a free for all.
And you’re right - if you host a 1 ring USEF/USDF dressage show in a location where all licensed show officials need to fly into, air transportation, hotel accommodation, plus pay to rent the show facility, and the EMT service - even if everyone including the USEF licensed show manager is a volunteer and the awards are purchased at wholesale price - you will loose money if there are less than 40 tests per day.
So, why do it? Because the next closest show - schooling or otherwise - is 3+ hrs away and we’re trying to support the sport.
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I find it amusing that you thought the best way to get support for your idea was to mock a whole bunch of the people who post here.
A schooling show does not have these requirements so if your goal is to host a show where there is none then go that route.
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There is currently no “Lite H/J” show system. That is a rule change proposal that the H/J committee disapproved. USEF might push it through anyway, but it is not currently a thing that exists. My reading of the proposal for it would replace the current Outreach program, which, in conjunction with licensed/rated shows, does require an EMT. Those Outreach shows run independently are “strongly encouraged” to have emergency personnel–I’m not sure I’ve been to a hunter schooling show that hasn’t hand one, Outreach or otherwise, as my local H/J organizations also require them.
I will go comment on this rule change proposal, which I must have missed when going through them the other day–to say I would not be willing to attend a competition without adequate emergency personnel.
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I have not so fond memories of the individual who, at X fell off his horse, and concussed. I spent the next couple hours ln the ambulance, and ER till parents arrived from an hour and 1/2 away. Meanwhile neglecting my students.
PS Rider recovered.nicely.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this would not be a change for the better.
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Maybe things are different elsewhere, but in Calif. we couldn’t get insurance coverage for even our local county shows (non-USEF rated) without having an EMT on site. As I recall, we just charged an extra couple of bucks per horse as an EMT fee. Yeah, I know. Another fee to add to the list. But better than risking a bad injury without adequate onsite care.
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I know that making the sport more affordable/accessible in the USA is a hot topic, and worth discussing, but I’m glad that other posters feel the same way that I do. When it comes to cost savings, or cutting corners, I wouldn’t do it by eliminating the EMS requirement. No way. IMO, it’s rather foolish.
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The phrase, “Penny wise, pound foolish” comes to my mind!
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The best outcome for everyone on the show grounds is to have an EMT on site. Non-riders could need medical attention too, be it a heart attack, seizure, etc.
Instead of always going to the default solution of adding another fee for exhibitors to cover,
find a sponsor who will underwrite the cost, either for one show, or a series.
Maybe someone in the medical field or a medical practice (dentist office, etc) who has a relative showing would be interested.
Underwriting an EMT would make more sense to them, instead of sponsoring a class.
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This sounds like (a) a terrible idea and (b) a huge liability risk for show organizers. EMTs should absolutely be on site, IMO.
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As someone who was terribly injured at a horse show (three surgeries followed), I’d like even tighter requirements. I’d like shows to be held within only one hour of access to a Level 1 trauma center. I was misdiagnosed by a small Level IV. I also cannot believe there is not a rule requiring at least ONE mounting block in every warm up arena. I’d be happy to participate in drafting that rule.
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Is there room for situational judgment in rule approval? My farm is 12 minutes from 2 different major university hospitals. If one of my neighbors wants to host a dressage show without emts on grounds, I’ve got no problem with that.
Could be interesting to think about mapping the risk of needing emt care on site with how many competitors are showing, and what the response time for critical care would be. Get some actuaries to propose a chart of number of competitors: distance to medical care that seems reasonable. Also think about whether ambulance/ emt/ paramedic care is best use of money in case oxygen/transport is necessary, or would training a couple people as first responders who could recognize heat stroke, bandage basic wounds, and refer sketchy situations out to more highly trained care be a reasonable option.
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A few things come to mind.
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We have had 2 FEI competitors sustain TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) AT THE WALK. CKD and Silva. The ability to get medical care, quickly, is critical.
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I have hosted schooling shows in the past. The 2nd year, a horse got off the trailer, freaked out and double-barreled his 16 year old rider/handler - kick in the face, in the ribs. We had ambulance there in 10 minutes, As Jeanette said, availability of emergency medical care varies by site. (we found pieces of his bridle all over the farm the next day). She recovered but needed multiple surgeries.
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The OP is suggesting that shows that are a distance away from others have less EMT support. If anything, I would suggest they have a greater need for EMT on site due to the distance and availability of emergency support
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Well that seems overly dramatic and unnecessary… Guess no one in the NW should have access to shows?
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Edit: deleted my rant because why bother.
No, actually. Horse sport is very dangerous. The shows make you sign a waiver. Why not make sure that you are going to have access to medical care in a fast enough window that you won’t end up a vegetable if it happens to you? I have always been stumped by the things that the organizations deem necessary for safety vs. those that are actually necessary for safety. AND FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, MAKE COMPETITIONS HAVE MOUNTING BLOCKS. (BTW, this is not how I was injured–I was trampled and injured while handwalking my GP horse in the early morning at a fairground facility where regional championships were being hosted, when kids from the local high school marched over in costumes for a fundraiser and scared my horse. My ankle was crushed. I was seen by a weekend intern who couldn’t read the xray and dispensed pain killers and a walking boot two sizes too big, and crutches by the Level IV three bed local hospital. Because of the misdiagnosis, I ended up with three surgeries over two years.)
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