Organisers of Reece’s Event Hire Perth Horse Trials Wooroloo 1, working together with international course designer Wayne Copping, are leading the way in eventing safety by installing the first MIM Clips seen on a cross country course in Western Australia.
The MIMSafe New Era Safety Clip is a frangible device which has been developed to reduce the risk of rotational falls during the cross country phase and is used internationally at many top events including the recent Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in the UK.
“We felt strongly that as organisers of Western Australia’s most prestigious event, we should be leading by example when it comes to horse and rider safety,” explains Brett Christie, chair of the Perth Horse Trials Association which organises Wooroloo 1. “Our fantastic course designer agreed and promptly shipped over some MIM Clips from his base in the Eastern States.”
Frangible devices can be used on a range of cross country fences including oxers, gates and corners. Riders who trigger the device by impacting the fence receive 11 penalties under FEI rules. Thanks to a solid construction with fixed hinges and a controlled movement when releasing the fence, reconstruction time is less than 30 seconds, minimizing interruptions to competitors on the course and making the clips popular with organisers of busy events.
“We are very pleased to see these MIM Clips in place at Wooroloo – rider feedback has already been very positive in the run up to the event and we are confident that Wayne’s innovative new cross country courses will be well received,” added Brett.
Reece’s Event Hire Wooroloo 1 takes place this weekend (13-14 May) at Wooroloo Prison Farm near Perth - our full wrap and photo gallery to come next week
