British Eventing announce new body protector rules

British Eventing (BE) has announced a new set of standards for body protectors worn by competitors, which comes into force from 1 January 2018.

Only BETA Level 3 body protectors from 2009 onwards will be accepted following the decision made by the BE Risk Management Committee and BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association).

The governing body will no longer accept the use of BETA Level 3 body protectors labelled 2000 and riders have until the start of 2018 to find a replacement.

Executive Director of BETA, Claire Williams believes it is time for an update.

“BETA 2000 has served us well since its introduction, however now there are garments potentially being used that are up to 16 years old, so well past their “use-by” date,” she said.

The announcement also comes in the same year new hat standards were introduced to ensure maximum safety for competing riders.

“General wear and tear over long periods as well as falls can have a detrimental effect on the ability of a garment to offer the protection needed, so the change to the BE rules is welcomed,” said Claire.

Further information on the new standards can be found here