British Eventing (BE) has amended its rule book to make it clear that bitless bridles are acceptable for showjumping and cross-country.
It follows an incident when competitor Mark Smith was wrongly banned from the showjumping because his horse was wearing a bitless bridle.
BE apologised. But on 20 July at Aston-le-Walls (2), Georgina Mckeown – who also competes in a bitless bridle – was told by a BE steward she could not go cross-country in the open novice.
She was eventually allowed to run and finished sixth on Del Piero.
Chris Farr of BE said: “The resultant rule change was appropriate, understandable and enforceable.
“I can confirm it has been published on the website and sent to all BE officials.”
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (3 August 2012)
