Statement by Mark Phillips--

Eventing is a sport I love and have been involved in personally and professionally for more than 40 years. I am always deeply concerned whenever an athlete or horse is injured while competing regardless of circumstances and even more so when it occurs on a course I designed. In every course I have ever designed the top priority has always been for the health and safety of the athletes and the horses.

Our great sport is evolving and becoming more technically challenging which actually is translating into a safer ride as the athletes respect issues of speed, fence type and their own skill level. I believe our sport overall is becoming safer, but even one accident must cause us all to be concerned and to review every element to continuously improve and preserve the joy of Eventing for professional and amateur alike.