John Michael Durr: Pretending Eventing Is Safe Is What Stops Us From Protecting Horses and Riders

This Week on In Stride Sinead Halpin Maynard sits down with John Michael Durr, fresh off designing the FEI courses at a Calgary-area facility's first international event since the 1970s, to talk candidly about why eventing is inherently unsafe, how awareness (not fear) is the tool that actually protects riders and horses, and what he'd change about how the sport structures itself.Meet the Guest: John Michael Durr John Michael Durr is an international event rider and show jumper who has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and, more recently, transitioned into FEI-level show jumping. He is an FEI course designer and serves on the USEA's Cross Country Safety Committee and Licensed Officials Committee, putting him at the center of ongoing conversations about rider and horse safety in the sport. Raised in California before building his career on both coasts, Durr now runs Durr Eventing, a training, competition, and sales business, with his wife, Kimmy Durr.In This Episode, Sinead and John Michael Discuss:Why Durr believes the sport needs to stop pretending jumping horses is "safe" and instead talk openly about mitigating real riskThe concept of awareness as a mental skill riders and coaches can train, separate from technical abilityFrangible technology as an "airbag," a tool that softens a fall but doesn't eliminate the risk in the first placeHis course design philosophy of low jumps and hard exercises, and why cross-country schooling culture needs a broader rethinkThe personal loss, twenty years ago, that first shaped his focus on safety, and how he's carried that forward into his work as a course designer and safety committee memberEpisode SponsorConnaway & Associates The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options.Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide Created by equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher, the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide app helps horse owners recognize the signs of a true emergency, know when to call the vet, and understand what to do while help is on the way.Download from the App Store or Google Play at EquineEmergencyApp.comIn Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQRide iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.Members also get:Weekly live Q&As with equestrian expertsExclusive podcast episodesDressage test prep resourcesA supportive learning communityStart your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com