MIMClips Only Frangible Devices to Pass New FEI Testing Standards

MIMclip technology will be used at all levels of international eventing competition (CCI1*-CCI5*) as new FEI rules governing cross-country fences came into force on January 1st, 2021. To date, the Swedish-made frangible devices were the only ones to pass the new FEI testing standards.

All new cross-country jumps made after January 1 which can be built as frangible fences must incorporate frangible technology; six types of MIMclip have passed the FEI Eventing Risk Management Group’s tests.

They include a new, yellow-coloured MIMclip which releases when triggered with a lower amount of force than the traditional red MIMclips, and which is to be used on fences jumped at an angle, such as corners, and is also for table fences.

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MIMclips are the brainchild of Swedish inventor Mats Björnetun, whose company MIM Construction AB tests and manufactures safety devices for many well-known car makers. His passion for eventing started in the early 1990s, when he became an event organiser, and led to his realisation that he had the expertise and the facilities to help the sport become safer and reduce the risk of rotational falls of horse and rider while maintaining its integrity.

Geoff Sinclair, chairman of the FEI Eventing Risk Management Group, said: “MIM’s people have worked really closely with members of the Risk Management Group and the two FEI-approved inspection authorities, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, and Mats Björnetun has been incredibly cooperative in providing what the sport of eventing needs.”

The FEI are releasing clear instructions for the fitting of MIMclips – an advantage of which is that they are very easy to replace by course officials, fence-builders and jump judges.

“The correct frangible devices, used and fitted correctly, will make a big impact on the sport; it has been hard to find something that works well with corner fences and angled fences, and MIM has come up with something,” said Geoff Sinclair. “An enormous amount of effort has been put into this.”

Andrew Nicholson, former world number one event rider, winner of nine CCI5* events and renowned cross-country trainer, said: “At the big events I have ridden at, MIMclips seem to be the technology that works the best; they are activated when needed and not unnecessarily, which is important for the integrity of the sport. The people at MIM have shown they have the know-how and the technology and are open to ideas; they listen to people within the sport and clearly work hard at producing the technology the sport needs as it develops.”

MIMclip technology will soon be possible to purchase from the company’s website, mimclip.mimsafe.com, where videos explaining more about MIMclips, their uses and how to fit them correctly are also available.