BRITISH Eventing and British Riding Clubs have announced a ban on all helmet cameras as a precautionary measure until further research is completed on their safety.

Concerns were raised after a French journalist suggested a GoPro camera could have been a factor in Michael Schumacher’s condition.

However, equine organisations are worried that certain cameras could potentially put riders at risk of serious head injuries.

Hat cameras have become increasingly popular with event riders and BE introduced a regulation in 2013 stating that all competitors must seek permission to wear one.

A British Eventing spokesman said: “As a precautionary measure, pending the completion of an independent expert report on the safety of helmet cameras, the wearing of helmet cameras at all BE affiliated events has been prohibited with immediate effect. Therefore, permissions previously given by or on behalf of the chief executive to wear a head camera are withdrawn.”

British Eventing’s safety committee has engaged the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to conduct further research.

The British Riding Club’s governing bodies have also gone in line with BE on this ruling, a BRC Official Statement says: “In light of the precautionary decision by British Eventing to prohibit the wearing of helmet cams with immediate effect. British Riding Clubs have also followed this measure in the interest of safety and welfare of riders and horses. This is to allow for the independent completion of expert research to be concluded.

The spokesperson concluded “This decision will naturally cause some disappointment to those that use head cams to record their achievements but I am sure competitors will agree that safety has to be a top priority and it would be wrong to not take into account the current research and investigations on-going with the (TRL) Transport Research Laboratory. The ruling will be reviewed once the independent research is concluded”.