Chinese rider Hua Tian fell off horse during the cross country phase of the Olympic eventing at the Beas River equestrian arena Monday morning.

Chinese rider Hua Tian fell off horse during the cross country phase of the Olympic eventing at the Beas River equestrian arena Monday morning.

Chinese rider Hua Tian, who saddled with the hope of the host nation at the Beijing Olympic Games, fell off horse while trying to clear hurdles during the cross-country phase of the Olympic eventing at the Beas River equestrian arena Monday morning.

Both Hua and his horse Chico were not injured. Hua looked very sad when he stood up.

New rules announced by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on June 6, say any rider falling at a jump in the cross-country or show jumping phases will be eliminated.

The rule was enforced at all FEI events from August 1, including the 2008 Olympics.

FEI spokesman Malina Gueorguiev said earlier that the adoption of the rules are aimed at protecting riders from injury.

"It is purely to do with medical safety", said the spokesman.

"You may have concussion and, if you carry on to the next jump, you could have a serious accident," said Gueorguiev.

At the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, 2006, South Korean rider Kim Hyung Chil, 47, was killed after his horse Bundaberg Black was caught on an obstacle in wet and difficult conditions and fell onto him during the cross-country event.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)