The 2021 event season sees a team from Nottingham Trent University, University of Central Lancashire and others, measuring the cross country ground conditions at a variety of events throughout the country.

Information on the study and who can take part

As part of the study the research team are looking for riders who are aged over 18 years old and riding at Intermediate level and above, to help by submitting information for a rider perception study. Any rider who agrees to participate in this season-long study will be asked to assess the XC ground at any events where the team take ground measurements. We use accepted criteria for assessing the ground as follows: 

1)  Impact firmness: the shock experienced by the horse and rider when the hoof hits the surface

2)  Cushioning: how much the surface is supportive compared to how much it gives when riding on it

3)  Responsiveness: how active or springy the surface feels to the rider

4)  Grip: how much the horse’s foot slides during landing, take off and turning

5)  Uniformity: how regular the surface feels as the horse moves across the entire cross country course

6)  Overall impression

In addition, we are also surveying the different types of studs used by riders at each event. The survey itself should take well under ten minutes to complete and is likely to take significantly less time as riders get used to completing it.

The team have put together a short YouTube video which can be accessed by clicking this link:  https://youtu.be/gcEFCQJq_IE. The video provides an overview of this work however we will send a more detailed written assessment criteria to those who agree to participate in this important study. Rider perception data will be collected via online methods such as mobile phones or tablets or via paper survey forms and all participants will be assigned a unique rider code to preserve anonymity.

The event organisers will not be party to any data. The team will measure a selection of courses during the season with a variety of mechanical test devices and aim to tie in the objective data obtained with rider perception of the surface. The ability to assess and maintain good cross country ground is paramount for horse welfare and injury reduction and this vital work is endorsed by BE, the FEI and ERA. A significant amount of research has been conducted on all-weather jumping surfaces but to date there has been much less carried out on grass cross-country tracks, hence the need for this study. 

How to take part

Anyone wishing to participate in this survey are invited to email Mark Lucey, at luceyvet@gmail.com for more details and to sign up to participate. 

Mark noted: 'We hope that a good selection of riders can help us with this meaningful and influential work.'