Thank you for registering your interest in the cross-country study. To confirm, we are currently looking for riders who are competing at any of the events we are researching at. Listed below:
- 28-29th Sept – Little Downham (Ely)
- 12-13th Oct – Little Downham (Ely)
Please read the information below carefully
We will provide you with a paper copy of this document at the weekend and you will be asked to sign it before taking part.
You can find us in a green tent in the lorry park or by the organiser’s tent/hut.
You can identify a member of the research team by our clothing, which is navy, and says ‘Ask me about our XC Speed study’ on the back (see image below).
We can be contacted at the weekend using this phone number: 07547813478
Alternatively, please contact dm@davidmarlin.co.uk with any questions.
Thank you for your interest in our study!
PIS/CF Horse Owner V4.0 04.10.2023
Association between cross-country speed and performance information
Version 1, 11/04/2024
You are being invited to participate in a research study. Before you decide if you wish to take part, it is important that you understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and if you would like more information or if there is anything that you do not understand, please contact us using the contact information below. Please also feel free to discuss with others if you wish.
Thank you for reading this.
What is the purpose of the study?
The study is being undertaken by Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire and Dr David Marlin from Animalweb Ltd.
This study aims to assess whether there is any association between riding speed crosscountry and performance. The research project has been designed to collect equine GPS data, to enable the assessment of speed during cross-country eventing competition.
Why have I been invited to take part?
You are receiving an invitation because you are competing at a British Eventing competition in the UK. We hope to recruit as many horses and their riders as possible to take part in the study.
To be eligible to take part in the study participants need to meet the following criteria:
- You are competing at the current British Eventing competition.
What will happen if I take part?
You will first be asked to provide consent that the horse(s) under your care can be involved in this project and that you consent to support data collection by riding your horse. You will be asked to provide some basic details about your horse(s) (including age, breed, height, sex and weight).
In this study, you will be asked to support data collection by wearing a Catapult vest with a GPS sensor attached, during the cross-country phase of competition. The vest is designed to be worn during sport so is lightweight, breathable and has been worn by riders during cross-country competition previously, without disruption. You are welcome to try the vest and sensor on before deciding whether you would like to take part.
The device will record your horse’s speed during the cross-country phase of competition. Once you have completed your cross-country round, please return the device to us. We will download the data after all competition at the current event has ceased.
Do I have to take part?
No, it is entirely up to you if you want your horse(s) to participate and whether you want to support data collection for the study or not. If you do agree for your horse to participate, you will be able to withdraw your horse at any point without giving a reason. If you decide not to provide consent for your horse to participate in this study or withdraw your horse from the study, there will be no penalty or loss.
What will happen to the animal data collected during this study?
Data from the GPS device will be directly collected onto a password protected computer and saved directly to a secure OneDrive folder held at UCLan. Anonymised data will be held for 7 years from the end of the study unless you consent for the data being used for future research. The anonymised data set may be used to support other research within the same theme in the future including with researchers based in other countries, but it will not be possible to identify any individual horse/participant from that data set. This is in accordance with the open data policy.
How will my data be used?
The University processes personal data as part of its research and teaching activities in accordance with the lawful basis of ‘public task’, and in accordance with the University’s purpose of “advancing education, learning and research for the public benefit”.
Under UK data protection legislation, the University will be acting as Data Controller for personal data collected as part of the University’s research. The University privacy notice for research participants can be found on the attached link HERE.
We will ask you to complete a consent form. Only members of the project team at UCLan will have access to your contact details.
Electronic consent forms will be saved onto a secure file saving server (OneDrive) at UCLan. Only the research team at UCLan will have access to the consent forms. The consent forms will be stored (separate from any other data collected for 7 years) after the end of the study and will then be destroyed in line with University policy.
As part of this study, we will ensure full anonymity for all horses and riders participating in this study. You will not be identified in any future publications.
Are there any risks in taking part?
There are no perceived risks of taking part in the study. You are responsible for any risks during event (cross-country) riding and take full responsibility for any equestrian activities or eventing competitions that you partake in.
Are there any benefits from taking part?
There are no anticipated direct benefits to you, or the horse(s) involved. However, the data collected will provide understanding on any associations between riding speed crosscountry and performance. This information is important to inform risk management, athlete education and performance strategy. As such, the project hopes to ultimately benefit equine health, welfare, and sport performance. In addition, we can offer you the personal
PIS/CF Horse Owner V1.0 11.04.2024 results from your horses GPS (speed) data, we can provide you with this within 4 weeks of data capture.
What will happen to the results of the study?
The results of the study will be written for publication in professional journals, as well as layperson articles, reports or other media (e.g. video). Results may also be presented at scientific conferences. Horses, their owners and riders will not be identifiable from the results in any publication or presentation.
It will not be possible to provide you with direct results of each individual horse. However, if you would like a copy of the overall study findings, please email Dr Heather CameronWhytock at Hcameron-whytock@uclan.ac.uk after January 2025.
What will happen if I want to stop taking part?
Even if you consent to take part, you are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason by contacting Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock. If you wish to withdraw, please note that any data collected up to period of withdrawal will be used but no further data will be collected.
Who has reviewed this study?
The study has been reviewed and approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body at the University of Central Lancashire [Project reference: RE_].
What if I am unhappy or if there is a problem?
If you are unhappy, or if there is a problem, please feel free to let us know by contacting Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock via Hcameron-whytock@uclan.ac.uk and they will try to help. If you remain unhappy or have a complaint which you feel you cannot come to us with, then please contact the Ethics, Integrity and Governance Unit at UCLan via OfficerforEthics@uclan.ac.uk.
Who can I contact if I have further questions?
Principal Investigator:
Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Hcameron-whytock@uclan.ac.uk.
Association between cross-country speed and performance
Owners Consent Form
DOWNLOAD THIS CONSENT FORM HERE.
| No. | Statement | Please initial each box |
| 1 | I confirm that I have read and understood the information sheet for the above study, or it has been read to me. I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and have had these answered satisfactorily. | |
| 2 | I confirm I have legal authority to provide consent for the animal(s) in this study | |
| 3 | I have been advised about any risks to animal’s health and well-being and any discomfort which may result. I have been given the opportunity to ask questions on all aspects of the study and have understood the advice and information given as a result. | |
| 4 | I understand that I am free to withdraw at any time during the study without needing to justify my decision, without prejudice and without my legal rights or animal’s care being affected. | |
| 5 | I understand that if I withdraw and/or withdraw my horse(s) from the study, the data collected prior to the withdrawal will be retained but no further data will be collected. | |
| 6 | I understand that the GPS data collected will be used in various anonymised outputs, including layperson reports/articles and scientific publications and presentations or other media (e.g. video). | |
| 7 | I agree to donate the data (anonymised) collected from my horse(s) and GPS for this study to UCLan to be used in future research. | |
| 8 | I confirm that I have read and understood the above statements I have been given adequate time to consider my participation and I freely consent to my animal participating in this study. | |
| 9 | I understand that taking part in the study involves riding horses and wearing a vest to collect GPS data. | |
| 10 | I understand that my personal data, including this consent form, will be kept securely in accordance with data protection guidelines at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), and only be accessible to the immediate research team at UCLan. | |
| 11 | I understand the risks of eventing and take full responsibility for any eventing competitions entered. | |
| 12 | I understand that I can request a copy of the results from the Principal Investigator. | |
| 13 | I agree to take part in the above study. | |
| 14 |
Participant:
Date:
Signature:
Participant:
Date:
Signature:
Principal Investigator: Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock
School of Veterinary Medicine University of Central Lancashire
Hcameron-whytock@uclan.ac.uk
Horse details:
| Age: | |
| Breed: | |
| Height: | |
| Sex: | |
| Weight: |
Please state the main discipline of the horse:
Additional notes:
