Understanding what makes an ideal surface for horses is essential for horse and rider safety, for reducing injury risk whilst still allowing horses to perform.
The FEI has invested in surface research for over 13 years, and objective assessment of surface properties and consistency in dressage, jumping, and eventing is now undertaken at almost all major competitions.
This week at Riesenbeck International in Germany, a large group of vets and scientists and other volunteers gathered to undertake an FEI funded study to look at how three different surfaces influence jumping motion.
The study was led by Prof Lars Roepstorff from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. Prof Roepstorff, a Professor of biomechanics, has been involved with surface research for over 30 years.
Volunteers with horses jumping at up to150 cm brought their horses to Riesenbeck. They had markers placed on a large number of anatomical sites to allow the researchers submillimeter precission tracking of the horses and riders motion using 34 high speed specialized video cameras.
After warming-up the riders then jumped uprights and oxers on each of the three different surfaces in a randomised order.
The three surfaces were characterised using the Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester (OBST). This testing approach is similar to those used for sports such as football/soccer but adapted specifically for equestrian.
Researchers expect analysis of data to be successively available during the coming year. Meanwhile ,this video gives an overview of the data collection
Prof Lars Roepstorff said, “First of all, thanks to everybody involved who has made this possible! Based on the knowledge from this project, we will better understand how different surface properties affect loading and locomotion of the horse, enabling us to create safer surfaces for horses”
The team included Sarah Jane Hobbs, Oliver Hoberg, Sandra Kurras, Diana Landskroon, Sandra Lagerbielke, Marc Lucey, Dr David Marlin, Ylva Melbin, Jesper Möller, Ulrika Olsson, Christoffer Roepstorff, Lars Roepstorff, Paul Sandamas and Magnus Wikström, and they would like to thank the riders, Ludger Beerbaum and Karsten Lütteken for all help
