A former top British jockey has partnered with a farrier and an innovative manufacturer to produce a pioneering rubber horseshoe.

Robert “Choc” Thornton, who rode more than 1,000 winners including in the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, worked with farrier Aron Tyler to create Equishox – a lightweight vulcanised rubber shoe with an aluminium core, designed for racehorses with welfare in mind.

The inspiration for the design came “by chance” during one of Aron’s regular visits to Apple Tree Stud, which Robert founded in 2014.

“I was rummaging around in the back of Aron’s van, as there’s all sorts of interesting things in there, when I found an original Öllöv SoftStep shoe – a vulcanised rubber shoe, made around a steel insert,” he told H&H.

He asked Aron about it, who told him that it is designed to reduce concussion and vibration forces on a horse’s limb, and to reduce the impact in cases of knocks.

“I went away and over a period of time I thought, ‘what if we can make this lighter, more versatile and more accessible?’” said Robert. “I asked Aron, who did some drawings and put the question to [manufacturer] Öllöv, who said ‘yes’.”

That was three years ago. In the time since, Robert and Aron have founded Equishox, partnered with Öllöv, and the team has gone through various testing processes on the shoe. This includes testing with their own horses, and research with the help of scientist Professor Lars Ropestorff. Their research has found a reduction in concussion and limited vibrations in the leg, and they have also seen a reduction in knocking and striking-in injuries when wearing the shoe.

Robert said that the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) director of equine health and welfare James Given has been “very helpful – which shows that British horseracing is a leader in welfare”.

“The BHA gave us approval to run horses in them,” he said. “We had to declare to James every time a horse was running wearing them, and they were checked before and after. Once they were happy with that, we were free to go and so we spread the shoe as widely as we could and did some practical trials.”

The performance results have been pleasing, but the main priority is welfare and the team is keen to continually improve and develop the shoe through further studies. Another positive that they have heard from those using the shoe is increased stability on hard surfaces, for example when handling horses on the yard or riding to and from the gallops.

“It’s not something that we’re going to just stand still on. We’re going to carry on with the research,” Robert said.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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If the prospect of arctic winds is giving you (dangerously) cold feet about heading out to your local point-to-point this season, we’ve come up with nine very good reasons to sway you to wrap up and get out there

1. Spot National Hunt stars in the making

Ruby Walsh, Robert Thornton, Paul Carberry and Sam Twiston-Davies are just a few of the big National Hunt names who have cut their teeth in the point-to-pointing world.

2. Get up close to the action

Unlike with racing proper, there’s no chance you’ll be corralled into a “cheap seats” area where you’re unlikely to see a horse for the duration of your day. Some of the best viewing is at Littlewindsor, where cars are parked on a slope with the course laid out below. At Trebudannon the whole course is visible from the winning post and at Whittington, near Kirkby Lonsdale, there is a good viewing bank at one end of the course looking down the Lune Valley.

3. Wear your wellies with pride

Cheltenham might mean digging out your best suede boots — but for your local point-to-point, grab the nearest pair of wellies to the front door. Minimal effort required.

4. Cameras at the ready

Point-to-point courses are situated in some of the most picture-perfect country Britain has to offer. Holnicote at its Exmoor location between Dunkery Beacon and Selworthy church stands out, as does Flete Park, on the late Lord Anthony Mildmay’s estate. The course there encircles a cricket ground and the ladies changing room is in the pavilion. Llanfrynach is another one to take note of, with the snow-capped Brecon Beacons providing a stunning backdrop.

5. Celeb spot

Celebrities might don an overcoat and think they can slip into a point-to-point unnoticed. But we’ve sussed out where you’re likely to spot one. David Cameron and Jeremy Clarkson have been seen at the Heythrop, actor Robson Green has been spied at Alnwick and Horseheath had an episode of Made In Chelsea filmed there in 2013 (if that counts…).

6. Prove your picnic prowess

Tables trump rugs, china trumps plastic and anything that needs a knife and fork trumps a sandwich. Or if you want to boycott the competitive picnicing altogether, make your way to the burger van…

7. Limit your financial losses

Your wallet can feel worryingly empty post-racing, but at a point-to-point, placing a £1 bet is entirely acceptable.

8. Entertain your non-horsey friends

With busy bars, children’s rides and tradestands on offer, the most unhorsey of friends (or family) can be kept entertained. The Meynell & South Staffs stage the pony racing finals as well as hound racing; Godstone’s second meeting has sheep showing and High Easter has a big screen for Grand National coverage.

Continued below…

7 reasons to love winter (plus a few reasons not to!)

8 (demanding) thoughts of a pampered stabled horse this winter

9. Look forward to soaking in a long, hot bath afterwards

Scheduling a long, hot bath to thaw out post point-to-point is a crucial part of the programme. If hot water supplies are looking dubious, forget reasons one-to-nine — cancel your plans and do not leave the house.

For more information visit: pointtopoint.co.uk

Don’t miss our point-to-point special in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (23 November 2017), complete with a full fixture list plus we visit leading trainer Dean Summersby at home in the West Country

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Running a top yard and juggling small children sounds like a logistical nightmare — unless you are savvy enough to familarise your brood with a wheelbarrow, broom, paperwork and boot polish.

The next generation of eventers, jockeys, trainers and showjumpers are hard at work. And at the rate they’re going, we can guess who is going to be picking up the best kept tack, best kept stable and best turned out accolades at the Pony Club camps of the future. Watch this space…

Sam Watson

It’s all go at eventer Sam Watson’s base in Ireland, as sons Toby and Archie get to work with making the place look tidy… until something else looks a lot more interesting.

Nick Gauntlett

Gloucestershire-based eventer Nick Gauntlett’s son Henry might be able to fit in his dad’s Ariat boots, but he’s doing his best to get them shiny.

And Henry’s not afraid to get his hands dirty with some poo-picking in the school too.

Continued below…

9 things we got up to at Pony Club camp that we’re sure wouldn’t happen now

Harry Meade

Lily Meade knows how to keep out of the way when she’s accompanying her dad Harry to events…

… and she’s equally happy to lend a hand at home in West Littleton, Wiltshire with fence building too. When she’s dealing with bigger poles, we suggest she ropes in little brother Charlie as her assistant…

Trevor Breen

The globetrotting life of a showjumper means that finding time to try out saddles can be tricky. Which is when Trevor Breen’s daughter Mia comes into play.

Choc Thornton

Jockey Choc Thornton’s son William is kitted out to deal with the hosepipe.

Ben Pauling

National Hunt trainer Ben Pauling’s daughter Tilia doesn’t seem too bothered about where her pram is…

…even if there is an aroma of manure.

But asking her to do the paperwork might be one step too far…

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H&H racing columnist Choc Thornton is set for a spell on the sidelines after breaking his arm.

Choc broke his right arm yesterday (Sunday 11 December) after falling from Western Whisky during a handicap chase at Hereford racecourse.

“They say I won’t be able to do anything for three months. Put it like this, I’m aiming to be back in six weeks,” an optimistic Choc told H&H.

“And at least I’ll be able to spend some more time with my little boy over Christmas”.

He was taken to Hereford hospital but they were unable to operate, so today (Monday 12 December) he was taken to the John Radcliffe in Oxford for surgery.

“I hit the ground OK, but then something landed on my arm and I knew it was gone rightaway,” Choc added.

“Halfway between my shoulder and my elbow, my arm was about 90 ° bent, so it was fairly obvious that it was broken.”

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H&H racing columnist Robert Thornton underwent a successful operation on his knee at St Mary’s Hospital in Bristol last Thursday (8 July) and is recovering at home in Gloucestershire.

The jump jockey severed three of the four ligaments in his knee in a fall at Newton Abbott on 5 July, when the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser Hell’s Bay ran out through the wing at the second-last fence.

“The operation went well and it’s now a case of doing what I’m told,” said Thornton. ‘It was very painful on Friday, but my wife Meally [who is pregnant with their first child] is my hero — she got my painkillers sorted out.”

The 32-year-old was told that he may be unable to ride for as long as 12 months, but says he is aiming to be back in January.

“We’ll just have to see how quickly it mends — I’m starting physio on Friday,” he said.

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H&H columnist Robert Thornton may not be able to ride for a year after severing ligaments in his knee in a fall.

The jump jockey, commonly known as “Choc”, was leading in a beginners’ chase at Newton Abbott on 5 July when his mount, the Paul Nicholls-trained Hell’s Bay, ran out through the wing at the second-last fence.

“It was a freak accident – my knee must have hit the one solid post that held the wing together. I was sitting on the floor with my legs out in front of me and my lower leg was bent at a 70-degree angle, which scared me,” Robert told H&H.

“The doctor put it back straight, and I knew nothing was broken. But I couldn’t put any weight on it because it felt like it might cave in.

“My knee blew up to three times the size overnight and I was bruised from my ankle to my groin in the morning. Anna-Louise Mackinnon, the Professional Jockeys’ Association doctor, got me in to see [orthopaedic surgeon] John Webb at 8am, and initially it felt ok.

“I thought I would be back riding in a few weeks, but he scanned it and told me to work back from 12 months.”

Robert has severed the medical collateral ligament, the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament – three of the four ligaments in the knee.

He is being operated on tomorrow morning [8 July] at St Mary’s in Bristol, and will have to avoid moving the knee for six weeks, before beginning rehabilitation.

He said: “This is not the end of my riding career. I’ve been lucky up until now – every jump jockey expects to have a long period off with injury at some point and mine is now.

“But I’d have been better off breaking lots of bones!”

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H&H racing columnist Robert “Choc” Thornton is due to return to the racecourse this week after injuring his back in a fall two weeks ago.

Choc, who suffered severe bruising to his back in a crashing fall from Cracboumwiz at Leicester on 26 January, is hoping to ride at Ludlow on Wednesday (10 February) before heading to Huntingdon on Thursday to ride Triumph Hurdle favourite Mille Chief.

Choc, who has been back schooling this week, has to be passed by a medical officer at the racecourse but doesn’t anticipate there being a problem.

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H&H columnist Robert “Choc” Thornton has been discharged from hospital after spending a night in Leicester Royal Infirmary following a bad fall.

Choc, 31, was riding Cracboumwiz in a novices’ chase at Leicester yesterday (Tuesday 26 January) when the Alan King-trained 10-year-old fell heavily at the third-last fence.

He was taken to hospital and underwent x-rays on his back, but the damage proved not to be serious.

“I think I’ll be off for about 10 days, but it’s not too bad,” the jockey told H&H.

Wayne Hutchinson will take over Choc’s ride on Triumph Hurdle favourite Mille Chief at Huntingdon today.

Choc will also miss Festival Trials day at Cheltenham on Saturday (30 January) where Alan King is due to run Katchit and Karabak in the Cleeve Hurdle.

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H&H columnist Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton is promising to chop of his trademark flowing blonde locks — if fans vote him as their favourite in a ‘hot pants’ competition.

Launched by social horseracing magazine Eclipse, Choc is up against fellow jockeys Richard Johnson and Jamie Spencer in the race to become the jockey with the ‘hottest pants’.

By voting for their chosen hottest jockey fans have the chance of winning a pair of signed jodhpurs — while donating to charity.

Every vote cast costs a minimum of £2 — which will go to The Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).

And if Choc is crowned Mr Hot Pants, then he will shave off his golden curls.

Choc said: “I am delighted to be supporting and raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund in this unique competition. The IJF provides care, compassion and financial help to injured jockeys, ensuring a quality of life for them and their families.

“To boost the fundraising for them, I’m going all out to win this competition and will shave off all my treasured and much-primped mane of golden hair on TV if I top the poll by 15 August… so please folks, get VOTING!”

To vote go to: www.eclipsemagazine.co.uk/magazine/win/whosgotthehottestpants.html

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Horse & Hound columnist Robert Thornton (pictured) set Cheltenham alight on the opening day of the National Hunt Festival, winning the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The Supreme Novices’ victory came on a catch ride, the JP McManus-owned Captain Cee Bee, and gave Irish trainer Edward Harty his first Festival winner. But closer to Thornton’s heart will have been his terrific victory on Katchit in the Champion Hurdle for his boss, Alan King.

“Choc” and Katchit took last year’s Triumph Hurdle, but the pony-sized Katchit has found it harder against bigger, more experienced rivals this season. He is, however, a fighter, and no horse could have battled harder than he did today, holding off the front runner Osana and Tom Scudamore by a length. Nicky Henderson’s Punjabi finished five lengths back in third, ahead of 2007 winner Sublimity.

“The statistics were all against him, but he’s like a terrier,” said Thornton. “He’s so small, we’ll probably get him in a pony race round here one day!”

Tidal Bay was a highly impressive first Festival triumph for jockey Denis O’Regan in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase for the Howard Johnson/Graham Wylie team.

Tom Scudamore was another jockey to get off the mark on David Pipe’s An Accordion in the William Hill National Hunt Chase, while the Carberry siblings, Paul and Nina, took a race apiece. Paul scored in the last on Crack Away Jack, holding off the much-fancied Ashkazar, while Nina won the BGC-sponsored cross-country race for the second year running, this time on Garde Champetre for JP McManus and “cross-country king” Enda Bolger.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now