Researchers at Nottingham Trent University aim to use video footage to help identify and reduce risk in eventing – and help training.
The study, led by PhD student Jess Johnson, will run in collaboration with An Eventful Life, using its archives of competitions from grassroots to international level, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
The researchers hope to identify factors contributing to risk, evaluate factors contributing to clearing fences successfully and use their findings to help coaching and influence jump design.
Ms Johnson said: “The benefits of video feedback have been demonstrated in other sports such as tennis, but its use in equestrian sport has not been fully explored.
“The factors which contribute to successful jump clearance have already been studied, what makes this project unique is the video aspect.”
Jaime Martin, a lecturer in animal and zoo biology lecturer at the university and one of the lead researchers on the project, said the team will research factors including rider behaviour, surface condition and rider psychology.
“This project is a really exciting new opportunity to analyse already existing video evidence to improve safety and coaching,” he added.
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An Eventful Life director and co-founder Paul Higgs said that his company’s library covering more than a million jumps, filmed at events across the world, is a “unique data resource”, which will continue to grow during the project.
He added: “Eventing is a thrilling sport that is growing in popularity around the world, but we need to make it safer for horse and rider. That is our aim.”
The study also involves the university’s Carol Hall and David Crundall, a psychologist in the university’s school of social sciences.
For more on this study, and other work aiming to use footage to improve safety, see H&H magazine, 2 May edition.
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
