Central Lancashire Online Knowledge (CLoK)

: The ground has long been cited as a key contributing factor for injury risk in the cross-country phase of eventing. The current study aimed to develop a practically useful standardized protocol for measuring eventing cross country ground. Data collection was split into three phases: Phase 1 (Validation), Phase 2 (Expansion of data set), and Phase 3 (Threshold establishment). During Phase 1, data from nine event courses were collected using an Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester (OBST), Vienna Surface Tester (VST), Lang Penetrometer, Going Stick, and moisture meter. Using linear regression, 80% of the variability in cushioning measured with the OBST was predicted from moisture and VST measurements ( p < 0.001). In Phase 2, objective data from 81 event courses and subjective assessments from 180 event riders were collected. In Phase 3, k-means cluster analysis was used to classify the courses into ten clusters based on average course measurements of moisture, cushioning, firmness, stiffness, depth, and coefficient of restitution. Based on cluster membership, course average subjective data (16 courses) were compared using a General Linear Model. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) in subjective impact firmness ( p = 0.038) and subjective cushioning ( p = 0.010) were found between clusters. These data and cluster thresholds provide an event course baseline for future comparisons.

[1]  M. Peterson,et al.  Warm Season Turfgrass Equine Sports Surfaces: An Experimental Comparison of the Independence of Simple Measurements Used for Surface Characterization , 2023, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

[2]  C. Peham,et al.  Evaluation of an Accelerometer-Based Device for Testing the Softness of Bedding Materials Used for Livestock , 2022, Sensors.

[3]  S. Stover,et al.  Shear ground reaction force variation among equine arena surfaces. , 2022, Veterinary journal.

[4]  T. Pfau,et al.  Hoof Impact and Foot-Off Accelerations in Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorses Trialling Eight Shoe–Surface Combinations , 2022, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

[5]  S. Hobbs,et al.  The Olympic motto through the lens of equestrian sports , 2022, Animal frontiers : the review magazine of animal agriculture.

[6]  T. Parkin,et al.  Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) eventing: Risk factors for horse falls and unseated riders during the cross-country phase (2008-2018). , 2021, Equine veterinary journal.

[7]  T. Pfau,et al.  Jockey Perception of Shoe and Surface Effects on Hoof-Ground Interactions and Implications for Safety in the Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorse. , 2021, Journal of equine veterinary science.

[8]  Cathleen N. Brown,et al.  A review of turfgrass sports field variability and its implications on athlete–surface interactions , 2020 .

[9]  R. Bindlish,et al.  Field evaluation of portable soil water content sensors in a sandy loam , 2020, Vadose Zone Journal.

[10]  F. Impellizzeri,et al.  A conceptual model and detailed framework for stress-related, strain-related, and overuse athletic injury. , 2019, Journal of science and medicine in sport.

[11]  Alan M. Wilson,et al.  Ground reaction forces of overground galloping in ridden Thoroughbred racehorses , 2019, Journal of Experimental Biology.

[12]  Sarah Jane Hobbs,et al.  Ground Reaction Forces: The Sine Qua Non of Legged Locomotion. , 2019, Journal of equine veterinary science.

[13]  Mohammadreza Abbaspour-Gilandeh,et al.  Investigation of the Effect of Soil Moisture Content, Contact Surface Material and Soil Texture on Soil Friction and Soil Adhesion Coefficients , 2018, Acta Technologica Agriculturae.

[14]  L. Roepstorff,et al.  Comparing subjective and objective evaluation of show jumping competition and warm-up arena surfaces. , 2017, Veterinary journal.

[15]  Hideyoshi Yanagisawa,et al.  Effects of Visual Expectation on Perceived Tactile Perception: An Evaluation Method of Surface Texture with Expectation Effect , 2015 .

[16]  J. van den Broek,et al.  A prospective study on a cohort of horses and ponies selected for participation in the European Eventing Championship: reasons for withdrawal and predictive value of fitness tests , 2013, BMC Veterinary Research.

[17]  Scott B. Jones,et al.  Evaluation of Standard Calibration Functions for Eight Electromagnetic Soil Moisture Sensors , 2013 .

[18]  C. A. Mahaffey,et al.  The effects of varying cushion depth on dynamic loading in shallow sand thoroughbred horse dirt racetracks , 2013 .

[19]  Matt C. J. Caple,et al.  Spatial analysis of the mechanical behaviour of natural turf sports pitches , 2012 .

[20]  Sarah B. Williams,et al.  The effect of lateral heel studs on the kinematics of the equine digit while cantering on grass. , 2012, Veterinary journal.

[21]  Katherine E. Ryan,et al.  Improving Survey Methods With Cognitive Interviews in Small- and Medium-Scale Evaluations , 2012 .

[22]  Sarah Jane Hobbs,et al.  Measuring hoof slip of the leading limb on jump landing over two different equine arena surfaces , 2012 .

[23]  Matt C. J. Caple,et al.  Development of a simplified dynamic testing device for turfed sports surfaces , 2011 .

[24]  N Crevier-Denoix,et al.  Biomechanical analysis of hoof landing and stride parameters in harness trotter horses running on different tracks of a sand beach (from wet to dry) and on an asphalt road. , 2010, Equine veterinary journal. Supplement.

[25]  G W Pratt,et al.  Model for injury to the foreleg of the Thoroughbred racehorse. , 2010, Equine veterinary journal. Supplement.

[26]  F. Yelverton,et al.  Heterogeneous Distribution of Weedy Paspalum Species and Edaphic Variables in Turfgrass , 2009 .

[27]  Iain T. James,et al.  Quasi-static mechanical behaviour of soils used for natural turf sports surfaces and stud force prediction , 2009 .

[28]  Johannes Forkman,et al.  Estimator and Tests for Common Coefficients of Variation in Normal Distributions , 2009 .

[29]  Michael L. Peterson,et al.  Development of a system for the in-situ characterisation of thoroughbred horse racing track surfaces , 2008 .

[30]  C. Mumford,et al.  GoingStick® technology and electromagnetic induction scanning for naturally‐turfed sports surfaces , 2008 .

[31]  C. Johnston,et al.  Ground reaction force and hoof deceleration patterns on two different surfaces at the trot , 2006 .

[32]  D. Pfeiffer,et al.  Factors associated with the wastage and achievements in competition of event horses registered in the United Kingdom , 2005, Veterinary Record.

[33]  S Drevemo,et al.  Semi-quantitative analysis of hoof-strike in the horse. , 1994, Journal of biomechanics.

[34]  Victoria L. Stanton,et al.  Laser Diffraction Particle Size Distribution of North American Turfgrass Horse Racing Surfaces , 2023, Journal of the ASABE.

[35]  S. Hobbs,et al.  Spatial Variation of the Physical and Biomechanical Properties Within an Equestrian Arena Surface , 2016 .

[36]  John Fitzmaurice,et al.  Field Performance of Five Soil Moisture Instruments in Heavy Clay Soils , 2015 .

[37]  Sarah Jane Hobbs,et al.  Use of surface testing devices to identify potential risk factors for synthetic equestrian surfaces , 2014 .

[38]  C. A. Mahaffey,et al.  Current progress and future challenges to optimize consistency and performance of track surfaces for fewer horse injuries. , 2012 .