Impact case study database

Development of a framework for FEI certification

Following the London 2012 Olympics, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for equestrian sports, initiated a footing project to continue the scientific work on surfaces that evolved from the games. Soon after, Hobbs was asked to take the lead in writing a white paper [A], based on her research [1]. For Hobbs this became a two-year project, as her vision for the paper was to provide a comprehensive resource for the equestrian community by combining current scientific knowledge with a framework from which surface standards could be developed. Together with an extensive review of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence welfare and performance [1], the white paper also included a review of existing and new surface testing methods [2], engineering definitions applied to surface testing, a certification framework and layman’s surface terminology for a new industry standard. The development of layman’s terms to describe the functional properties of surfaces was an important step towards certification, as scientific (objective) measurements could then be directly applied to layman’s terms, which provided a universal language of communication [B]. In 2014, the FEI made the white paper freely available to the worldwide equestrian community as a reference and educational source. Examples of its reach and influence can be found globally (i.e. Canada, USA, Australia) to include over 40 independent articles that discuss and critique the information, concepts and proposed framework. For example, Norton (2015) concluded for Horse Sport magazine that:

**‘The Equine Surfaces White Paper discussed a great number of aspects that must be considered when discussing optimal footing. However, there are such large gaps in our knowledge that specific recommendations for each discipline can’t be made at this time. The authors hope by educating trainers and riders as to how surface conditions affect the biomechanical performance of our horses, injuries can be prevented.**’ [C]

Producing protocols for the certification process

The FEI began a consultation process with industry following the launch of the white paper, with Hobbs as one of the main scientific advisors [D]. To progress the development of protocols, one study focused on defining acceptable thresholds for field based, objective measurements of show jumping competition surfaces [4], whilst other studies [2, 3] were used to inform the inclusion of laboratory-based tests and the development of surface maintenance procedures. The scientific work in [4] also raised awareness of surface terminology and function in the 198 riders taking part in nine elite competitions at six European venues. In 2016-17 Hobbs and St George were commissioned by the FEI to develop a complete set of protocols for surface certification. The protocols were underpinned by the scientific work and comprised of 38 separate documents in total. The in-situ protocols were piloted at the Olympic Games and the World Equestrian Games (WEG) (France, Brazil and USA). The materials and track-in-a-box protocols that were developed were used in the selection process for the tenders submitted for the Tokyo Olympic surface. The in-situ protocols were used at the Tokyo test event and will be used at the Olympic Games in 2021 [D]. The in-situ protocol has recently been adapted for an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard (F3400-19) and the suite of materials, track-in-a-box and certification protocols are currently under consideration by voting members of the ASTM. The benefits of measuring surfaces to a defined standard for events, horses and riders was highlighted at Tryon, USA (WEG 2018). Prior to the WEG, three horses fell during competition in the main arena [E]. After extensive testing, a new main arena and surface were proposed and used for the games, which was hailed as a huge success. Implementation of the certification process on a wider scale was agreed by the Footing Standards Working Group in April 2019 [D]. They proposed that all 5* competitions (Approximately 90 worldwide/year) should have in-situ surface certification at the start of each competition. This recommendation is awaiting FEI approval by the Jumping Committee and the General Assembly and will result in a rule change if approved. In addition, the Working Group recommended that surface providers are given the opportunity to have their products FEI certified using the materials testing and track-in-a-box testing protocols. Surface evaluation using functional properties terminology is also embedded into the new FEI Event Classification system [D] that is designed to ensure that standards are maintained at all FEI competitions. Test results and surface evaluations are already influencing perception of acceptable surfaces and of maintenance practices, with practitioners more commonly favouring softer, well cushioned surfaces. Ultimately, this will reduce injury risk for the horse, as hard surfaces are a contributory factor in the development of overuse injuries (2).

Increasing awareness of factors that influence horse health, welfare and performance

Increasing awareness of intrinsic and extrinsic factors beyond the white paper that can impact on the health and performance of horses is also a key driver for the University of Central Lancashire’s equine research team. In order to increase the reach of our work, a day of workshops were produced so that the footage and presentations could be used as part of the launch of the FEI Campus, a free educational website, targeted towards the international equestrian community [F]. The FEI Campus was launched in 2017 and by March 2018 it had already attracted 15,541 visitors (3,117 registered members) worldwide who had engaged with the learning materials which included all four presentations from the workshops [F]. The University of Central Lancashire’s contribution included research work on asymmetry [6] and balance [5] in horses and further dissemination of the proposed equipment and techniques to be used for equestrian surface certification [A][2]. A key element of embedding new knowledge that will benefit horse welfare is through our work with scientific practitioners. Hobbs supervised the doctoral research of Dr Simon Curtis, Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Since successfully graduating, Curtis has visited 15 different countries in Europe, North and South America, Australasia and Asia to date, to present the work to over 2000 farriers, vets and breeders. The research includes techniques developed in [6] on asymmetric hoof growth, foot balance, loading patterns and hoof distortion.

In March 2018, Curtis was acknowledged for his efforts, receiving the Colin Spedding Award from HRH Princess Anne at the National Equine Forum. The impact of his work in influencing practice was captured in a survey in 2018 [G], showing that his dissemination of the research had reached practitioners from every continent. From the survey, 95.7% of 516 respondents reported that Curtis’ research has positively influenced their knowledge, skills development and/ or practice within the equine industry. An example of the impact of his research is illustrated by this quote from the Programme Manager of BYS Farrier School in Sweden.

‘Simon's study means a lot to our development work on hoof care, correction of foals and various working methods within the hoof care sector in Sweden. His thesis is also of great importance for our future breeding work.’ [G].

Educating students and practitioners on aspects of equine locomotion and their demands on the musculoskeletal system of the horse from our research findings [1, 2, 5, 6] is a priority for the research team. Along with the workshops and seminars given by the research team, Hobbs’ collaborator Hilary Clayton (Michigan State University), a scientist, vet, dressage trainer and Grand Prix rider also disseminates our collaborative research [5] to the equestrian community to aid improvements in training practice [H]. This includes an annual presentation to judges at the US Dressage Federation Convention and many workshops and training sessions worldwide. Our research is embedded in equine science course curriculums at a local, national and international level [I] providing enhanced knowledge and understanding to current and future equine practitioners. Our methods of calculating moments around the centre of mass and then using them to investigate balance and locomotion [5] also has reach beyond the gaits performed by sports horses. A member of the Mongolian ambling horse federation remarked on using these techniques to investigate the ‘Usan telmen’ gait:

‘I truly inspired by your work which the techniques that used in these studies and logic explanations, result are sufficient to understand and explore the behavior of other gaits too.’ [I]

One of the keys to reaching stakeholders globally is using gold open access journals, which Hobbs and Clayton have prioritised wherever possible [5, 6]. This allows further dissemination to occur through lay article reviews and helps to spread important messages originating from the scientific work as widely as possible, such as the messages in [5] highlighted by HorseTalk, New Zealand:

‘Given the complexities involved, it is not surprising that some horses fail to learn the biomechanical skills necessary for passage….Researchers Hilary Clayton and Sarah Jane Hobbs… writing in the journal PeerJ, said the slow speed of passage challenged the horse’s ability to control the sagittal-plane moments around the center of mass.’ [H].

Awareness of equine surface testing and surface standards for show jumping competitions has already made an impression on equestrian practitioners within the sport of eventing. Eventing is primarily performed on turf surfaces, which can vary considerably in their functional properties. Course designers, organisers, riders and other practitioners within eventing have recognised the benefits in having a quantifiable description of the ‘going’ prior to an event, particularly for the cross-country phase [J]. Cross-country courses are undulating and up to approximately 6.8 km in length, which limits the possibility of using identical equipment and methods to those used in show jumping competitions at all but the highest level. As such, Hobbs and Graydon, together with ex-junior team British Eventing (BE) veterinarian Mark Lucey, and colleagues from Nottingham Trent University, tested 26 affiliated BE courses with a range of surface measuring devices over the 2019 eventing season in the UK. The results from this initial work are driving the establishment of standard methods and equipment for measuring cross country turf surfaces in the future. This work has already been highly praised by stakeholders, such as Philip Herbert (accredited BE course designer):

‘Thank you and all of your team for this most comprehensive report. I am most impressed with the trouble you have gone to and the amount of data you have recorded. You will be most welcome to come to Burghley, at any time in the future and if you require any assistance from me, in my capacity as BE Ground Condition Adviser, do please get in touch. I wish you every success with this process in the future, I am sure it will be a valuable asset to equestrian sport.’ [J]