Jockey Perception of Shoe and Surface Effects on Hoof-Ground Interactions and Implications for Safety in the Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorse.

This research investigates horse riders’ views on the effect of different types of horse shoes and track surfaces on safety in thoroughbred racing. Data indicates that shoe type significantly affects riders’ perceptions except for impact, with most preferring steel and aluminum shoes. Surface type also noticeably influences the perception of grip and safety. Future studies intend to identify the correlation between riders’ viewpoints and hoof kinematic data.

Objective of the Research

• The study aimed to understand the perception of jockeys (horse riders) towards the use of different types of horse shoes (aluminum, steel, GluShu, and barefoot conditions) and their interactions with different racing surfaces (turf and artificial).
• The research sought to investigate the jockeys’ subjective view of safety, which is a critical aspect in horse racing, alongside performance.

Methodology of the Research

• The study employed a survey-based approach where the jockeys were asked nine questions assessing impact, cushioning, responsiveness, grip, uniformity, smooth ride, safety, adjustment period, and overall rating for each combination of shoe and surface.
• This data was collected through 94 completed questionnaires based on the experiences of 15 horse-rider pairs and was analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear mixed models.

Findings of the Research

• The type of shoe significantly affected all the other question responses except for the perceived impact.
• A significant majority of jockeys preferred aluminum and steel shoes on both artificial and turf tracks. These shoes were rated excellent and considered very supportive in roughly 80% of the trials. They also recorded a 100% active response, were perceived as having a good grip, and required a shorter adaptation period.
• Surface-type significantly influenced the perception of grip and safety.
• In contrast to aluminum and steel shoes, the barefoot and GluShu conditions were generally considered moderately supportive, with barefoot being the favored condition on the artificial surface.
• On turf, barefoot condition was considered the least smooth and was the only condition marked as sometimes unsafe (17% of responses).

Future Scope of the Research

• This research paves the way for future studies to explore the correlation between the jockeys’ perceptions and the hoof kinematic data, further contributing to the enhancement of safety and performance in horse racing.