Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock is collaborating with British Eventing to investigate links between speed and safety at cross-country equestrian events
The University of Central Lancashire is collaborating with a sports’ national governing body on a world-leading research project.
Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock, a Senior Lecturer in Animal and Veterinary Science, will work alongside British Eventing and other partners to investigate the link between speed and horse and rider safety during cross-country at equestrian eventing competitions.
The Course Leader in Bioveterinary Sciences, who also teaches on the five-year Veterinary Medicine & Surgery degree and postgraduate programmes, said: “We’re really interested to see if there is an association between the speed a horse is travelling at during an eventing cross-country round and performance, as well as the risks of faults and falls.
“Safety in the sport is paramount and, as this research has never been done before, we are hoping we can gain insight into the significance of speed on the performance and safety of both the riders and their horses.”
During the summer months, Heather and research co-lead Dr David Marlin, from AnimalWeb Ltd, will be travelling to British Eventing competitions throughout the United Kingdom and asking the riders to wear Catapult Sports Technology sensors, like those seen under the shirts of football and rubgy players.
"As this research has never been done before, we are hoping we can gain insight into the significance of speed on the performance and safety of both the riders and their horses"
— Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock, a Senior Lecturer in Animal and Veterinary Science
These devices will be worn on the rider’s torso and will track the speed and position of the horse and rider dyad over the course of the cross-country.
Heather, who studied at Myerscough College from age 16 to 21 and gained her PhD in 2021 from the University of Central Lancashire, commented: “By asking the riders to wear the sensors, it will allow us to work out how fast the horses and riders are travelling. Usually, horses in these cross-country events are required to travel at average speeds between 435-570 metres per minute, but using catapult technology will give us accurate data of their varying speed over the course including approach to different types of fences, and speeds at different sections of the course.”
The first collection of data will take place at Tweseldown in early July and competitors, both elite and amateurs, are being encouraged to take part by speaking to the research team (located in the lorry park) and signing up on the day.
Rosie Williams, British Eventing Chief Executive, added: “This is an important piece of research and will help us make the sport safer for all. The project will provide invaluable, objective data that will help our decision making going forward. Thank you to Catapult for supporting our work and to Dr David Marlin, of AnimalWeb Ltd and Dr Heather Cameron-Whytock of the University of Central Lancashire School of Veterinary Medicine for conceptualising and leading the research.”