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This from the BHA today:
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Newton Abbot to trial new ‘one-fit’ padded hurdle design28/02/2013 13:00
• New hurdle design will be used throughout Newton Abbot’s Summer Jumping programme
• Objective of new design is to further improve safety and reduce injuries
• Racecourse trial match-funded by Newton Abbot and British Horseracing Grant Scheme
Newton Abbot Racecourse is pleased to announce details of the racecourse trial of a new ‘one-fit’ padded hurdle design, which will be used during all hurdle races throughout the 2013 Summer Jumping programme. The modified hurdle design has been researched and developed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and will be first used at Newton Abbot’s meeting on 30th March 2013.The new design consists of a standard timber hurdle frame, with a specially fitted foam pad frontage rather than the traditional birch. As part of the BHA’s commitment to maximising participant safety, both equine and human, it is anticipated that the potential benefits of the new design could include a reduction in injuries for both horse and rider. The BHA, in conjunction with racecourses, have made a number of important safety and welfare improvements to hurdles in recent years and this development is part of this ongoing process.
The new design has been trialled extensively over the past 18 months, including periods on two major training schooling grounds, as well as extended sessions with several leading Jumps trainers. The racecourse trial is therefore an important next step and is supported by the National Trainers Federation (NTF), the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and the Racecourse Association (RCA). The trial will be monitored on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
The trial is being match funded by both Newton Abbot and the British Horseracing Grant Scheme, the mechanism that was set up to distribute the first £1million of proceeds from the sale of the Tote, to worthwhile projects in or associated with the British thoroughbred Racing and Breeding industries.
Patrick Masterson, Managing Director of Newton Abbot Racecourse, said:
“We are extremely excited at the new hurdle design both from a horse welfare perspective and the positive support it is receiving from both the NTF and PJA. Newton Abbot are delighted to support this trial for our forthcoming season and hopes this ongoing development process is well received and supported.”
Richard Linley, Senior Inspector of Courses at the BHA, said:
“We’ve been coordinating this project for some time and riders and trainers gave us plenty of useful feedback during the schooling phase. This trial is key to whether the design is adopted at other courses in the years ahead.”
Jockey Andrew Thornton, one of the PJA’s Safety Officers, said:
“The PJA is supportive of anything that has the potential to benefit the welfare of the sport’s participants, and we therefore welcome this trial. If the new design can lead to fewer falls and fewer injuries for horses, then it can only be a positive thing for the welfare of Jockeys.”[/color:490lnsk2][/i:490lnsk2]
Interesting. Let’s hope that it does help to reduced injuries. Anything that can contribute to that should be welcomed by everyone who loves racing.
Seeing that most hurdlers at the course are bought off the flat, as opposed to being bred for jumping, this seems a sensible move.
However, the extrapolation of any figures for falls over the new hurdles should be treated with the utmost caution.
Used them for the full circuit for the first time yesterday and I don’t recall any fallers.
Guess they must have still be testing the design out.
So far I don’t recall any fallers at the new hurdles since they’ve been using them. Good sign I hope.
Trial now being extended to Taunton for this coming season.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/one … acecourse/
Not sure if they’ve made a difference in the death ratio. Seems to be the same for deaths in hurdle races during 2013/4 compared to 2011/2 on the Animal Aid website – 3 for both periods.
Think the idea is to reduce injuries, have you got the stats for them?
No, only what I listed from the Animal Aid website.
A few years ago Perth held a schooling session after racing with the plastic hurdles which are now in use at several Irish courses. It was their intention to switch to these if the BHA face the ok. Does anyone know heat happened?
A few years ago Perth held a schooling session after racing with the plastic hurdles which are now in use at several Irish courses. It was their intention to switch to these if the BHA gave the ok. Does anyone know what happened?
They would have prevented the injury to Buveur D’Air yesterday.
These types of foam padded hurdles are now in use at a dozen courses – Ascot, Ayr, Bangor, Exeter, Kelso, Ludlow, Newbury, Newton Abbot, Stratford, Taunton, Uttoxeter & Wincanton.
After several seasons of gradual introduction this incident may now accelerate the transition.
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
They also appear to be in use at Cartmel now.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
It has been announced that both Aintree and Cheltenham will be using these hurdles from this Autumn.
The remaining Jockey Club courses yet to introduce them, will do so by the start of the 2026/27 season – Carlisle, Haydock, Huntingdon, Kempton, Sandown and Warwick.
Not sure why it’s taken so long since the initial trials as it seemed to be an Angela Rayner as far as horse welfare is concerned.
....and you've got to look a long way back for anything else.
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