Jockey Perception of Shoe and Surface Effects on Hoof-Ground Interactions and Implications for Safety in the Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorse.
Authors: Horan Kate, Kourdache Kieran, Coburn James, Day Peter, Brinkley Liam, Carnall Henry, Harborne Dan, Hammond Lucy, Millard Sean, Pfau Thilo
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Jockey perception plays a significant yet underexplored role in determining which shoeing systems are adopted in racing practice, necessitating that subjective rider feedback be integrated into evidence-based decisions about hoof-ground interactions and safety. This questionnaire-based study gathered responses from 15 jockey-horse pairs across 94 trials, evaluating four shoeing conditions (aluminium, steel, GluShu, and barefoot) ridden at gallop on both turf and artificial surfaces using nine-point Likert-scale questions addressing grip, cushioning, responsiveness, safety, and ride quality. Aluminium and steel shoes emerged as clear favourites, consistently rated as "excellent" and "very supportive" in approximately 80% of trials, with near-universal reports of good grip and rapid adaptation; conversely, barefoot conditions received markedly lower scores, particularly on turf where 17% of responses indicated safety concerns and poor smoothness of ride, whilst GluShu occupied a middle ground rated "moderately supportive." Surface type significantly influenced jockey perception of grip and safety (with artificial surfaces generally perceived as more forgiving), whilst shoe type affected all measures except perceived impact. These findings suggest that whilst jockeys demonstrate clear preferences for traditional metal shoes, further investigation correlating their perceptions with objective kinematic and ground reaction force data is essential to determine whether subjective safety concerns reflect genuine biomechanical risks or represent unfamiliarity-driven bias, which has important implications for implementing alternative shoeing systems in racing establishments.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Aluminum and steel shoes remain the gold standard for racehorse safety and performance according to expert jockey feedback; consider surface-specific shoeing strategies rather than single universal approaches
- •Barefoot or alternative shoe trials on turf require careful risk assessment and extended adaptation periods; artificial surfaces may be more suitable for alternative shoeing experiments
- •Jockey perception is a critical variable in shoeing decisions for racehorses—implementation of new shoes must account for rider confidence and safety concerns to ensure adoption and optimal performance
Key Findings
- •Aluminum and steel shoes rated 'excellent' by jockeys in approximately 80% of trials across both turf and artificial surfaces
- •Shoe type significantly affected all perception responses except impact; surface type significantly affected grip and safety perception
- •Barefoot conditions on turf were marked 'unsafe' in 17% of responses and rated least smooth, whereas barefoot on artificial surface was considered favorable
- •GluShu was generally perceived as 'moderately supportive' with longer adaptation periods compared to conventional metal shoes