13 September 2011 Fall Training Simulator at The British Racing School
by The British Racing School
One of the inevitable consequences of riding horses, and in particular racehorses, is that you will fall off. There is growing consensus that if riders were given training on how to deal with this likelihood, then there would be a reduction in the number of injuries that result. This has a particular relevance to jockeys.
As a result, the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) has purchased an ‘Equichute' thanks to a donation from the Alborada Trust. The Alborada Trust was founded in 2001 and was named after the Newmarket trained filly, winner of the Group 1 Newmarket Champion Stakes. Alborada went on to be officially named Filly of the World in 1998. John Francome, Vice Patron of the IJF was instrumental in sourcing the equipment and believes it is vital to the training of jockeys today. "There is no doubt that it will save lives and no end of injuries. If it stops 1 person a year from ending up in a wheelchair, then it has paid for itself 10 times over"
The equipment, which is designed and built in France, has been sited at The British Racing School to be used in conjunction with the many jockey courses and training the School provides. The machine is the first of its type in Britain and works on compressed air and therefore speed and severity of the fall can be regulated. Integrated into the Course Programme will be a progressive series of sessions looking at the correct technique for a rider to minimise injury when they hit the ground. The sessions will be taken by Jon Pitts, a Sports Scientist who has been involved already in training in this area and experienced ex-jump jockey Steve Smith Eccles.
Rory MacDonald, Chief Executive of The British Racing School said, "We are confident that this equipment will be a major step forward in helping riders to avoid injury. We will continue to develop our procedures to ensure we gain maximum benefit from the Fall Training Simulator. In the meantime we are extremely grateful to the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Alborada Trust for their support."
Spaces are still available for the next training course on Tuesday October 11th. The course includes an introduction and briefing, technique practical session and Dartfish Technology to analyse falls from the Equichute, and costs £75. For further information or to book your place, please contact Clare Higgins on 01638 665103/675907 or at clare@brs.org.uk.
