Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys
    (Springer Nature Limited, London, 2025-04-26) Legg KA; Cochrane DJ; Gee EK; Chin Y-Y; Rogers CW
    Thoroughbred race-riding requires jockeys to attenuate horse movement and maintain postural stability whilst galloping at high speeds. This study aimed to investigate the head movement of jockeys in relation to race-riding experience. Accelerometer and heart rate data were collected from twelve apprentice and two senior jockeys during 85 exercise rides and 82 trial rides. Mean head displacements were determined for each jockey by double integrating the filtered acceleration data. A mixed effect multivariable linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between jockey experience, physiological variables and head kinematics. The median (IQR) head displacement was higher for exercise riding (0.12 m, 0.09–0.14 m) than trial riding (0.06 m, 0.05–0.09 m). Jockey head displacement decreased with increasing speed of the horse (p < 0.001) and greater jockey experience (p = 0.007). Higher exercise load had a greater effect on head displacement with less experienced jockey’s (p = 0.02). The effect of speed was lower for trial riding than exercise riding (p < 0.001). More experienced jockeys had a greater ability to attenuate horse oscillation than inexperienced jockeys. This ability became more pronounced at higher exercise loads, reflecting a higher level of physical fitness and riding skill level. Measurement of jockey head displacement may provide a simple measure of assessing jockey race-riding ability or fitness.
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    Applying equineRSU and seasonal livestock correction to wider equine stud farm types
    (Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-09-12) Chin YY; Airey H; Horne DJ; Gee EK; Back PJ; Sclater J; Rogers CW; Sneddon N
    To adjust for potential overestimations in the nitrogen excretion by horses within Overseer®, a revised stock unit system has been proposed (equineRSU). These equineRSU were generated and validated using a medium-sized equine farm as a model farm. The aim of this study was to test the application of the equineRSU and seasonal stock number adjustment on a more complex farming model. Livestock numbers and management data were captured prospectively for the base property (128.8 ha) of a large multi-property commercial breeding stud (3 support properties, 556 ha total area) between June 2022 and May 2023. The monthly on-farm metabolisable energy (ME) requirement and pasture demand were deterministically modelled with both a customised feed budget using livestock class and weight or using the equineRSU and monthly adjusted stock numbers. There were multiple complex movements of horses on and off the property in the different stock classes across the year, with stock management reflecting seasonal periods of high stocking density. There was good agreement (6% variance) between actual ME demand (complex feed budget) and estimated feed demand (simplistic equineRSU model) of 4,387,187 MJ vs 4,102,770 MJ. This suggests that the equineRSU could be used on complex equine farm systems within Overseer®.