Racing to improve safety of jumps with orange to white change

23 February 2022

  • Research by Exeter University into equine vision finds visibility of jumps and hurdles can be improved for racehorses by changing from orange to white
  • Between March-December 2022, all 40 jump courses in Great Britain will change key take-off and height markers from the current orange to white to help enhance on-course equine welfare and safety 
  • A phased roll-out will see the changes gradually implemented at the first nine courses between March and August, the first being Stratford, Hexham and Newton Abbot
  • The ‘orange to white’ project, championed by the Horse Welfare Board and led by a cross-industry working group, is part of a series of projects designed to continuously improve equine welfare and safety
  • Equine vision research backed by The Racing Foundation and roll-out across racecourses supported by the Horserace Betting Levy Board

Racing at Stratford Upon Avon on 14th March will mark the start of a new era over jumps in Britain as obstacles begin turning white as part of a welfare-driven project to develop new ways to make hurdle and fence design safer. The transformation, to be gradually phased in over 10-months, will see an estimated 368 fences and 2,132 hurdle panels across 40 racecourses change markings from the traditional orange to white.

The project, which is being delivered by the Horse Welfare Board as part of the ‘Life Well Lived’ strategy, follows intensive research carried out by Exeter University during 2017-2018 into equine vision, commissioned by the BHA and backed by the Racing Foundation.

131 obstacles were analysed across 11 racecourses using cutting-edge camera equipment to establish which colours would be most visible to a horse. Once identified, behavioural responses were then tested with 14 horses from Richard Phillips’ training yard in Adlestrop, Gloucestershire.

Exeter University’s research focused on trialling different colour options in a variety of racing environments and weather conditions, including the traditional orange markings. As horses have reduced ‘dichromatic’ colour vision compared to humans, they see mainly hues we would perceive as blue and yellow, and are unable to tell apart shades of red, green, and orange.  The study found that changing the wood and vinyl padding of take-off boards, guard rails and top boards to white provided increased contrast and visibility for horses, leading to improved jumping performance. Fluorescent yellow was found to have a similar positive impact, but the colour faded rapidly in tests, leading Exeter University to ratify the racing industry’s decision to select white as a valid choice going forward.

The ‘orange to white’ project was progressed the following year but was put on hold due to the onset of the pandemic.  Now led by Mike Etherington-Smith, Equine Safety Advisor to the Horse Welfare Board, a cross-industry working group of trainers, jockeys and racecourse representatives has driven the project forward, with key racing bodies green-lighting implementation in November 2021 and the Horseracing Levy Board confirming funding in January this year.

A phased roll-out of new white markings will begin from March 2022 with courses carrying out the work after the close of their season. Nine courses will make the change during the first six months (March – August) with all jumps tracks to have made the switch by December 2022. An estimated 368 fences and 2,312 hurdle panels are due to be changed across 40 courses. Point to point courses will follow for the 2022/23 season.

Barry Johnson, Chair of the Horse Welfare Board, said: “This important project is an example of how British racing uses advanced scientific and veterinary research to constantly improve racehorse welfare. Looking through the eyes of the horse to understand how they perceive their world, and making changes because of this new knowledge, shows how racing is continuously striving to increase the safety of all participants in our sport, both human and equine.”

James Given, Director of Equine Health for the BHA and member of the Horse Welfare Board, added: “We are determined to drive constant improvement and to make reasoned, well-researched and evidence-based changes which further reduce risk in the sport on a permanent, long-term basis and which help to improve safety factors for our horses.”

Trainer Richard Phillips commented: “Having been involved in the research undertaken by Exeter University and having used white obstacles for over three years now, I am convinced that changing the colour of jumps will be of immense benefits to the horses, riders and the sport as a whole.”

Professor Martin Stevens, Chair in Sensory and Evolutionary Ecology for the University of Exeter said: “The project is an example of how scientific research can lead to positive changes in human society and our interactions with animals and I’m delighted that the research we undertook has led to changes in the sport.”

Caroline Davies, Racecourse Services Director at the RCA and the racecourse representative on the Horse Welfare Board commented: “I am pleased to see the roll-out of the orange to white initiative take place across Britain’s racecourses, adding a further layer of care for our horses.

“This is an important step for British Racing, underpinned by a plethora of research. The number of obstacles that racecourses will be changing is significant and is testament to the sports commitment to making continual improvements for all our participants. I am grateful for the widespread support of racing’s stakeholders and our funders to enable it to happen.”

The faller rate in British racing has reduced by one third over the last 20years as a result of ongoing investment in racecourse safety, and constant enhancements in racehorse and training standards.

Following on from their debut at Stratford on 14th March, the new white obstacles will next be seen at Hexham on 17th March and Newton Abbot on 25th March. They are already being introduced at racing’s main schooling grounds and will be in use throughout the summer jumping season.

 

FAQ

Q: How was the research carried out?

131 obstacles were analysed across 11 racecourses. The contrast of traditional orange markers was analysed and compared to alternative colours taking into account the effect of light and weather conditions. Behavioural responses were tested with Richard Phillips Racing. 14 horses were trialled over a pair of jumps that differed only in the colour of the take-off board and midrail.

Q; What industry consultation has taken place?

The orange to white project was picked up after it has stalled in 2020 due to covid. A cross-industry Working Group was put together representing trainers, jockeys, clerks of the course, the BHA and headed up by the Horse Welfare Board’s Equine Safety Advisor. The group worked with key stakeholders including the NTF, RCA and PJA to agree implementation and roll-out - as is required for such a change to be brought in.

Q: What trials have taken place since?

Informal trials have been happening since the research was announced and shared in late 2018. Several trainers proactively changed their home schooling as a result. COVID delayed the project formally progressing for 18 months but was picked up and driven forward by the Horse Welfare Board in summer of 2021.  The official change to white was confirmed to trainers in November 2021 and again in January to give sufficient time for schooling before the roll-out begins in March. Most schooling grounds have implemented white obstacles and are providing feedback to the working group. It’s important to note that white is used in most jump racing countries apart from GB and Ireland, and Cheltenham XC has used white since its inception.

Q: Why has it taken so long to introduce?

The research was announced late 2018. In 2019 the findings were shared across trainers and jockeys and the use of yellow was tested and subsequently discounted due to UV causing rapid fading. The project was taken on by The Horse welfare Board in early 2020 as part of the ‘Life Well Lived’ strategy, but COVID delayed progression. In the summer of 2021, the Horse Welfare Board appointed Mike Etherington-Smith as Equine Safety Advisor who – along with a cross-industry working group – brought the project to completion, secured funding to support racecourses to make the change and agreed implementation with the relevant racing organisations.

Q: When will courses change from orange to white?

There will be a phased roll-out starting from March with all courses going white by December. Nine courses will make the change March thru August with the majority then going white during September and October.  Stratford goes first on 14th March, followed by Hexham on the 17th and Newton Abbot on 25th March.

April: Worcester and Perth    May: Cartmel    July: Bangor on Dee   August: Fontwell Park and Sedgefield

Q:  Why is there a phased roll-out?

Courses will make the change during an appropriate downtime that allows work to be completed.  There will be a gradual roll-out with nine courses changing over the first six months (March-Aug) to give all trainers time to school their horses over white obstacles before the majority of courses change.

Courses may decide to change hurdles and fences on different dates but there cannot be a mixture of colours within one discipline.

Q: Do trainers have to run their horses over white obstacles immediately?

No, trainers can bring out their horses when ready. The roll-out is gradual, with just nine courses changing over the first six months, and all races to be run over white fences will be clearly flagged to trainers in advance to allow them to consider entries. 

Q: Will this change genuinely reduce injuries and fallers at courses?

The only way to further reduce fallers and injuries on British racecourses is to introduce a series of measures, on and off course, which help contribute to increased safety and welfare of all participants. There is no question that visual information is crucial to enable horses to see and read obstacles more easily. So, through science and research, a simple way to improve the visibility of obstacles for racehorses has been identified - by looking through the eyes of the horse - and changes are being made as a result.  

Q: Will the Festival or Grand National be run over white fences? If not why not?

All racecourses need the appropriate amount of time to complete the work and no course will change mid-season. For National Hunt courses, the work will be carried out during the summer break. Cheltenham old course is scheduled to be white for its meeting on 21st October and the new course on 9th December. Aintree will be white for its meeting on 23rd October.

Q: If this change will help reduce fallers, why are you not implementing ready for The Festival and Grand National 

No course will change mid-season. The change to white is being phased in gradually and responsibly to ensure all trainers get sufficient time to school their horses appropriately.  In addition, every course needs their break to have the necessary time to carry out the work.

Q: Is there not an issue for horses with having a mix of courses throughout 2022?

It’s important to phase in the change gradually and responsibly and no racecourse will change mid-season.

All steps are being taken to flag to trainers which courses are changing and when, so decisions can be made regarding entries.

Q: You announced in October 2018 that you were trialling a mix of fluorescent yellow and white on fences, why have you changed to only white?

Yellow was trialled in 2019. The fluorescent colour on the vinyl wraps was found to fade significantly within a short period of time, requiring replacement after only 3-4 months of use. In consultation with Exeter University it was agreed that white should be used for all required elements of hurdles and fences.

Q: Why are you implementing this change across all courses without a trial period within a live racing environment?
A number of trainers changed to white after the research was shared in 2018/19 and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.  Richard Phillips was involved in the original research and has reported zero issues since changing his schooling obstacles to white three years ago. This is a simple change of colour, based on science and research and it’s being done to ensure we improve the visibility of hurdles and fences to help horses see and read them more effectively.

The use of white is not new. Almost all other racing jurisdictions race over white obstacles and the XC course at Cheltenham has included white since its inception.  

Q: Trainers are saying you’re rushing through implementation and have asked for trials to be done first – why is this/will you consider this?

Racing must continuously improve and progress safety and welfare across the sport and this includes doing everything possible to reduce injuries and fallers. Through science and research, a simple way to improve the visibility of obstacles for racehorses has been identified and changes are being made as a result. A cross-industry working group has agreed implementation, in full consultation with and agreement of the NTF, RCA and BHA.  For trainers it’s a question of schooling appropriately before entering a race using white obstacles.  Introduction on courses is being phased in gradually and responsibly with only nine courses going white over the first six months. All steps are being taken to flag to trainers which courses are changing and when, so decisions can be made regarding entries.

Q: Have trainers and jockeys been consulted?

The NTF shared the proposed change with the National Hunt Committee and 30 leading trainers in November 2021 and asked for feedback. No objections were received. The remainder of the trainer community was updated in January via NTF and BHA channels.  

The orange to white project was led by a cross-industry Working Group including trainers, jockeys, clerks of the course, the BHA and headed up by the Horse Welfare Board’s Equine Safety Advisor. The group worked with key stakeholders including the NTF and RCA to agree implementation and roll-out. The outcomes of the Exeter University project were also shared widely in 2018 and 2019.

Q: How are Irish trainers being informed? Will Irish courses also go white?

The BHA has been in regular contact with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board about the change to white.

Q: When are training centre grounds changing?

All training centres will have white obstacles available for schooling. Lambourn, Middleham and Malton have introduced white with remaining centres following over the coming weeks

Q: What is the total cost of the project?

Around £350K is being invested in making the change across all 40 British racecourses.

Q: Who is providing the funding?

The racecourses will part fund with £255K of support provided by the Horserace Betting Levy Board

Q: Aren’t there more important things to invest this money into for the good of the sport?

There is nothing more important than the welfare of the horses and jockeys in our sport.  Every opportunity to help reduce the number of fallers and injuries will be taken. Science and research have shown we can help racehorses see and read fences more effectively with a change of colour and that’s what is being done. 

Q: Who is leading on this project?

The project was instigated by the BHA in 2017, with support from the RSPCA and funding from the Racing Foundation. The research took place in 2018 with initial finding shared at the end of that year. The Horse Welfare Board took-on responsibility for completion and delivery from February 2020 as part of the launch of the ‘Life Well Lived’ strategy. 

Q: Which other equestrian disciplines/racing territories use this approach to colour?

A: Similar research has also been carried out by British Eventing and the benefits of white are understood and used across the world in eventing and show jumping to help horses ‘read’ fences. Other international jurisdictions, such as Racing Victoria, France, Czech Republic, New Zealand, USA, Germany, and Switzerland, all use ‘white’ fences. The cross-country course at Cheltenham, which has been running for 25 years, has a set of white post and rails and white on its fences which has never caused any refusals or run outs. 

 Q: Will white need more maintenance than the orange?  

The white should be kept as clean as possible during race days in the same way as the orange. The elements that can be painted will be painted and maintained as normal. 

Q: Will horses spook at the white? 

Providing they are prepared properly we would not expect horses to spook within the race environment. The cross-country race at Cheltenham which has been used for circa 25 years has always had white painted rails and no horses have refused or run out at any of these fences. Similarly in France, they have always used white on their fences in racing. In other equestrian disciplines horses are familiar with the use of colour and so the use of white is not setting a precedent. 

 

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