This page highlights some aspects of innovation relating to research opportunities and larger scale ‘Centre of Excellence’ concepts, along with a number of wider issues identified in the survey.

Research opportunities

From a research viewpoint, it is useful to divide equestrianism into five major interconnected areas:

Fig.3 Primary equestrian research areas

The horse: Traditional equine veterinary research can be integrated with a broad range of expertise from other disciplines. The resultant research may additionally impact on manufacturing processes in other sectors, wider business development and equestrian sport performance. Examples include:

• Analysis of hoof wall formation, structure and mechanical properties
  
• Analysis of horse jump mechanics providing the basis for (a) Training riders; (b) calibrating the difficulty of jumps together with their entry and exit conditions; (c) more accurate specification and design of facilities

• Measurement of physiological indicators of horse and rider psychology and performance

Equestrian equipment: Traditionally, many aspects of equestrian-related manufacturing have been craft based, relying on human skill and having no quantitative insight into product function or quality. Technical research in this area will have a profound influence on equestrian-related enterprise. Current examples suggest the types of developments that are possible and highlight the potential added value that could be generated by funding the extension of equestrian research and promoting it more widely:

• A recently completed project involving undergraduate students at Loughborough University and a carriage manufacturer in the region has developed a novel method for managing design and manufacturing information in SMEs.

• Saddle manufacturers in the West Midlands are working with Advantage West Midlands, Loughborough- and Wolverhampton Universities to develop innovative design and manufacturing methods based on state of the art engineering analysis techniques.

Equestrian enterprise: Major opportunities reflect the need to address fragmentation, modernisation and exploration of new initiatives to promote growth. For example:

• The academic sector has a primary role in facilitating the creation of sustainable networks that would start to engage with and take up the spare capacity in the equestrian sector.
  
• Survey and analysis of insurance claims made by riding school and livery customers may assist the growth of sustainable businesses and encourage improvement of the region’s wider equestrian and business infrastructure.
  
• Design of new training methods for people entering employment in equestrianism based on better agreement between stakeholders and commitment of resources by/with partners would address quality issues and enhance business performance.
  
• Detailed analysis of equestrian sector/industry infrastructures in other countries, especially Germany and France, which highlight good practice in the operation of local riding schools and equestrian tourism, respectively. Promoting business excellence in rural areas at a local level, this work could also encourage activities in various sectors that enhance the contribution of SME’s to diversification of the rural economy.
  
• Significant economic benefit could be obtained through adoption / adaptation of modern business management practices and tools developed in other industry sectors. For example, techniques routinely used to simulate operation and optimisation of factory layouts have been applied at Loughborough University to the operation of riding schools and liveries. These new tools would enable convenient quantitative business forecasting and optimisation of resources.
  
• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an emerging technique for the treatment of various mental disorders and rehabilitation of young offenders. It is timely to explore its benefit in the UK, through clinical studies that would bring together RDA, NHS and a range of other stakeholders. In this way, equestrian research may provide an evidence base while identifying the scope for generating new business and engagement with an important health agenda.

The rider: Traditionally, rider and/or horse performance is assessed visually at a distance by an instructor or trainer. However, technology is available to assemble visualisation systems that riders and instructors/trainers can wear during training, to display a range of factors that indicate rider and horse performance. Providing improved feedback to the instructor and rider, as well as an additional understanding of the partnership between horse and rider, this is an example of 'Augmented Reality' which offers new opportunities to investigate biomechanical phenomena and provide real time feedback on performance.

Elite performance development: Success under the equestrian funding regime established by Sport England and UK Sport relies on the integration of modern athletic performance development processes with traditional rider and horse training methods. Many of the innovations mentioned above provide mechanisms to enable this policy objective, with the possibility of spin off technology and processes enhancing elite performance in a wide range of sports.

From the breadth of research activities in the foregoing list it should be noted that:

• There are numerous opportunities for the Higher Education/ Further Education sector to become an integral and influential part of equestrianism.
  
• As a source of research excellence and expertise, the HE/FE sector can assist the growth of equestrianism in number of technical and commercial directions, including the creation of an innovative, hi tech, culturally relevant image.
  
• Developments within equestrianism and the focus of equestrian business can be built upon to create a range of wealth generating spin off activities.
  
• There is an opportunity to bring together academic and industry stakeholders to establish a world class base for equestrian and related research in the East Midlands.

Centre of Excellence concepts

In recent years there has been considerable interest in the possibility of creating a Centre of Equestrian Excellence in the East Midlands. Initially, thoughts centred on equestrian heritage and ways that it might be capitalized on, especially in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. Although considerable progress has since been made by project promoters in identifying rational elements of structure and purpose, no single model has yet emerged from the region, the BEF’s Facilities Strategy process or the associated deliberations at a national level. In part, this has been due to the rich variety of activity and fragmentation within equestrianism, wide ranging view points & specialisms of key stakeholders and lack of guidance from the BEF on its development of a national network of facilities. From a regional perspective, it is important to note that this network may include creation of a new National Equestrian Centre.

Concepts:

Key concepts that have been debated for some time are:

• The East Midlands region as a centre of excellence, also implying excellence of the wider infrastructure for riding and excellence of the equestrian experience
  
• Hosting of a wider range of high level competitions. The region is well regarded for annually hosting two international eventing competitions. However, it lacks similar profile in other disciplines, such as dressage, endurance and show jumping
  
• The development of a new physical centre that would be a focus for instruction, training and competition
  
• A research centre or network that could support equestrianism through innovation in various commercial, veterinary, technical and operational areas
  
• A joint industry / FE network, as well as a centre for the development of vocational training
  
• An equestrian museum, possibly linked to academic study of cultural, heritage/tradition and zoological issues.

Whilst these concepts address key elements of equestrianism, each is vague about implementation. Indeed, there is overlap and several possible projects share aspects of implementation. While there are great potential advantages of creating a Centre of Excellence in the East Midlands, there is a possible risk in the view of many in the industry of damaging existing equestrian business through inappropriate implementation.

Reflecting these opportunities and concerns, it is suggested here that the remit of a Regional or National Centre should comprise of four key elements that draw together and would then realise all of the above concepts:

• Provide high quality instruction and training for riders and horses
• Host national and international level competitions
• Have an international presence in equestrian related research
• Play a pivotal role in developing all aspects of equestrianism

If a Centre of Excellence were developed in the region to complement the existing infrastructure of the industry, it should aim to strike a careful balance between adding new resource where needed and helping existing resources to modernise. This approach allows the possibility of developing a new physical centre as a strong focal point whilst also adding value to existing businesses. In this way, a Centre would act as both a focus and driver of sustainable economic growth in the rural economy. Beyond this core expertise, the research element would impact the wider manufacturing economy through generating spin-off intellectual property.

Benefits:

On the basis of this functionality, establishing the National- or a lesser Regional Centre of Excellence in the East Midlands offers numerous benefits to the region:

• Wider international recognition of the region’s sporting, recreational and cultural profiles.
• Increased attractiveness and visibility of the East Midlands as an internationally competitive location for inward investment
• Increased international standing of the region through the hosting of significant equestrian events.
• Due to its relatively central position and good transport networks, a major Centre in the region would encourage greater attendance than many other UK and international locations.
• A focus for developing better equestrian engagement with the rural agenda through promoting an enhanced equestrian infrastructure.
• A strong driver of equestrian related tourism through enhancing the growth and viability of rural businesses by disseminating best practice and raising the profile.
• Attraction of riders and horses nationally and from around the world for high quality state of the art training.
• Opportunity to encourage and promote developments in equestrian business management in both service provision and manufacture.
• New focus on technical understanding of equestrian equipment to support improved standards of new product development, including functionality, design, manufacture and business performance.
• Wide ranging spin offs from technical understanding into other sports, as well as clinical techniques and processes, and the engineering of biomimetic and other intelligent materials in other sectors of the economy.

Opportunities:

For convenience below, specific measures to realise these advantages as opportunities are grouped under potential activities of a notional Centre in the East Midlands:

• Provide high quality instruction and training for riders and horses
• Promoting a network of instructors, trainers and riders.
• Development of innovative instruction and training processes through integration of traditional training methods with human sport science at Loughborough University , equine psychology at Nottingham Trent University and equine sport medicine at Nottingham University.
• Marketing of new expertise and innovative training/instruction processes to establish international customer base.
• Enhancement of instruction and training processes through adoption of innovative methods of performance measurement and visualisation developed within the research element, as summarised below.
• Commercialisation of new processes through training the trainers and franchising.
  
  
• Host national and international level competitions
• Burghley and Chatsworth are well established international eventing competitions.
• There is a need for a recognised network of good quality venues across the region for eventing at lower levels.
• There is a need for arena based facilities to host competitions in dressage, show jumping and other disciplines, providing seating for audiences of around 10,000.
• Endurance riding competitions require adequate off-road access on routes of up to 100 miles. This would be dependent on (and good reason for) better engagement of equestrianism with wider rural issues with partners across the region.
  
  
• Have an international presence in equestrian related research
• The East Midlands already has a broad equestrian related research base.
• The forthcoming veterinary school at Nottingham University is a significant addition.
• There is opportunity to develop a network that can integrate academic and industry stakeholders.
• Currently recognised research topics provide a broad starting point for developing a sustainable research network.
• Significant potential spin-offs for innovative technology development and new business sectors already identified.
  
  
• Play a pivotal role in developing all aspects of equestrianism
• Encourage / facilitate better engagement of equestrianism with partners in the region that are addressing wider rural issues.
• Encourage / facilitate development of new off-road access for various user groups in association with farmers, landowners, local authorities and partners.
• Encourage / facilitate increased participation in recreational riding and carriage driving in association with the relevant equestrian sport governing bodies, Riding for the Disabled Association, the Department of Health and the various NHS Primary Care Trusts.
• With partners promoting tourism development in the region, encourage / facilitate development of equestrian related tourism products, including adequate accommodation, veterinary, farriery, dentistry, repair and retail networks.
• Develop and promote improved business practices and effective use of Information and Communication Technologies, with Learning and Skills Councils and the Further Education sector.
• Develop and promote improved vocational training with Learning and Skills Councils, the Further Education sector and equine businesses.
• Commercialisation or other promotion of equestrian research results.
• Encourage / facilitate better consideration of equestrian related services in a range of government thinking, eg Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, health and wellbeing, changing demographic issues and active recreation for all ages.

Wider scope for innovation

Recreation

• Formation of networks, such as Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland Recreational Riding Association (WESRRA) and Blaby Recreational Riding Association (BRRA) in Leicestershire, Bolsover Riders’ Forum in Nottinghamshire and various local riders groups in Derbyshire. These networks represent a new level of grass roots infrastructure that can work with local authorities and others in an integrated way to address local issues such as road safety, off-road access and community involvement.
  
• Alongside measures to encourage wider participation in equestrian activities, initiatives that increase opportunities for recreational riding would be of wider significance for identification of new talent in equestrian sports. In addition to promoting new events through supporting the Long Term Athlete Development concept in an equestrian sport context, increased participation would generate increased business for the equestrian sector supply chain businesses and other sectors of the economy.

Performance

The equestrian sector needs to work out how to engage more effectively with the scope for innovation presented by the Long Term Athlete Development model promoted by Sport England. Given the numbers of instructors, trainers, riders at all levels and the existing sport science base in the East Midlands, much could be done to develop innovative instruction and training processes that integrate appropriate elements of traditional and modern practices. This would lead to several benefits:

• Regional delivery of the BEF’s World Class Programmes
• Delivery of comparable training at all levels in the non-Olympic disciplines
• Generation of new enterprise. Establishing the East Midlands as a world leading centre for equestrian instruction and training would impact on several strategies involving other regional bodies

Links and Influences

Innovative networking and liaison are strongly correlated with improved performance and there are far reaching opportunities for equestrianism to engage more widely and positively with wider networks and agencies. Following the lead provided by Leicestershire County Council's Equestrian Strategy, for example:

• Equestrian stakeholders learning to work in a more coordinated way at the county level, interacting with Sub-Regional Partnerships, Rural Community-, County-, Borough-, and Parish Councils to develop more integrated approaches to decision making and actions concerning equestrianism and the rural economy.
  
• ABRS, BETA, BHS, emda and the HE and FE sectors, local authorities and others jointly developing a more integrated view of equestrian business development.

Enterprise

There are numerous opportunities to develop tourism products that have a greater or lesser input from equestrianism. If developed in a considered way, such products could be strong levers for integrating often conflicting issues such as rural diversification, off-road access and growth of equestrian business.