Racecourse changes hurdles to improve horse safety

The new foam-padded jumps are replacing traditional birch hurdles

New padded hurdles are being used at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in an attempt to improve safety for horses and jockeys.

Foam-padded jumps are replacing hurdles that were traditionally made using birch for this year's event at the famous racecourse in Gloucestershire.

The Jockey Club said the padded hurdles reduced the chances of horses falling at a jump by about 11%.

Jon Pullin, clerk of the course at Cheltenham, said: "Horses seem to make a better shape when they jump the padded hurdles."

He added: "The vets who work with us on race days have commented on the positive benefits of the padded hurdle.

"They're seeing a lot less nicks, cuts and scrapes because of the extra cushioning effect, rather then jumping the traditional birch."

The new hurdles may also be easier for horses to see, according to an Exeter University study in 2018, that showed horses see in hues of blue and yellow and do not see contrast in the same way as humans.

As a result, switching from the white-framed hurdles with brown birch padding to white-framed hurdles with black padding may be easier to judge.

White-framed hurdles replaced orange frames in 2022.

A pilot programme is also taking place teaching stable staff at Cheltenham Racecourse skills to help make horses safer at events like the festival.

The programme intends to give stable workers better knowledge of equine anatomy and the physical effects racing can have.

Therese Murphy, director of the training provider Equi-ed, told the BBC: "We hope [the staff] will take what they've learned back to their yard and may be able to see things that are small issues now, but they can catch it early enough to stop it becoming a big problem.

"They should also be able to relay concise and proper information to a vet if one is needed."