The first edition of the International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) since the Covid-19 pandemic began was held at Auteuil Racecourse in Paris on Thursday, Sept. 28.
Topics of the conference featured presentations and panels on concussions, spinal injuries, and mental health and psychological fitness before concluding with recently retired third-generation jockey Tom Scudamore providing his reflections on the conference. Tom Stanley served as moderator.
The conference began with a presentation on management of concussion by Dr. Jerry Hill, Chief Medical Adviser, British Horseracing Authority (BHA), and Dr. Jennifer Pugh, Chief Medical Officer, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). Daloni Lucas, PhD Candidate at the Centre for Health, and Injury & Illness Prevention in Sport (CHi2PS), University of Bath, then presented the second session via video, where she focused on the exploration and prevention of spinal injuries to jockeys. In the afternoon, the third panel discussed the importance of mental health and the psychological fitness of riders. Participants included Professor Duncan Law, Consultant Clinical Psychologists, Changing Minds UK; Karen Lo, Sports Psychologist, Inner Edge, Hong Kong; and Dr. Ciara Losty, Sports Psychologist, Irish Jockey Pathway.
“The content today from our presenters has been absolutely superb,” said ICHSWJ Chairman Darragh O'Loughlin. “We are very excited to have the return of the International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys, albeit in a different format to how it previously existed. The steering committee for this conference is eager that, rather than being a standalone event that occurs periodically, it becomes more of a forum for sharing of experiences, sharing of information, and sharing of best practices.”
“It has been absolutely fascinating,” added Scudamore. “It has been wonderful to see such diverse panels and to get such an insight into what goes on behind the scenes. You can get very insular as a jockey. There are times when you think you are on your own, and I think today has proven we aren't on our own. We've got a lot of people who want to help.”
To view a video replay of the ICHSWJ please visit the IFHA YouTube channel and to find out more, go to IFHA website.
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