Can a rocking horse save jockeys lives?

Aug 30th, 10
John Francome recalls the day he came to grief on Golden Rapper in the Grand National 34 years ago.

‘The first thing to hit the ground was the horse’s nose, followed a second later by my nose and I woke up in Walton hospital,’ said the seven-times champion jump jockey.

It could have been more serious, of course, but Francome appreciates the importance of preparing for the worst. 

Which was why he was at the British Racing School in Newmarket last week as a succession of young jockeys were taught the art of how to fall off a horse safely.

It was a sight to stir the blood on the coldest day; young jockeys cheerfully being fired into orbit from the French-built ‘equichute’ time and again, under the battle-hardened eye of former jump jockey Steve Smith Eccles.

Falls and serious injuries are an inevitable part of jump racing.

This summer alone, more than a dozen leading jockeys have been forced onto the sidelines including Robert Thornton, Andrew Thornton, Timmy Murphy, Jason Maguire, Wayne Hutchinson and flat racing’s champion Ryan Moore.

But for three days last week, thanks to the initiative of the Injured Jockeys Fund, inexperienced amateurs and conditionals were put through their paces on a fall simulator bought by the Alborada Trust. 

Fall guys: Young jockeys learn how to take a tumble safely at the British Racing School

Francome is a passionate advocate of the machine.

‘There is absolutely no doubt it will save lives and prevent no end of injuries,’ he said. ‘If it stops one person a year from ending up in a wheelchair, then it has paid for itself 10 times over.

‘It will be good for everybody from jockeys to happy hackers and event riders. In my view, everyone who rides should go on this machine.

‘I saw Jason Maguire starting his comeback in the gym the other day. He wouldn’t have broken his leg if he’d learned how to fall.’

Francome was an instant convert to the machine. He recalled: ‘I popped over to France to see it with Brough Scott, chairman of the IJF. 

Going: Jockey learns how to hit the deck

Once we saw it in action, we knew straight away that we had to have one. ‘It is so obvious. Anyone who has ever ridden can see the benefits.

The great thing is that it teaches riders to be proactive and do something when they come off as opposed to just waiting to hit the ground.’

The years rolled back for Francome and Scott as they both tried out the equichute for themselves and immediately found the ground rushing up to meet them.

Scott said: ‘Helping to avoid injury by using this machine rather than picking up the pieces has to make sense.’

Francome goes further.

He said: ‘You don’t become a sky diver without any training on how to land. But nobody ever teaches you what to do when you fall off a horse, and if you can’t manouevre yourself to fall off properly, you are a risk and should not be riding. 

Gone: A budding jockey learns how to hit the deck

‘Once they lose contact with the horse, the majority of riders don’t do anything to protect themselves.

'By using this machine under Steve’s instruction, the lads are learning to tuck in their shoulders and keep rolling to get away from the horse. That’s the key to avoiding injury.

‘Jockeys have to get used to falling because it is part of the job. Plenty of them will gain confidence from practising on it.’  ByJonathan Powell/Daily Mail