This is the research we need to help us with changing historical behaviours and practices around RWL within the horse racing industry. 🙌🏻 @DaveO_Neill

🏇 What’s Next? The study highlights the need for a multifaceted approach to reduce RWL in horseracing. With evidence, collaboration & advocacy, meaningful change is possible! Link to full article:

Facilitating change? ✅ Industry-wide collaboration & alignment ✅ Stronger evidence-based rationale for change ✅ Role models & incentives to drive behaviour shifts

💡 While raising minimum weights is complex, alternative strategies could help, including: ✅ Better education & support services with increased access ✅ Further researched individualised minimum riding weights

😣 Environmental/structural factors: low minimum weights, frequent racing, and limited access to education and support services influence a perceived lack of behavioural control.

👥 Social & cultural factors: tradition, peer influence and desire for validation, and pressure from trainers alter attitudes to RWL and promote it as a social norm amongst jockeys 🏇

📌 RWL was found to be widely accepted as "part of the job," despite awareness of its health & performance risks. The Theory of Planned Behaviour helped explain how social & structural factors create a self-reinforcing cycle of RWL 🔁

🔍 We conducted 33 interviews with key stakeholders across the horseracing industry to comprehensively understand the factors influencing RWL and to identify potential solutions.

🚨 New Research! 🚨 This was my first PhD study, which aimed to comprehensively explore factors influencing the persistent rapid weight loss (RWL) amongst jockeys, and the potential scope for change. 🏇🧵👇

Best interview of the week. Such perfect words from Jonjo. Brilliant. 👏👏👏👏

@geeves2012 @AdrianAmcgold @jenepugh @ihrb_ie Fellow students and staff at @SETU_Research @DSESSETU 📚

@geeves2012 @AdrianAmcgold @jenepugh @ihrb_ie The incredible people within the horseracing industry @HRIRacing @equuipHRI 🏇

@geeves2012 @AdrianAmcgold @jenepugh , the wider jockey research group and @ihrb_ie

Very grateful for the support from many people along the way, none more so than my supervisors Dr. SarahJane Cullen, Prof. @geeves2012 and Prof. Michael Harrison

Over the moon to successfully defend my PhD thesis yesterday. Thanks to @kenvansom and Dr. Maria Murphy-Griffin for a challenging but pleasurable viva voce. Thanks to Dr. Lawrence Siry for chairing. What a journey. Excited for whatever lies ahead! #PhDone

I am really looking forward to presenting some of my research on jockey weight-making patterns and race day physiology at @the_ASCA conference in Brisbane next week 🇦🇺 I would love to connect with coaches and sports scientists while I’m there, if you are going let me know! 🤝

Very busy but very enjoyable few weeks with the PhD! Great to share some work at All Ireland PG conference @ATUSport_Galway and @SETU_Research PG conference. Thanks for the fantastic events and the opportunity to present my work 🗣️

Super day @SETU_Research post graduate conference- lots of sport psych, mental health and jockey 🏇 research presented by @ShaneNoonan6 @davidOneill @georgiaTobin @clairemcdonald in conjunction with @HRIRacing and @ihrb_ie

We need participants for a study on the physiological effects of weight-making on the jockey! All jockeys are eligible to take part and will receive great insight into their health and performance 🏇 Testing will begin before racing at Punchestown next week. Please share.

"Coach as much as possible. It’s said a lot, but for good reason. Get experience with all age groups, various sports, different environments. Reflect and assess and think about how you’re developing into the coach you want to be" @DaveO_Neill https://t.co/rlxds1LXhr