The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to study and try and improve the way Jockeys 'make-weight' is in full swing under the leadership of Dr George Wilson and his team.
March 24, 2014, London, UK ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival partners with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) for study to improve the way Jockeys ‘make-weight’. Professional jockey from the UK, Franny Norton, Dr Graeme Close, James Mortin, Professor Keith Georges, and Professor Peter Wheeler, Dean of the John Moores University were also present at the base where this research, the first of its kind, is being done in partnership with the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and chairman of the IFHAR Ladies Racing Committee visited the university on Thursday, March 20 to meet with Dr. Wilson on this exclusive study on how jockeys might lose weight without affecting their mental behavior. Many jockeys choose to undertake severe food and drink restriction, use of laxatives, self-induced vomiting and chronic use of sweating to ‘make-weight’. These weight control practices are extremely dangerous for their physical and psychological health and have the possibility to of impairing riding performance.
Liverpool John Moores University along with a team that includes a clinical psychologist, physiologists, a nutritionist and a medical doctor, have designed and implemented a scientific diet plan which stops the use of these dangerous techniques but also includes specific psychological treatment strategies to treat potential mental health problems from sudden or drastic weight loss. Dr Graeme Close said, “Working with the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has allowed us to promote the physical and psychological well-being of all jockeys worldwide. We have put together a team including a clinical psychologist, physiologists, nutrition and a medical doctor who has worked for 25 years with jockeys.” “We are excited over this initiative under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, to implement the recommendations of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak EARS Conference. We are looking to making a positive impact in this arena,” said Ms Lara Sawaya on Thursday. The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development, Investment Company (TDIC), Al Rashid Investment, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE General Women Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, and Racing Post. ~end