Racecourse
monitoring.
Measure ground response across the course, follow variation between fixtures and support discussions around going and maintenance.
Discuss course monitoringEQUINE SURFACE SCIENCE
Know
your ground.
See how your surface responds.
Make clearer decisions in the field.
Independent surface testing, monitoring and applied research for racing and eventing.
RACINGEVENTINGRESEARCH
SURFACE RESPONSE
FROM IMPACT TO INSIGHTMeasure the response
ILLUSTRATIVE SEQUENCE · NOT TO SCALE
Surfaces in sight. Insights in action.Explore below
From a single impact
to the bigger picture.
01MeasureObjective field testing
02MapSee spatial variation
03MonitorFollow changes over time
04InterpretPractical reporting
FIELD NOTES / 01
One straight.
Different ground.
A course average is a starting point. Look across the running lines, then follow how the response changes over time.
EXPLORE A REAL FIELD EXAMPLE
Anonymised course · morning measurements · schematic layout
AT THE WINNING POST
A different response
across three lines.
About these measurements
Day 1 uses a single reference line. Days 2 and 3 use separate inside, middle and outside lines at seven locations. Readings describe the sampled morning conditions; later rainfall means they are not race-time measurements.
Cushioning colours use the interpretation bands from this particular report and are not an official going declaration. Upper and lower firmness use a separate blue scale. The diagram does not represent horse trajectories or identify a fastest line.
WHAT WE DO
Surface science.
Working in the field.
Clear measurements and practical context for the people preparing, managing and studying equine surfaces.
Racecourse
Venue & course
assessment.
Assess cross-country ground across fields and sectors, bringing objective measurements alongside practical experience and rider feedback.
Discuss your venueApplied surface
research.
Field data collection, international studies and reporting that connect surface measurements with the wider questions in equestrian sport.
Explore the researchWHAT YOU RECEIVE
Location measurements + Course maps + Clear summaries + Practical discussion
THE GROUND & THE HORSE
What does the ground
mean for the horse?
For jockeys, trainers, owners and everyone who cares about racehorses: surface information belongs in the conversation about performance and welfare.
Understand the racing context.
Published turf studies have identified relationships between ground measurements and racing performance.
[1] Hobbs et al. (2024) [2] Legg et al. (2026b)Keep the wider picture in view.
A British Flat-racing study linked firmer going with higher odds of race-day fatality. Horse- and race-related factors also mattered.
[3] Rosanowski et al. (2018)Groundlytics adds measurements of surface response and variation before racing. Reports help make the conditions underfoot visible, alongside the horse, race and course context.
Explore the evidence
MEASURED WHERE IT MATTERS
Real ground.
Real conditions.
Work across racing and eventing, with field projects in the UK, Ireland, the USA and mainland Europe.
Meet GroundlyticsTHE SCIENCE BEHIND THE WORK
Built on research.
Made useful in practice.
Groundlytics draws on a wider equine surface research network. The Vienna Surface Tester is one of the key tools used to examine surface response in the field.
Our role is to turn those measurements into understandable maps, reports and conversations around ground management.
How the VST worksLET’S TALK
What could your
ground tell you?
Tell us about your course, venue or research project.