Measurements for your course.
Course assessments and repeated monitoring show surface response, variation and change. Sampling and reporting are agreed with the venue team, with practical discussion of the findings.
Explore our services →Home About GroundlyticsFieldwork.
ABOUT GROUNDLYTICS
Fieldwork.
Research.
Practical insight.
Groundlytics brings objective equine surface measurements into the conversations around going, venue preparation and ground management.
WHY GROUNDLYTICS
Making surface data
useful in practice.
Groundlytics Ltd was founded by Altuğ Tatlısulu to make science-backed surface testing more accessible to racecourses and equestrian venues. The business combines field measurements with mapping, analysis and practical reporting.
Altuğ holds a BSc (Hons) in Equestrian Sports Science from Hartpury. His work spans racing and eventing, bringing together hands-on data collection, course interpretation and research collaboration.
The aim is to support more informed discussions around surface consistency, maintenance, performance context and horse welfare.
FOUNDER & FIELD RESEARCHERAltuğ
Altuğ
Tatlısulu
Equestrian Sports Science
Field testing · Mapping · Applied research
HOW THE WORK DEVELOPED
Research foundations.
Ongoing application.
The methods draw on the work of a wider research network. Groundlytics applies that background through monitoring and consultancy.
- EVENTING
A standardised ground protocol.
Earlier work focused on cross-country ground, comparing instruments and developing objective measurements alongside rider assessments.
- RACING
Going and performance context.
The work developed into British turf racing, including VST cushioning, normalised race-time analysis and the wider 2023–2024 Ground and Going study.
- GROUNDLYTICS / 2025
A practical service.
Groundlytics was established to provide surface measurements, racecourse monitoring and understandable reporting for venues.
- INTERNATIONAL WORK
Across racing and eventing.
Current work includes international turf studies and FEI-supported projects comparing objective surface readings with rider feedback.
MONITORING & RESEARCH
Practical fieldwork.
Research in the background.
Alongside racecourse monitoring, Groundlytics contributes measurements, mapping and technical reporting to ongoing collaborative studies.
Consistent Global Turf Ratings for a Global Sport: The First Step.
Groundlytics contributes field measurements, data management, mapping and technical reporting to this University of Lancashire-led study, funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation Limited.
The study examines turf assessment across racing jurisdictions. Analysis remains underway.
Eventing Cross-Country Going.
Groundlytics contributes cross-country surface measurements, maps, sector commentary and rider-feedback data to this FEI-funded collaborative study with the University of Lancashire.
The study considers objective ground response alongside rider assessments. Research remains ongoing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The network
behind the methods.
We acknowledge university researchers, veterinarians, venues and industry partners who helped develop the practical use of objective surface testing.
Vienna Surface Tester development
Professor Christian Peham
Dr Johannes Peter Schramel
Their development of the VST provided the foundation for surface-response measurement applied across bedding, turf, eventing and racing. We also acknowledge the wider teams at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Central Lancashire.
Research and development contributors
Alison J. Northrop, MScNottingham Trent University
Sarah Jane Hobbs, PhDUniversity of Central Lancashire
Robert W. Graydon, PhDUniversity of Central Lancashire
Amy Johnson, MResEquine surface research
Mark Lucey, MRCVSOwl House, Oxford
Jaime H. Martin, PhDNottingham Trent University
Altuğ Tatlısulu, BScGroundlytics Ltd / University of Central Lancashire
These acknowledgements recognise contributions across the wider research work; they are not a list of Groundlytics employees.
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