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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med / Assessing the risk for major injuries in equestrian sports.
BMJ open sport & exercise medicine2018; 4(1); e000408; doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000408

Assessing the risk for major injuries in equestrian sports.

Abstract: Horse riding is a popular sport, which bears the risk of serious injuries. This study aims to assess whether individual factors influence the risk to sustain major injuries. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from all equine-related accidents at a German Level I Trauma Centre between 2004 and 2014. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for major injures. Results: 770 patients were included (87.9% females). Falling off the horse (67.7%) and being kicked by the horse (16.5%) were the two main injury mechanisms. Men and individuals of higher age showed higher odds for all tested parameters of serious injury. Patients falling off a horse had higher odds for being treated as inpatients, whereas patients who were kicked had higher odds for a surgical therapy (OR 1.7) and intensive care unit/intermediate care unit (ICU/IMC) treatment (OR 1.2). The head was the body region most often injured (32.6%) and operated (32.9%). Patients with head injuries had the highest odds for being hospitalised (OR 6.13). Head or trunk injuries lead to the highest odds for an ICU/IMC treatment (head: OR 4.37; trunk: OR 2.47). Upper and lower limb injuries showed the highest odds for a surgical therapy (upper limb: OR 2.61; lower limb: OR 1.7). Conclusions: Risk prevention programmes should include older individuals and males as target groups. Thus a rethinking of the overall risk assessment is necessary. Not only horseback riding itself, but also handling a horse bears a relevant risk for major injuries. Serious head injures remain frequent, serious and an important issue to be handled in equestrians sports.
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Publication Date: 2018-10-16 PubMed ID: 30364519PubMed Central: PMC6196937DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000408Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the risk factors associated with severe injuries in equestrian sports. By analyzing data from a German Level I Trauma Centre, the study identifies age, gender, and cause of injury as key influences on the severity and nature of equestrian-related injuries.

Methods and Study Population

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective study using data collected from all horse-related accidents at a German Level I Trauma Centre over a ten-year period from 2004 to 2014.
  • The study population consisted of 770 patients, of whom 87.9% were female.

Nature of Injuries

  • The researchers found that the two main mechanisms of injury were falling off the horse (67.7% of cases) and being kicked by the horse (16.5% of cases).
  • The area of the body most frequently injured and operated on was the head, constituting 32.6% and 32.9% of cases respectively.

Risk Factors for Serious Injuries

  • Using logistic regression analysis, the study found that being male and of a higher age increased the odds of sustaining serious injury for all tested parameters.
  • Patients who fell off a horse were more likely to require inpatient treatment, while those who were kicked by a horse had higher odds for needing surgical therapy and treatment in an intensive care or intermediate care unit.
  • Patients with head injuries were most likely to require hospitalisation. Head or trunk injuries lead to the highest likelihood of an intensive or intermediate care unit treatment.
  • Upper and lower limb injuries were associated with the highest odds for a surgical therapy.

Implications and Conclusion

  • The study’s findings indicate a need for risk prevention programs in equestrian sports to focus on older individuals and males as they are the most susceptible to serious injuries.
  • The study also points out the need to reconsider risk assessment in equestrian sports, noting that not only horse riding, but also handling a horse, presents a significant risk for severe injuries.
  • It was concluded that serious head injuries remain frequent and serious issue in equestrian sports requiring further attention and preventive efforts.

Cite This Article

APA
Krüger L, Hohberg M, Lehmann W, Dresing K. (2018). Assessing the risk for major injuries in equestrian sports. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med, 4(1), e000408. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000408

Publication

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine
ISSN: 2055-7647
NlmUniqueID: 101681007
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 1
Pages: e000408
PII: e000408

Researcher Affiliations

Krüger, Lara
  • Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Hohberg, Maike
  • Chair of Statistics, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Lehmann, Wolfgang
  • Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Dresing, Klaus
  • Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Meyer HL, Scheidgen P, Polan C, Beck P, Mester B, Kauther MD, Dudda M, Burggraf M. Injuries and Overuse Injuries in Show Jumping-A Retrospective Epidemiological Cross-Sectional Study of Show Jumpers in Germany.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Feb 17;19(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042305pubmed: 35206487google scholar: lookup
  2. Corgan ME, Grandin T, Matlock S. Evaluating the Reaction to a Complex Rotated Object in the American Quarter Horse (Equus caballus).. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 13;11(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11051383pubmed: 34068020google scholar: lookup
  3. Chapman M, Thomas M, Thompson K. What People Really Think About Safety around Horses: The Relationship between Risk Perception, Values and Safety Behaviours.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 26;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122222pubmed: 33256171google scholar: lookup
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