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Home / Equine Research Bank / Scand J Med Sci Sports / Development of a video analysis protocol and assessment of f...
Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports2021; 31(12); 2187-2197; doi: 10.1111/sms.14037

Development of a video analysis protocol and assessment of fall characteristics in equestrian cross-country eventing.

Abstract: Cross-country eventing is one of the highest-risk sporting activities for serious injury outcomes. This study investigated relationships between fall characteristics and high-risk falls at jumps in cross-country eventing. A video analysis protocol was systematically developed to analyze 87 video recordings of high-risk rider falls; defined as when the rider's head impacted the ground and/or where there was potential horse impact with the rider. Falls were classified according to competition type, jump type, horse-related, and rider-related factors. At least one high-risk fall characteristic was observed in 45 of 87 examined falls. Multivariable best subsets regression identified five independent variables explaining 38.4% of the variance in the number of high-risk falls. Increased likelihood of high-risk falls was associated with continuation of horse direction or speed upon rider ground impact, higher jump approach speed, changes in rider body posture upon landing, rider air jacket usage, and reduced rider fall time. The Eventing Fall Assessment Instrument (EFAI) video analysis protocol (attached as supplementary material) facilitated systematic examination of multiple characteristics associated with high-risk falls and identified likely influential characteristics. Based on EFAI and subsequent data analyses, findings suggest optimized approach speed for correct striding and take-off; jump design to enable run-out; and rider training could help reduce the occurrence of high-risk falls. Air jacket usage and their design characteristics warrant further investigation.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-01 PubMed ID: 34423879DOI: 10.1111/sms.14037Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 focuses on understanding fall characteristics during equestrian cross-country eventing to identify high-risk falls at jumps. The researchers developed a systematic protocol for video analysis and discovered some key factors associated with high-risk falls which could be mitigated through proper training and other precautions.

Development of Video Analysis Protocol

  • To understand the risk factors contributing to falls in equestrian cross-country eventing, researchers developed a systematic video analysis protocol. They analyzed a total of 87 video recordings of high-risk rider falls. These were defined as falls where the rider’s head impacted the ground and/or there was potential horse impact with the rider.
  • The researchers classified falls according to variables like the type of competition, type of jump, and factors related to the horse and rider.
  • They then created the Eventing Fall Assessment Instrument (EFAI), a protocol for analyzing and categorizing the recorded falls.

Fall Characteristics and High-risk Factors

  • Among the 87 recorded falls, at least one high-risk characteristic was observed in 45 cases.
  • Multivariable best subsets regression analysis was used to identify the most significant factors contributing to high-risk falls. Five independent variables were found to explain 38.4% of the variance in the number of high-risk falls.
  • These included continuation of horse direction or speed upon rider ground impact, higher jump approach speed, changes in rider body posture upon landing, rider air jacket usage, and reduced rider fall time.

Recommendations & Further Research

  • Based on the EFAI and the data analysis, the researchers suggested that optimized approach speed for correct striding and take-off, jump design to enable run-out, and specific rider training could help to reduce the occurrence of high-risk falls.
  • The use of air jackets by riders was also found to be associated with high-risk falls. The design and characteristics of these air jackets warrant further investigation to minimize fall-related injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Nylund LE, Sinclair PJ, McLean AN, Cobley S. (2021). Development of a video analysis protocol and assessment of fall characteristics in equestrian cross-country eventing. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 31(12), 2187-2197. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14037

Publication

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
ISSN: 1600-0838
NlmUniqueID: 9111504
Country: Denmark
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 12
Pages: 2187-2197

Researcher Affiliations

Nylund, Lindsay E
  • School of Health Sciences, Discipline of Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Sinclair, Peter J
  • School of Health Sciences, Discipline of Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
McLean, Andrew N
  • Equitation Science International, Tuerong, Vic, Australia.
Cobley, Stephen
  • School of Health Sciences, Discipline of Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / physiopathology
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
  • Competitive Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Posture / physiology
  • Protective Clothing
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Time and Motion Studies
  • Video Recording

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Petrie FJ, Woodward JS, McLeod S, West SW, Salmon D, Gardner AJ, Shill IJ, Romanchuk J, Dane K, Kitchin M, Jones B, Mackintosh KA, Starbuck C, Hendricks S, Philips G, Jones S, Tierney G, McNarry MA. Falling and Landing Framework (FLF): A Consensus on a Novel Falling and Landing Video Analysis Framework for Use Across Rugby Codes. Eur J Sport Sci 2025 Aug;25(8):e70015.
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  2. Loder RT, Walker AL, Blakemore LC. Spinal Injuries from Equestrian Activity: A US Nationwide Study. J Clin Med 2025 Jun 26;14(13).
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