FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Current sports medicine reports2010; 9(5); 299-302; doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181f32056

Equestrian sport-related injuries: a review of current literature.

Abstract: Equestrian sports continue to grow in popularity in the Unites States and abroad, with an estimated 30 million people riding horses annually in the United States alone. Approximately one in five of these riders will suffer a serious injury during their riding career, requiring medical care and potentially hospitalization. Riding carries with it an implicit risk of injury associated with the unpredictability of the animals, the rider's head being positioned approximately 9 feet off the ground, and traveling unrestrained at speeds up to 40 mph. This article reviews common equestrian injuries, epidemiology, mechanism of injury, risk factors, and prevention strategies, with an emphasis on the more dangerous aspects of the sport.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-09-10 PubMed ID: 20827097DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181f32056Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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.

This research article focuses on the study of injuries related to equestrian sports, analysing their common types, occurrence frequency, causes, risk factors, and methods of prevention, given the implicit risk these sports carry due to the unpredictability of the horses and the high speeds involved.

Common Equestrian Injuries and Epidemiology

  • The research identifies and details the types of injuries that are common in equestrian sports. This could range from minor injuries like cuts and bruises to severe traumas and life-threatening injuries like concussion or spinal cord damage.
  • The article also discusses the epidemiology of such injuries, meaning it explores the distribution, patterns, and determinants of the health and safety issues associated with those injuries in the equestrian sporting community.

Mechanism of Injury and Risk Factors

  • The authors delve into the mechanisms that result in equestrian injuries. Such mechanisms could include falls from the horse, being kicked by the horse, and so on.
  • In addition, the article evaluates the risk factors that contribute to these injuries. Factors can be intrinsic (like skills, fitness, and the rider’s cognitive ability to control the horse) or extrinsic (like the environment, equipment used, and the horse’s behavior).

Prevention Strategies

  • The manuscript presents strategies to prevent or minimize the risk of injuries in equestrian sports. These could include the use of appropriate safety gear (helmets, boots, body protectors), having good quality training, following safety rules, using well-trained horses, and maintaining good communication between the rider and the horse.
  • The article emphasizes addressing the more dangerous aspects of the sport, suggesting that higher-level precautions and safety measures need to be enforced, especially considering that riders’ heads are typically positioned approximately 9 feet off the ground and travel unrestrained at high speeds – a risky combination.

Cite This Article

APA
Havlik HS. (2010). Equestrian sport-related injuries: a review of current literature. Curr Sports Med Rep, 9(5), 299-302. https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181f32056

Publication

Current sports medicine reports
ISSN: 1537-8918
NlmUniqueID: 101134380
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 299-302

Researcher Affiliations

Havlik, Heather S
  • Sports Medicine Program, Charlotte Medical Clinic, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA. hshavlik@msn.com

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries / etiology
  • Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors

Citations

This article has been cited 19 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. Mutore K, Lim J, Fofana D, Torres-Reveron A, Skubic JJ. Hearing hoofbeats? Think head and neck trauma: a 10-year NTDB analysis of equestrian-related trauma in the USA. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 2021;6(1):e000728.
    doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2021-000728pubmed: 34595353google scholar: lookup
  3. Malchrowicz-Mośko E, Wieliński D, Adamczewska K. Perceived Benefits for Mental and Physical Health and Barriers to Horseback Riding Participation. The Analysis among Professional and Amateur Athletes. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 May 25;17(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103736pubmed: 32466221google scholar: lookup
  4. Kunutsor SK, Leyland S, Skelton DA, James L, Cox M, Gibbons N, Whitney J, Clark EM. Adverse events and safety issues associated with physical activity and exercise for adults with osteoporosis and osteopenia: A systematic review of observational studies and an updated review of interventional studies. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls 2018 Dec;3(4):155-178.
    doi: 10.22540/JFSF-03-155pubmed: 32300705google scholar: lookup
  5. Krüger L, Hohberg M, Lehmann W, Dresing K. Assessing the risk for major injuries in equestrian sports. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000408.
    doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000408pubmed: 30364519google scholar: lookup
  6. Lemoine DS, Tate BJ, Lacombe JA, Hood TC. A Retrospective Cohort Study of Traumatic Brain Injury and Usage of Protective Headgear During Equestrian Activities. J Trauma Nurs 2017 Jul Aug;24(4):251-257.
    doi: 10.1097/JTN.0000000000000300pubmed: 28692623google scholar: lookup
  7. Majeedkutty NA, Khairulanuar NA. Prevalence, patterns, and correlates of equestrian injuries in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. J Family Community Med 2017 Jan-Apr;24(1):18-22.
    doi: 10.4103/2230-8229.197177pubmed: 28163571google scholar: lookup
  8. Chapman M, Thompson K. Preventing and Investigating Horse-Related Human Injury and Fatality in Work and Non-Work Equestrian Environments: A Consideration of the Workplace Health and Safety Framework. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 6;6(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6050033pubmed: 27164148google scholar: lookup
  9. Ikinger CM, Baldamus J, Spiller A. Factors Influencing the Safety Behavior of German Equestrians: Attitudes towards Protective Equipment and Peer Behaviors. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 18;6(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6020014pubmed: 26901229google scholar: lookup
  10. O'Brien D. Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?. Animals (Basel) 2016 Feb 16;6(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani6020013pubmed: 26891334google scholar: lookup
  11. Young JD, Gelbs JC, Zhu DS, Gallacher SE, Sutton KM, Blaine TA. Orthopaedic Injuries in Equestrian Sports: A Current Concepts Review. Orthop J Sports Med 2015 Sep;3(9):2325967115603924.
    doi: 10.1177/2325967115603924pubmed: 26535400google scholar: lookup
  12. Haigh L, Thompson K. Helmet Use Amongst Equestrians: Harnessing Social and Attitudinal Factors Revealed in Online Forums. Animals (Basel) 2015 Jul 17;5(3):576-91.
    doi: 10.3390/ani5030373pubmed: 26479375google scholar: lookup
  13. Srinivasan V, Pierre C, Plog B, Srinivasan K, Petraglia AL, Huang JH. Straight from the horse's mouth: neurological injury in equestrian sports. Neurol Res 2014 Oct;36(10):873-7.
    doi: 10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000373pubmed: 24725290google scholar: lookup
  14. Boije Af Gennäs K, Jungmalm J. Youth horse-related injuries (2014-2024): a scoping review of epidemiological and disciplinary insights. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2025;11(3):e002589.
    doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2025-002589pubmed: 40922806google scholar: lookup
  15. Maloney B, Jung MS, Kearns G, Bowe C. Equestrian-related maxillofacial injuries-a five-year retrospective review. Ir J Med Sci 2025 Aug;194(4):1339-1346.
    doi: 10.1007/s11845-025-03995-4pubmed: 40650793google scholar: lookup
  16. Duma LA, Begonia MT, Miller B, Jung C, Wood M, Duma BG, Rowson S. Equestrian STAR: Development of an Experimental Methodology for Assessing the Biomechanical Performance of Equestrian Helmets. Ann Biomed Eng 2025 Sep;53(9):2309-2332.
    doi: 10.1007/s10439-025-03723-0pubmed: 40293632google scholar: lookup
  17. Stigson H, Klingegård M. Characteristics of equestrian accidents and injuries leading to permanent medical impairment. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2024 Sep 4;16(1):184.
    doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00973-8pubmed: 39232810google scholar: lookup
  18. Crawford AE, Picken LK, Gabriel FD, Quade J, Gould S. CNS and Thorax Injury and Associated Risks Factors in Equestrian Sports. Sports Health 2025 Jul;17(4):697-702.
    doi: 10.1177/19417381241275655pubmed: 39206526google scholar: lookup
  19. Neville EK, Hicks H, Neville CC. Epidemiology of horse trauma: a literature review. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2024 Jun;50(3):741-754.
    doi: 10.1007/s00068-023-02436-0pubmed: 38265443google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.