Injuries outside of horseracing: is it time to focus on injury prevention of jockeys outside of races?
Abstract: : Falls and injuries are frequent in professional horseracing. However, professional jockeys spend a large part of their week in horse-related activities outside of racing such as schooling, exercise riding, and yard-related activities. The injury risk related to these activities remains largely unknown internationally. This study aimed to identify the injury prevalence and injury profile of flat and jump jockeys during non-racing activities. : In total 45.6% and 38.5% of all licensed Irish professional flat and jump jockeys completed a cross-sectional self-recall questionnaire examining injuries that occurred outside of racing during 2018. Injury proportion, repeat incidence proportion, and descriptive statistics were calculated. : Fifteen percent of professional jockeys sustained an injury outside of a race, half of those injured receiving at least another injury in 2018 and 66.52 injuries per 1,000 falls were noted. Injuries frequently occurred to the upper limb (36.67%), with fractures common (32.00%). Most injuries occurred due to a fall (60.00%) and 77.27% occurred in the gallops. Half of injuries resulted in the jockey missing racing, with 31.00 ± 47.18 (4-180) days lost on average. Twenty-three percent of jockeys attended hospital and 16.67% required surgery due to injury. Interestingly, just under a third did not report their injury to anyone. : Injuries to professional jockeys, whilst not as frequent outside of racing, tend to be serious and can affect jockeys financially and impact their availability to ride. Prioritizing injury prevention strategies to maximize availability of jockeys to race is important. Education on the importance of reporting all injuries regardless of where they occur is important to ensure their management and rehabilitation.
Publication Date: 2020-04-28 PubMed ID: 32326866DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2020.1760693Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research looks into the prevalence and nature of injuries sustained by professional jockeys during horse-related activities outside of racing. It finds that while injuries are less frequent, they are often serious and can impact jockeys financially and professionally.
Research Aim and Methodology
- The primary aim of the study was to ascertain the injury rate and injury profile of flat and jump jockeys when they were involved in horse-related activities outside of racing. These activities typically include schooling, exercise riding, and yard-related activities.
- In order to achieve this, licensed Irish professional jockeys were asked to complete a self-recall questionnaire, assessing injuries that happened outside of racing in the year 2018.
Results and Findings
- Out of all the respondents, it was found that 15% suffered an injury during a non-racing horse-related activity. Additionally, half of the injured jockeys experienced another injury during that year, resulting in a recorded injury ratio of 66.52 injuries per 1,000 falls.
- Injuries mostly involved the upper limbs (36.67%) and fractures were quite common (32.00%).
- The majority of injuries (60.00%) resulted from a fall, and 77.27% happened during gallops.
- About half of the injuries led to the jockeys missing racing, with an average loss of 31 days of work. Furthermore, around 23% had to seek hospital treatment, and approximately 17% needed surgery due to their injuries.
- Interestingly, just under a third of the jockeys chose not to report their injury to anyone.
Conclusions
- Though injuries incurred outside of racing events are not as frequent, they tend to be severe, affecting the jockeys both financially and professionally due to necessary recovery periods.
- The study underlines the critical need for injury prevention strategies designed to increase the availability of jockeys for races.
- Moreover, it emphasizes the crucial role of education in impressing upon athletes the significance of reporting all injuries, irrespective of where and how they occur, ensuring proper management and rehabilitation.
Cite This Article
APA
O'Connor S, Warrington G, O'Brien S, McDermott E, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Cullen S.
(2020).
Injuries outside of horseracing: is it time to focus on injury prevention of jockeys outside of races?
Phys Sportsmed, 49(1), 45-50.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2020.1760693 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Injury Prevention and Performance, Athletic Therapy and Training, Dublin City University , Dublin, Ireland.
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science and the Health Research Institute, Faculty of Educational Health Sciences, University of Limerick , Limerick, Ireland.
- Centre for Injury Prevention and Performance, Athletic Therapy and Training, Dublin City University , Dublin, Ireland.
- Centre for Injury Prevention and Performance, Athletic Therapy and Training, Dublin City University , Dublin, Ireland.
- The Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board , Kildare, Ireland.
- The Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board , Kildare, Ireland.
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Waterford Institute of Technology , Waterford, Ireland.
MeSH Terms
- Accidental Falls / prevention & control
- Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
- Accidents, Occupational / prevention & control
- Accidents, Occupational / statistics & numerical data
- Animals
- Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
- Athletic Injuries / prevention & control
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Dunne A, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Harrison M, O'Connor S, O'Loughlin G, Cullen S. Physical and Lifestyle Factors Influencing Bone Density in Jockeys: A Comprehensive Update of the Bone Density Status of Irish Jockeys. Int J Exerc Sci 2021;14(6):324-337.
- Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Chin YY, Rogers CW. Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 26;15(1):14686.
- Morrice-West AV, Thomas M, Wong ASM, Flash M, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Linkage of jockey falls and injuries with racehorse injuries and fatalities in Thoroughbred flat racing in Victoria, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1481016.
- Newton LJ, Dobbin N, Goodwin P, Crampton JS. Factors associated with time to return to horse racing following a clavicle fracture in jockeys competing in Great Britain: A review and analysis of medical records. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0317724.
- Neville EK, Hicks H, Neville CC. Epidemiology of horse trauma: a literature review. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2024 Jun;50(3):741-754.
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