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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calcula...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2016; 6(2); 13; doi: 10.3390/ani6020013

Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?

Abstract: All horse-riding is risky. In competitive horse sports, eventing is considered the riskiest, and is often characterised as very dangerous. But based on what data? There has been considerable research on the risks and unwanted outcomes of horse-riding in general, and on particular subsets of horse-riding such as eventing. However, there can be problems in accessing accurate, comprehensive and comparable data on such outcomes, and in using different calculation methods which cannot compare like with like. This paper critically examines a number of risk calculation methods used in estimating risk for riders in eventing, including one method which calculates risk based on hours spent in the activity and in one case concludes that eventing is more dangerous than motorcycle racing. This paper argues that the primary locus of risk for both riders and horses is the jump itself, and the action of the horse jumping. The paper proposes that risk calculation in eventing should therefore concentrate primarily on this locus, and suggests that eventing is unlikely to be more dangerous than motorcycle racing. The paper proposes avenues for further research to reduce the likelihood and consequences of rider and horse falls at jumps.
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Publication Date: 2016-02-16 PubMed ID: 26891334PubMed Central: PMC4773740DOI: 10.3390/ani6020013Google 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.

This study focuses on the calculation of risk associated with the equestrian sport of eventing. It scrutinizes several common risk calculation methods and argues that the major area of risk lies in the act of jumping. Further, the study suggests that eventing might not be as dangerous as motorcycle racing, contrary to some suggestions, and recommends paths for future research.

Dissection of Various Risk Calculation Methods

  • The authors critically analyze multiple risk calculation methods that are applied to estimate risk for riders in the sport of eventing.
  • The intent is to highlight the weaknesses or flaws in these methods, which often do not provide an accurate representation of risk.
  • For instance, one of these methods estimates risk based on the number of hours spent participating in the sport. This method fails to consider the complexity of the maneuvers or the conditions under which the sport is played. In comparison, the study notes that eventing can appear more dangerous than motorcycle racing.

Focusing on The Jump

  • The fundamental argument put forward by the authors is that the principal source of risk in eventing stems from jumping.
  • The intricate dynamics involved in jumping, including the horse’s action and the conditions surrounding the jump, are presumed to hold the key dangers.
  • This proposal for a revised perspective on risk serves to focus attention on the most critical elements of the sport that require risk management.

Future Avenues of Research

  • The paper encourages further research in two primary avenues: reducing the likelihood of falls during jumps and minimizing the consequences of falls when they do occur.
  • The authors assert that by concentrating on these areas, safety measures and training practices in eventing can be enhanced, improving overall safety for both riders and horses.
  • This recommendation for future research is designed to direct investigations towards critical focal points that offer the most promise for risk reduction in the sport of eventing.

Cite This Article

APA
O'Brien D. (2016). Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing? Animals (Basel), 6(2), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6020013

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
PII: 13

Researcher Affiliations

O'Brien, Denzil
  • South Australian Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre, Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, 207 Hampstead Rd., Northfield, SA 5085, Australia. denzil.obrien@optusnet.com.au.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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