FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
British journal of sports medicine1999; 33(1); 46-48; doi: 10.1136/bjsm.33.1.46

Rider injury rates and emergency medical services at equestrian events.

Abstract: Horse riding is a hazardous pastime, with a number of studies documenting high rates of injury and death among horse riders in general. This study focuses on the injury experience of cross country event riders, a high risk subset of horse riders. Methods: Injury data were collected at a series of 35 equestrian events in South Australia from 1990 to 1998. Results: Injury rates were found to be especially high among event riders, with frequent falls, injuries, and even deaths. The highest injury rates were among the riders competing at the highest levels. Conclusions: There is a need for skilled emergency medical services at equestrian events.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1999-02-23 PubMed ID: 10027058PubMed Central: PMC1756135DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.33.1.46Google 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

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 study sheds light on the inherent risks of horse riding, showing high incident rates of injuries and even fatalities among event riders, and underlines the importance of dedicated medical services at such events.

Introduction and Methodology

  • The research focuses on the risks associated with horse riding, particularly concentrating on event riders, a group identified to be involved in riskier activities within the larger demography of horse riders.
  • Statistics were gathered from 35 diverse equestrian activities in South Australia, spanning almost a decade from 1990 to 1998.

Findings

  • The investigation revealed high injury rates among event riders resulting from frequent falls, suffering injuries, and unfortunately fatalities too. Physical harm was notably more prevalent among those participating at higher competition levels, suggesting a correlation with increased risk.

Conclusion

  • In light of these findings, the study emphasizes the imperative need for professional medical emergency services at equestrian events to treat injuries promptly and effectively.
  • This could include having ambulance services on standby, a dedicated team of trained first-aiders, and emergency medical tents with facilities to handle severe injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Paix BR. (1999). Rider injury rates and emergency medical services at equestrian events. Br J Sports Med, 33(1), 46-48. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.33.1.46

Publication

British journal of sports medicine
ISSN: 0306-3674
NlmUniqueID: 0432520
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 1
Pages: 46-48

Researcher Affiliations

Paix, B R
  • Trauma Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Animals
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries / etiology
  • Athletic Injuries / therapy
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Data Collection
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Female
  • First Aid
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors

References

This article includes 15 references
  1. Barber HM. Horse-play: survey of accidents with horses.. Br Med J 1973 Sep 8;3(5879):532-4.
    pubmed: 4795373doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5879.532google scholar: lookup
  2. Gierup J, Larsson M, Lennquist S. Incidence and nature of horse-riding injuries. A one-year prospective study.. Acta Chir Scand 1976;142(1):57-61.
    pubmed: 944517
  3. Press JM, Davis PD, Wiesner SL, Heinemann A, Semik P, Addison RG. The national jockey injury study: an analysis of injuries to professional horse-racing jockeys.. Clin J Sport Med 1995 Oct;5(4):236-40.
    pubmed: 7496848
  4. Bond GR, Christoph RA, Rodgers BM. Pediatric equestrian injuries: assessing the impact of helmet use.. Pediatrics 1995 Apr;95(4):487-9.
    pubmed: 7700745
  5. Buckley SM, Chalmers DJ, Langley JD. Injuries due to falls from horses.. Aust J Public Health 1993 Sep;17(3):269-71.
    pubmed: 8286503
  6. Nelson DE, Bixby-Hammett D. Equestrian injuries in children and young adults.. Am J Dis Child 1992 May;146(5):611-4.
    pubmed: 1621666doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160170091022google scholar: lookup
  7. Chapman MA, Oni J. Motor racing accidents at Brands Hatch, 1988/9.. Br J Sports Med 1991 Sep;25(3):121-3.
    pubmed: 1777774doi: 10.1136/bjsm.25.3.121google scholar: lookup
  8. Nicholl JP. Safety of horseriding.. BMJ 1990 Sep 8;301(6750):496.
    pubmed: 2207411doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6750.496-bgoogle scholar: lookup
  9. Mills NJ, Whitlock MD. Performance of horse-riding helmets in frontal and side impacts.. Injury 1989 Jul;20(4):189-92.
    pubmed: 2592089doi: 10.1016/0020-1383(89)90108-3google scholar: lookup
  10. Barone GW, Rodgers BM. Pediatric equestrian injuries: a 14-year review.. J Trauma 1989 Feb;29(2):245-7.
    pubmed: 2918566
  11. Ingemarson H, Grevsten S, Thorén L. Lethal horse-riding injuries.. J Trauma 1989 Jan;29(1):25-30.
    pubmed: 2911099doi: 10.1097/00005373-198901000-00005google scholar: lookup
  12. Whitlock MR, Whitlock J, Johnston B. Equestrian injuries: a comparison of professional and amateur injuries in Berkshire.. Br J Sports Med 1987 Mar;21(1):25-6.
    pubmed: 3580723doi: 10.1136/bjsm.21.1.25google scholar: lookup
  13. Lloyd RG. Riding and other equestrian injuries: considerable severity.. Br J Sports Med 1987 Mar;21(1):22-4.
    pubmed: 3580722doi: 10.1136/bjsm.21.1.22google scholar: lookup
  14. Pounder DJ. "The grave yawns for the horseman." Equestrian deaths in South Australia 1973-1983.. Med J Aust 1984 Nov 10;141(10):632-5.
    pubmed: 6493111doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1984.tb113173.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  15. McLatchie GR. Equestrian injuries--a one year prospective study.. Br J Sports Med 1979 Apr;13(1):29-32.
    pubmed: 465903doi: 10.1136/bjsm.13.1.29google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
  1. Millet GP, Brocherie F, Burtscher J. Olympic Sports Science-Bibliometric Analysis of All Summer and Winter Olympic Sports Research. Front Sports Act Living 2021;3:772140.
    doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.772140pubmed: 34746779google scholar: lookup
  2. Pollard D, Grewar JD. Equestrian Road Safety in the United Kingdom: Factors Associated with Collisions and Horse Fatalities. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 15;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122403pubmed: 33334012google scholar: lookup
  3. Stier R, Tavassol F, Dupke C, Rüter M, Jehn P, Gellrich NC, Spalthoff S. Retrospective analysis of 15 years of horse-related maxillofacial fracture data at a major German trauma center. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2022 Aug;48(4):2539-2546.
    doi: 10.1007/s00068-020-01450-wpubmed: 32699917google scholar: lookup
  4. Andres SA, Bushau-Sprinkle AM, Brier ME, Seger YR. Effects of body protection vests and experience levels in prevention of equestrian injuries. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018;4(1):e000426.
    doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000426pubmed: 30555716google scholar: lookup
  5. Oshima K, Murata M, Aoki M, Nakajima J, Sawada Y, Isshiki Y, Ichikawa Y, Hagiwara S. Report of Four Cases with Equestrian Injury: Therapeutic Approach and Outcome. Case Rep Emerg Med 2018;2018:8283179.
    doi: 10.1155/2018/8283179pubmed: 30050701google scholar: lookup
  6. Weber CD, Nguyen AR, Lefering R, Hofman M, Hildebrand F, Pape HC. Blunt injuries related to equestrian sports: results from an international prospective trauma database analysis. Int Orthop 2017 Oct;41(10):2105-2112.
    doi: 10.1007/s00264-017-3592-1pubmed: 28801837google scholar: lookup
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Thompson K, McGreevy P, McManus P. A Critical Review of Horse-Related Risk: A Research Agenda for Safer Mounts, Riders and Equestrian Cultures. Animals (Basel) 2015 Jul 17;5(3):561-75.
    doi: 10.3390/ani5030372pubmed: 26479374google scholar: lookup
  10. Schröter C, Schulte-Sutum A, Zeckey C, Winkelmann M, Krettek C, Mommsen P. [Accidents in equestrian sports : Analysis of injury mechanisms and patterns]. Unfallchirurg 2017 Feb;120(2):129-138.
    doi: 10.1007/s00113-015-0074-zpubmed: 26449915google scholar: lookup
  11. Hasler RM, Gyssler L, Benneker L, Martinolli L, Schötzau A, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos AK. Protective and risk factors in amateur equestrians and description of injury patterns: A retrospective data analysis and a case - control survey. J Trauma Manag Outcomes 2011 Feb 4;5:4.
    doi: 10.1186/1752-2897-5-4pubmed: 21294862google scholar: lookup
  12. Thomas KE, Annest JL, Gilchrist J, Bixby-Hammett DM. Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001-2003. Br J Sports Med 2006 Jul;40(7):619-26.
    doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2006.025858pubmed: 16611723google scholar: lookup
  13. Exadaktylos AK, Eggli S, Inden P, Zimmermann H. Hoof kick injuries in unmounted equestrians. Improving accident analysis and prevention by introducing an accident and emergency based relational database. Emerg Med J 2002 Nov;19(6):573-5.
    doi: 10.1136/emj.19.6.573pubmed: 12421795google 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. Best R, Williams JM, Pearce J. The Physiological Requirements of and Nutritional Recommendations for Equestrian Riders. Nutrients 2023 Nov 30;15(23).
    doi: 10.3390/nu15234977pubmed: 38068833google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,970 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.