A new study has shed light on where rider falls are most likely to occur, with incidents at home proving more common than at competitions. The researchers have also shared ways equestrians can make their environment safer and reduce the risks of sustaining injuries if they fall.
Dr David Marlin and Dr Jane Williams undertook a UK study which found that rider falls from horses are caused by a variety of factors and that many may be preventable. According to the findings, falls appear to happen more frequently when hacking a horse and/or schooling on the flat, as well as jump schooling.
As such, encouraging riders to wear protective equipment in activities currently perceived as ‘low risk’, such as hacking or schooling at home, may help to reduce injury severity.
“This is by far the largest-ever study of the circumstances around rider falls, and the consequences of those falls,” said Dr Marlin.
“What is encouraging is that this survey provides opportunities to reduce the number and severity of falls through awareness. As we found, riders are much more likely to fall while hacking or schooling – when they may be less likely to wear a body protector or, possibly, even a helmet – than in competition.
“In addition, whilst rider falls were 10 times more common than horse falls, riders falling can lead indirectly to an increased risk of horse injury. For example, if the horse gallops and collides with objects or vehicles, or if the horse falls on the road. We are looking forward to working with all stakeholders to help reduce the risk to both horses and riders”.
Dr Williams explained that decisions when riding are often based on our own assumptions rather than being based on evidence.
“Our results show that falls occur more at home – when hacking and training – which highlights that rider safety should be considered in these environments, and not just in competition or when we perceive we are doing something more risky,” she said. “This knowledge can help us all to make informed decisions to safeguard both our own and our horse’s welfare”.
The findings
3,757 riders in the UK were surveyed online to ascertain their experience of falls over a 12-month period. Of that total, a subset of 1,977 completed surveys were analysed. The majority of respondents were female (97%).
The most common frequency of falls was once in the last 12 months (experienced by 53%). 24% of riders had fallen off twice, 11% three times, and 7% more than five times.
Respondents were asked to specify the activity they were undertaking when their last fall occurred. The three most common activities where falls took place were hacking/trail riding (26%), schooling on the flat (26%), and showjumping schooling (19%).
The most common reasons for rider falls were given as: horses changing direction rapidly (41%), or rearing/bucking (24%). Most riders fell off the side of the horse (73%) as opposed to the front or back.
Riders were most likely to injure their back (51%), shoulders (39%), or pelvis (37%) when they fell off, but most injuries were self-rated as minor. Severe injuries as a result of a fall were more common when the riders’ head, back, shoulder or ankle was injured.
The research paper, UK rider reported falls in a 12-month period: circumstances and consequences, has been published in Comparative Exercise Physiology by Brill Wageningen Academic.
Lead image from Your Horse Library
