12/11/2021
This is the type of research our sport needs to support a cultural shift toward championing education, normalized PPE, and basic safety certifications.
The take-home message is not just that our sport is dangerous: many sports are dangerous and continually adjust, based on research, to mitigate risk. (Did you know that they wear helmets in sailing, now?! In the '90s they would have been laughed. Off. The. Boat. Times change.) The key point is that many of these injuries occur in common circumstances and are largely preventable through standardized education, training, and certification.
Choosing a trainer can't just be about the ribbons moving forward. We need a better way to differentiate safe, correct, and ethical practices. Or, let me put it this way: are you gonna enroll your kid in the skydiving school with the instructor who has won the most freestyle competitions but doesn't really keep up with the latest safety measures (or keep up their plane), or will you choose the school with some sort of safety accreditation?
Public perception is a powerful thing. As the public starts to become aware of the numbers for injury in our sport, in conjunction with the legitimate welfare concerns at even the highest levels, how can we adapt and move forward?
Head injuries and broken ribs are common injuries in equestrian sports, but they don’t have to be par for the course.
According to a new study looking at horse-related accidents in a primary (non-trauma) care centre, falls cause the most injuries, but ground-level mishaps lead to significant and often severe injuries as well.
“Unmounted injuries were less common; however, we found that being crushed or kicked resulted in far more significant injuries and need for intensive care admission,” medical researcher Lachlan Dick said.
“I think there could be an argument for the use of helmets and other protective equipment even when not riding a horse.”
Read the full article here 👇
https://horsesandpeople.com.au/safety-helmet-scottish-research/
