Ten+Years+of+Major+Equestrian+Injury

"Ten Years of Major Equestrian Injury: Are We Addressing Functional Outcomes?" //Journal of Trauma Management & Outcomes//. 19 Feb. 2009. Web. 17 Sept. 2010.
 * 1)  The riding position itself creates this high-risk situation. Horseback riding elevates the rider's head 3 meters above the ground on an animal that can easily weigh 500 kg or more, kick with a force of nearly 1 ton, and run at speeds of 65–75 km/h. In addition, horses are less predictable than either a motorcycle or a racecar.
 * 2)  Patients sustaining major injuries from horseback riding often require rehabilitation therapy. The therapy team may include a physiatrist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, as well as various assistants.
 * 3)  Thirty-eight (49%) patients received rehabilitation therapy. This included 46% physical and 18% occupational therapy. Injuries predictive of receiving therapy included extremity (73%), pelvic (80%) and spinal fractures (70%), as well as spinal cord trauma (100%)(Table [|2] ). Having had a previous injury while horseback riding (47%) was predictive of not receiving therapy.
 * 4)  Thirty-seven (55%) respondents had chronic physical difficulties as a result of the accident (50% male; 59% female).
 * 5)  Seventy-six percent (28/37) of residual functional deficits were orthopedic related
 * 6)  Thirty-five percent (13/37) involved upper extremities, including pain and/or weakness in patient's hands, wrists or shoulders.
 * 7)  Chronic pain or headaches were identified in 23 (62%) patients. Forty-one percent of respondents explicitly described functional disabilities involving decreased balance or limited use of hands and arms, including an inability to lift
 * 8)  In patients with head injuries, cognitive impairments included decreased memory, as well as mood and personality changes.
 * 9)  Although 55% of respondents reported chronic physical difficulties, the majority (87%) were still riding at the time of the survey. Forty-six percent (31/67) did admit to changing their riding practices as a result of the injury however.
 * 10)  Forty-six percent (31/67) did admit to changing their riding practices as a result of the injury however.
 * 11)  While some horseback riding injuries are a result of unpredictable events, 64% of riders believed the accident, and therefore their injury, was preventable.
 * 12)  Riders with more experience faulted themselves, rather than the horse, for causing the injury. For example, several riders failed to adequately warm-up their horse or chose a riding setting with inherent risk such as a steep mountain trail.
 * 13)  Participants admitted to asking their horse to perform a maneuver outside of its skill set in 21 (27%) cases.
 * 14)  Respondents believed their horse had a bad temperament in 12 (15%) cases, was "spooked" in 27 (35%) instances, or simply lost their footing and fell in 9 (12%) cases.
 * 15)  Environmental factors contributing to the accident were rarely identified. These included improper application, or failure of equipment such as saddles, cinches or halters in 6% of all injuries. Animals within the environment, such as another horse or dogs, were also infrequently reported as the cause of injury. Clearly, the majority of riders in this study believed that better decision-making might have prevented their injuries.