Higher placed eventers more likely to fall on cross-country – study

horsetalk.co.nz

Horse and rider combinations in leading positions at the start of the cross country phase of one-day events are at greater risk of falls, British research shows.

Myerscough College researchers Heather Cameron-Whytock and Charlotte Brigden presented the findings of their research to delegates at the recent International Equitation Science Conference in Denmark.

The pair set about exploring risk factors for horse falls in the cross-country phase of one-day events, which is recognised as a high-risk sport and associated with higher levels of fatalities and serious injuries than sports such as motorsport and rugby.

They collected data from 2002 horse-and-rider combinations in the novice, intermediate and advanced levels of 37 randomly selected British Eventing horse trials competitions from 2003 to 2012.