British study identifies 16 risk factors for horse falls in Eventing cross country

horsetalk.co.nz

Sixteen risk factors for horse falls during the cross-country phase of eventing have been identified in a British study, which reveals several opportunities for interventions to reduce the chances of a mishap.

One possibility is a cap on dressage penalties, as worse dressage scores were linked to a heightened risk of a fall in the later cross-country phase.

The highest risk of injury or death for eventing riders is associated with horse falls during the cross-country. Horse falls are classed as rotational or non-rotational. The risk to the rider is greatest when the fall results in the horse landing on top of them.

Internationally, 38 eventing rider fatalities were reported between 2000 and 2015, with at least 30 of them resulting from a horse fall at a cross-country fence. Additionally, 65 horse fatalities occurred during or after eventing competitions between 2007 and 2015, with limited equine fatality statistics available before this date.

Of these 65 equine fatalities, 28 were a result of a horse fall at a cross-country fence. News outlets report a further 17 event rider and 39 event horse fatalities in the six years since.

Heather Cameron-Whytock and her fellow researchers, in a study reported in the Equine Veterinary Journal, said research that aims to identify risk factors for horse falls is imperative to highlight potential areas for prevention and set priorities for future research.