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The following study is posted with permission of the University of Calgary.



Study finds horseback riding more dangerous
than motorbikes, skiing, and football
Clinical team recommends helmet and vest use to reduce risk of major traumas

In a study published in the American Journal of Surgery, a team of trauma 
surgeons and an occupational therapist from the University of Calgary/Calgary 
Health Region recommends that everyone who rides horses should wear helmets and 
vests to prevent major, life-altering injuries.

The clinical research team reviewed the charts of 7941 trauma patients treated 
at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary between 1995 ? 2005. Led by Dr. Chad 
Ball 
along with Jill Ball, an occupational therapist in the trauma program at 
Foothills, the team discovered that 151 people were severely injured while 
horseback riding during that 10 year period, with 45% of them requiring surgery.

?For many of the people we interviewed, their riding accident was a life-
changing moment,? says Jill Ball. ?These are riders with an average of 27 years 
of experience at the time of their injury, riding horses who were also 
experienced and well-trained. I love horses, and I grew up on horseback. But I 
now wear a helmet and vest when I go riding.?

The authors site previous studies which show the ?hospital admission rate 
associated with equestrian activity is .49/1000 hours of riding. The rate when 
motorcycle riding is merely .14/1000 hours.?

The study notes that ?chest trauma has previously been underappreciated.?  It 
also reports that most accidents occurred in ?wide open spaces (45%), and on 
relatively good footing surfaces (38% dry dirt and 37% uncultivated land) on 
sunny (87%), summer (55%) afternoons.?

?Previous studies assumed that major accidents on horseback were caused by 
rookie riders on untrained horses or bad weather ? something we now know is 
simply not true,? says Dr. Rob Mulloy, a clinical assistant professor of 
surgery 
in U of C?s Faculty of Medicine, and a Calgary Health Region trauma surgeon. 
?While 64% of the riders we interviewed believe their accident was preventable, 
only 9% were wearing helmets. That tells us we need to focus our efforts on 
experienced horsemen and women, reminding them to respect their training, and 
embrace the safety equipment that saves lives.?

The trauma department at the Foothills Medical Centre provided funding support 
for this project.

For more information contact Dr. Rob Mulloy, rob.mulloy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



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