Following on from the riding hat thread

[Kenzo]

Random stats/info that you may find of interest.....or perhaps not


''Head injuries comprise about 18 percent of all horseback riding injuries, although they are the number one reason for hospital admissions and the leading cause of death.''

''Three of every five equestrian accident deaths are due to head injuries (in America).''

''Head injuries out number spinal injuries by five to one in the UK.''

''Of all horse riding activities, jumping is most likely to produce a spinal injury.''

Horse riding carries a high participant morbidity and mortality. Whereas a motor-cyclist can expect a serious incident at the rate of 1 per 7000 h, the horse-rider can expect a serious accident once in every 350 h, ie 20 times as dangerous as motor cycling.

''There are an average of two people a month left paralysed from a horse fall and many others are left permanently disabled through severe head injuries.''

''After road accidents, paramedics attend more equestrian-related incidents than any other type in the UK (West Midlands area).''

''Most injuries happen during recreational riding rather than taking part in competitions/sport and may occure while your on the ground taking care of your horse''....I can believe that.

''The likely hood of death from a head injury is greatly increased if not wearing a hat ...(you don't say ), in one study, riders not wearing a hat were four times more likely to die when injured than those that wear hats.''

''An adult human head weighs about 12 pounds (5.4kg), or the same as a light bowling ball.''

''The mechanism of the majority of equestrian related head injuries relates to your distance above the ground and not to forward speed. The majority of head injuries occur from falls caused by unpredictable events. However, 20 percent also occur while performing non-riding activities or as a bystander.''

 

[monkeybum13]

''There are an average of two people a month left paralysed from a horse fall and many others are left permanently disabled through severe head injuries.''
'

I don't know about anyone else but I found this one to be very shocking at how frequent it is

 

[ironhorse]

I think the amount of accidents that happen while you're on the ground should not be understated (the stats do refer to it) and in any situation where you're not sure what the horse might do (loading, leading out to the field, handling in a strange situation) it'sbetter to be safe than sorry and wear a hat.

We're all pretty experienced on our yard, and I'm not proud to say a bit blase about hats - riding in disciplines where BS hats are the exception rather than the norm, but are quite careful about handling, even with our own horses.

Take one example - my own mare, who has pretty much seen it all and done it all, but can be spooky. We'd had some new arena mirrors installed, and I thought I'd better lead her up to them first although she's seen mirrors before.

Although I wasn't riding that day, I popped my hat on anyway, and thank goodness I did - when she spotted her reflection, she literally tried to jump into my arms sending me flying.

You never know...

 

[Achinghips]

wierd statistic that, what does it mean, in the UK, USA, western society or in the world - and what's the source please?

 

[Kat]

Very sobering.

I read a stat a while back that ranked sports in their order of danger by looking at the liklihood of suffering a serious injury. The top three in reverse order were

3. Motor racing

I guess the problem is that if you do get injured it is likly to be very serious, I'm not sure whether this was all forms of motor sport or just cars, I know it covered rally, touring cars, etc right up to GP level though. Highly protective helmets are comon place already though, as well as seatbelts, roll cages, protective clothing etc

2. Skiing

Everyone knows someone who has broken a leg or a wrist I suppose, the dangers are obvious, high speed, unpredictable conditions, people of all levels participating. The tragic death of Natasha Richardson recently brings home the risks of skiing and highlights the fact that helmets should be used more than they currently are.

1. Horse Riding

Statistically the most dangerous sport out there, a high risk of being injured and requiring hospital treatment. But still people don't protect their heads......



FWIW I was part of the study, the consultant had to fill in a questionnaire with me to send off. I broke my collar bone and arm falling off in a riding lesson. I was wearing a hat, and it was an up to the minute skull cap too.

 

[Kat]

I don't know about anyone else but I found this one to be very shocking at how frequent it is

Did you read that article in the times recently by one of their collumists who has had a riding accident that has left her paralysed?? Very frightening, wished I hadn't read it and made me question why I rode and what I could potentially be exposing my husband and parents to. Suddenly I understood why neither my husband or mother show any sympathy when I fall off and tell me off instead.

 

[Kenzo]

wierd statistic that, what does it mean, in the UK, USA, western society or in the world - and what's the source please?

Which one? then I'll go back and see where it was taken from if you need the source.

Just to point out to everyone, these were just taken from various websites (I've not made them up from the top of my head by the way!) but some of the info may not be up to date, as in this year.

I just thought it was interesting to read through after the other thread.

Basically if at least one (non hat person) reads it and re-thinks, then decides to wear a hat, then it could safe a life.

 

[kaelea]

20 ish years ago I worked with horses, I did my BHS exams, and was extremely confident around and on horses

12 years ago whilst on holiday I went riding on a beach, I fell off, my fault entirely, the horse stood on my head!

I was carried up the beach to the coastguards, where an ambulance took me to hospital, I didn't know who I was, where I lived, what day it was and so on

I didn't know who my (now) ex was, I didn't recognise my kids, they were my kids??? nah!

It took 6 months before my memory started coming back, over 2 years before it came back completely, at least I think it came back completely I can't remember lol

I split up from my kids dad, how can you have a relationship with someone you don't know? I nearly lost my kids, I had to go and live with my mum as she had to look after me and therefore my kids, I was unable to look after myself, it took a year before I got my independence back

12 years later I'm sat here, I suffer from Menieres disease, I'm dizzy most of the time, I can hardly hear anything, my short term memory is awful, life sometimes sucks and I feel all sorry for myself

but luckily enough, I was wearing a hat! I'm alive! life goes on and you make what you can of it, I know if I hadn't of been wearing a hat I'd of died 12 years ago

I can't stress enough how important it is to wear a hat! no matter how good you think you are and no matter how much you trust your horse! I know I thought I could ride anything, I thought wrong

please folks ... always wear a hat

 

[Brandy]

Did you read that article in the times recently by one of their collumists who has had a riding accident that has left her paralysed?? Very frightening, wished I hadn't read it and made me question why I rode and what I could potentially be exposing my husband and parents to. Suddenly I understood why neither my husband or mother show any sympathy when I fall off and tell me off instead.

Yes she writes a column weekly now, in the saturday supplement. I was beginning to think that I am a bit over cautious with my approach to jumping, but in fact having read a couple of her columns, I have decided that you cannot be over cautios.