A Review of Incidence and Injury Patterns of Equestrian-Related Accidents in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Horse riding represents a globally popular activity for people of all ages for recreational, sport or professional purposes. Among these individuals an increasing number of young people, children and adolescents has been recorded. This activity is also associated with a significant number of accidents ranging from relatively innocent injuries up to more serious ones which can even endanger the life of the horse rider. In this article review, international literature was thoroughly studied focusing on the analysis of mechanisms leading to these injuries as well as of the risk factors that increase their frequency and the prevention strategies which may reduce their incidence. Horse riding is an activity associated with a significant frequency of accidents mainly due to falls off the horses, accompanied by a large number of accidents, mainly head and upper limbs injuries. These injuries impose considerable socio-economic costs, with unbearable consequences for the life and health of young riders. For these reasons, prevention strategies as well as the appropriate equipment and particularly the use of a special helmet is of particular importance.