Orthopaedic Injuries in Horse Riders: Diagnosis and Management

Watching horse racing on television calls to mind several ideas at once. First, it’s an incredibly graceful and seamless sport.

Second, it’s the horses who are doing most of the work. And all right, that’s true. There’s a reason that when it comes to betting on the Kentucky Derby on websites like TwinSpires, the focus is always on the animal rather than the jockeys.

Nevertheless, being a horse rider does come with inherent physical risks. In this article, we take a look at orthopaedic injuries in horse riders, including diagnostic and management strategies.

Overview: How Common Are These Risks for Casual Riders?

Approximately 81% of people who ride horses will experience some type of injury during their lifetime. This doesn’t mean that they’ll routinely get hurt, but that at some point they’ll experience inflammation or even a contusion of some kind. Of these, approximately 20% are injured in a way that requires surgery or hospitalisation. Obviously, this is a more serious scenario.

While it is absolutely possible to ride horses safely, it is considered a high-risk activity, with injury occurrences being comparable to those of riding a motorcycle.

Falls Are the Most Common Source of Injury

Naturally enough, if you fall from an animal that’s moving at high speeds, a wide range of injuries can ensue. Falls are not extremely common, but they do happen for several reasons:

• The animal moves abruptly, often in instances of fright or distraction.
• The rider pushes themselves beyond their skill level.
• The animal and the capabilities of the person riding it are mismatched.

For this latter consideration, it’s simply that some horses are much more beginner-friendly than others. It’s important to understand your skill level and find an animal that is appropriate for it. This is something that many professional stables are very good at—running clinics, training, and so on that match beginners with animals that can safely accommodate them.

It’s also important to wear safety equipment, including a helmet, when you are horseback riding. While that won’t save you from a broken arm, it can prevent serious, life-threatening injuries.

Shoulder and Arm Injuries

Shoulder action is a common element of horseback riding, particularly as the rider uses the reins to control the animal and stabilise themselves.

Generally speaking, shoulder injuries are a slow-burning experience. In other words, they happen not after a single ride, but after many.

Possible outcomes include:

• Rotator cuff injuries
• Shoulder dislocation
• Acute wrist pain from inflammation

Naturally, shoulder and wrist injuries are also common consequences of falls. Often, riders who have been cast off a horse will attempt to break their fall with their arms, producing upper extremity fractures in the process.

Long-Term Orthopedic Strain

Wear and tear is a common, even if long-term, consideration that comes as a result of repetitive motion.

Like any activity, horseback riding is generally safe in small doses but can create back, hip, and knee strain as time progresses. There have even been cases of tendonitis along the wrists and elbows from rein control.

These risk factors are most prominently experienced by people who ride regularly week after week.

Diagnosing Injury

Naturally, if you have fallen off a horse and are experiencing considerable pain, it is important to proceed to the hospital immediately. Even if your condition feels stable, your pain can worsen with time, particularly in the case of whiplash, where symptoms are often slower to emerge.

Once you’ve seen an orthopaedic specialist, you’ll generally have a much better idea of the extent of your injuries. It’s not often that surgery will be required, but if you are one of the one in five who do require more complicated interventions, it’s important to catch that right away.

Enjoy Horse Riding Safely

While it’s difficult to entirely insulate yourself from risk, there are definitely things you can do to make horse riding safer. For example:

Wear the proper equipment

A helmet will keep your head safe, while good boots can go a long way toward reducing the risk of slipping off the horse. These are simple but meaningful interventions that are very much worth your time.

Start slow

It’s important to understand your limitations and give the process time. You’ll improve as a rider, after which point you’ll be able to ride more extensively and on faster animals. But in the same way you wouldn’t plan a cross-country motorcycle trip for your first ride, you don’t want your first example of horseback riding to be with an extremely difficult animal.

Ride with others

It can be very relaxing to go on a solo ride, but ultimately, you’re safer in a group. Riding with others means that in the event of an emergency, you’ll receive attention much faster.

Horseback riding can be an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. Before you have fun, make sure you are being safe. Precautions are easy, and they can make a world of difference.

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