'Mismatch of skills' causes spinal injuries in horse ridersRSS Feed

Spinal injuries sustained in horse riding accidents are often the result of a "mismatch between the skills of the participant and the task attempted", according to a spinal injuries consultant.

Speaking to the BBC, Dr John Silver said that the time limits involved in cross country and point-to-point events often caused horse riders to rush tasks that would not normally be too difficult for them, resulting in accidents.

He added that spinal injuries also occur after accidents on the road.

"Cars, horses and riders are a lethal combination," he said.

Dr Silver researched the hazards of horse-riding as a popular sport by comparing a retrospective study of riders sustaining serious spinal injuries admitted to Stoke Mandeville Hospital with riders sustaining minor but significant injuries as the accidents came to his attention.

The study found that 70 per cent of the 20 accidents could be thought attributable to the behaviour of the horse at the time, and seven of these were in the spinal injuries group.

Rider error was a significant contribution in seven cases, and in two instances the rider was under instruction at the time.

There was also inadequate experience of the rider in seven cases, of which five were thought to show inadequate supervision.

A larger study has been initiated in collaboration with the British Horse Society as the majority of accidents seemed preventable.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in spinal injury.

Army major with spinal cord injury receives award

05 November 2009

Major Phil Packer, who suffered a spinal cord injury while serving in Iraq, has been given an Achievement Award to for his work promoting the Help for Heroes charity.Major Packer will be honoured for his...

Read More...

Spinal injury sufferer raises money for hospital

04 November 2009

A father of two paralysed from the chest down due to a spinal cord injury took part in cross country run in his wheelchair at the weekend to raise money for the hospital that saved his life.Andrew Farrow,...

Read More...

England rugby player recovers from spinal injury to play again

04 November 2009

Rugby player Steve Thompson, who suffered spinal injury over two years ago, is to be reunited with Jonny Wilkinson today for the first time since the 2003 World Cup.Thompson suffered spinal injury in January...

Read More...