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How does horseback riding compare?
Stacy Westfall shared some interesting statistics on her blog. Riding ranked as one of the seventh most dangerous sports.- Football
- Basketball
- Cycling
- Skateboarding
- Baseball
- Softball
- Horseback riding
- Ice hockey
- Lacrosse
- Golf
- Tennis
Type of Injuries
The upper extremities like your wrists, elbows, and shoulders are at the greatest risk of injury. Lower extremities like the knee, ankle, and foot are commonly hurt in rodeo-related activities though. While most accidents occur in the saddle, some do happen on the ground. Lower back strains can occur from overworking your body. Bruises, strains, and sprains are the most common noted. Broken bones and dislocations do occasionally happen though. In rare cases, riders have died from an injury. These are usually related to head trauma. ABC News commented that equestrian sports contributed to the highest percentage of traumatic brain injuries in adults. In a study done by the National Trauma Databank, 45.2% of TBI were from horseback riding!How to Stay Safe
Hopefully, these statistics will encourage you to be safe! Here are some ideas to help you…- Wear an approved riding helmet
- Proper footwear and attire
- Breakaway stirrups
- Chest protector (especially for eventing)