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 Safety
The
U.S. Safety Record
Types of Injuries
Most
vaulting injuries are sprains and are comparable
to those
seen in gymnastics. The most frequent types
of horseback riding injury are fractures,
soft tissue, and head injuries. The most
frequent body parts injured in horseback
riding, in order, include arms, legs,
and head/face.
--AVA
Injury Summary Reports; Robert Faulkner,
MD, American Medical Equestrian Association
(AMEA), AVA; National Children’s
Center for Rural and Agricultural Health
and Safety.
AVA Injury Summary
AVA
has no reported concussions, spinal injuries,
or deaths
from vaulting. The majority of injuries
are sprains. This is due to the Three
Points of Vaulting Safety—Controlled
Environment, Safety Training, and Nature
of the Sport/Horse--that
distinguish vaulting from horseback riding.
--AVA
Injury Summary Reports, AVA “Three
Points of Vaulting Safety”
Head Injuries
The national
statistics reflect over 20% head and neck
injuries annually for horseback riding.
United States
Pony Club [USPC), a leader in helmet safety
with a stringent helmet rule (See USPC
and Vaulting), reports a minimum of
9% concussions with 100% helmet
usage
for
horseback riding
over a period of 16 years. (Pony club activities
include dressage,
eventing, show jumping, mounted games,
tetrathlon, quiz, foxhunting,
and polocrosse.) AVA reports no concussions
from vaulting.
--USPC;
U. of Pittsburgh Dept. of Sports Medicine;
Houghston Sports Medicine Foundation,
AVA Injury Summary Reports
National Average Head Injuries Reported
(AVA, USPC, National)
Contact Hours of Horseback
Riding and Vaulting
AVA's record
reflects literally thousands of contact
hours of
vaulting practice. Statistics demonstrate
1 injury/350 hours of horseback riding
vs. 1 injury/4,945 hours of vaulting.
--USPC;
U. of Pittsburgh Dept. of Sports Medicine;
Houghston Sports Medicine Foundation, AVA
Injury Summary Reports
Injuries per contact hours of horseback
riding and vaulting
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Vaulting