How dangerous is this hobby??

[henmuffin]

I am new to riding and enjoy reading through the messages on this forum. However I find myself wondering how dangerous is it. I read stories of people falling off, being bucked off, kicked etc:eek:
I guess all hobbies carry risks unless they are really sedentary ( reading = paper cuts!!) but how many people get really injured compared to the odd bump. I am not really worried but would like to know what people think and whether I should increase my life insurance:D

[xloopylozzax]

its as dangerous as you make it- you buy a sedate old knackered cob with 3 legs and put it in an arena with nothing spooky and stay stood still thats 'safe' but boring IMO :D

you buy a fizzy 5 year old tb just of the track, feed it oats and barley etc then point it in a big field with a tractor behind you, riding bareback with a headcollar thats asking for trouble :D

i have never been injured (few bruises) and have been riding since i was tiny and am now 16- always been around welsh cob stallions (read other posts, the most 'dangerous' breed around lol :p) and have ridden without a hat on the road (only in walk trot up to the field, bareback with headcollar)

i dont own a body protector either..

[*katie*]

Echo loopylozza really - at the end of the day they're living animals with a strong flight instinct and it all depends on the situation you put yourself in :) and now I've got the second image in my head, loopylozza :D! And in 11 years i've had bumps and bruises - most of which have been my fault - but so have all of my rugby playing mates (my stepcousin has a pin in his shoulder and he's only 18 because he's dislocated it so many times it won't hld itself in properly anymore), my gymnastics friends, my dancing friend - i guess everything carries risk but riding is just so much more fun than anything else :D!

[puzzles]

I have ridden for 6 years and have only been kicked once (it was an accident as the horse kicked out at flies or sanother horse and I happened to get in the way). It didn't hurt at all!
I have been given a deep, purple bite, been bolted and bucked with, fallen off many times and know people who have been in serious accidents involving horses (a family friend is paralysed as a result and another was killed) but, to be honest, all you can do is be sensible and try to do all you can to keep yourself in one piece. I've never been worse than bruised, though the effect of negative experiences on your mind can be greater than that on your body.
In my opinion you can drift through life flinching from any potential danger, but when you look back what can you say about it? What will you have achieved, dared, sorted, braves and risked for anyone or anything? You can try to keep yourself safe; i.e. always wearing a hat and BP, not putting yourself in any situation you know you can't deal with etc. But you can still have loads of fun.
All you can do is try to enjoy it as much as you can, or else what is the point?

x

[Mehitabel]

there are plenty of ways to minimise risk. get informed beforehand, choose instructor and school carefully, progress at your own pace and don't try to rush into things you're not ready for.
for a bit of comparison, i've been riding for 25 years. i've done it professionally, i've worked rehabbing abused or 'dangerous' horses, and i've had only had one fall that actually injured me more than superficially. most of the time you falll off, you go 'oof' and you get back up again, the ones that injure you are rare.

[davidfearnley]

I have a cob 15 and a percheron 6 - my hubby learnt to ride on little cob so we bought and backed big baby. we both fall off little old cob and only david has fallen off big baby!

Little cob has put me in hospital, old owners in hospital - oddly enough all my aches and pains with getting old are from stable jobs!!

Enjoy there are plenty of crazy horses to avoid and a few gems ...

Its a wounderful hobby but people do die - be safe and think about whats going on!

[JustJas]

Like everyone says - riding is as dangerous as you make it.
In 30+ years round horses I have broken both wrists in a fluke accident I was bucked off - the school had out me on green horse (had ridden him before fine) He scared himslef clipping a trotting pole.

My worst accidents were off the horse- fell off a gate lead to major knee surgery and I tripped over my riding boot on the stairs and broke my toe!

[Rarah]

I've had a fair few falls from riding school and loan horses and been injured but nothing permanent.

Since buying my own quiet cob (6 yrs old at the time but very sensible for her age) I've not had a single injury. I have had a couple of falls but nothing painful.

I think you have to accept that you will come off at some point but you can minimise the risk.

[Julz]

I have had two bad falls off horses, both put me in hospital.... but i wouldnt change it for the world.. I bounced... well, perhaps that "boucned" is the wrong word, lol back, and still ride.... nuts maybe, but deffo in love!!

[LisaLovesHorses]

I agree with everyone else's sentiments, really. If you think you're better than you are, you've got to accept that you're probably going to get hurt or at least run the risk of getting hurt. But then, I guess, you have to test/push yourself to become a better rider so it's kinda catch 22.

I worked with racehorses for eight years and saw some real loony tunes, believe me! :D But I only fell off once: the horse was scared by a tiny yorkshire terrier yapping and tanked off with me through a sleepy little Staffordshire village - Sunday morning, everyone going to church and there was me, ploughing through them on a bleedin' great big beast! :eek: I could hear the stable jockey shouting me but I had no control over the horse and couldn't stop him. He took the corner too quickly, I couldn't balance myself and I went out the side door, my head narrowly missing one of those old, heavy steel milk churn things. I was petrified but knew I had to get back on or I'd lose my bottle completely. I had only bumps and bruises and a massive great big cut on my shoulder blade but nothing broken - quite lucky really!

Earlier this year, I fell off a very sensible ploddy cob in a riding lesson. She is completely round and no saddles seem to fit her well. I got on, was cantering a 20m circle, then was trying to ask for extended canter down the long side when the saddle slipped and I went out the side door again. I did quite a spectacular little manoeuvre, falling off to the right, hitting the right side of my head on the fence post, twisted round then hit my left shoulder on the fence post and hit the ground, slumped over one of the railway sleepers (keeping the sand in the school).

I love it though!

[Julz]

Are ou ok Lisa?? that sounds quite a tumble!!

My last bad accident was on a ex polo pony, i was riding in the school, in canter and I too asked him to extend down the long side of the school, I momentarily forgot what he was, and he took the aid as a signal to open up.. we hit the corner too fast, and he tripped, throwing me off forwards.. i did a half turn and landed on my back, he followed, somersaulted and landed on top of me. I was lucky, I got away with a broken hip, been disabeled ever since, started riding again a year later, and had a total hip replacement 14yrs later.... and still I ride!!

[LisaLovesHorses]

[QUOTE=Julz;1850156]Are ou ok Lisa?? that sounds quite a tumble!! QUOTE]

Yeah, I'm fine, thanks, sorry should have said that - I had a big bruise on my shoulder, a nasty headache for a few hours, a bad neck for about a week and a sore shoulder for about two weeks. I went to A&E to be checked out (best to be safe) but nothing broken or torn, just felt a little battered! Funnily enough, when I got up from my fall (and my instructor stopped swearing like a trooper!) I got straight back on and did some of the best jumping I've ever done! Weird how that happens isn't it?!:D

Sounds like a really nasty fall you had, Julz. I really admire you for getting back to it though, well done. Must have been very painful - both physically and also mentally for not being able to ride for that year? Do you still have the pony? Have you dared to do extended canter on him since?

[molly34]

I think it could be easy to get a warped view from fora like this too, because people are much more likely to post when they fall off & neds get sick or lame one lame than when they stay on again and their horse is still healthy!

Yes its a risk sport, there will be the occasional broken bone or worse, and once in a blue moon someone falls off a horse and dies. But, millions of people ride every day without getting hurt, and you could get runover by a bus tomorrow and crossing the road is a lot less fun than riding :)

[LisaLovesHorses]

Molly, I agree. It's the same with people's phobia's about flying - millions of planes take off and land safely every day which is why it's such big news when there's a crash. I've ridden pretty much every day for the last six weeks and haven't had a fall - although a few near misses when my little madam spun me round a couple of times in the middle of the road and when she got frightened by a flock of birds flying out of a hedge! :eek:

Riding can be dangerous if you ignore your instincts, think you're better than you are/overestimate your capabilities or are just plain stooooopid but my god, it's so much fun. I would gladly (OK, maybe not gladly) fall off once a week if it meant I kept on having so much pleasure from riding and just being round my horse :)

[Julz]

I didnt own the horse, but he was sold to my friendsoon after.. I did ride him again, for the sheer hell of it, but no cantering! I saw him often after that, and we remained friends, it wasnt totally his or my fault, there wee a lot of other things involved... it was just bad timing. He died a few years later having gotten over Strangles, and it was while recuperating that something else took him. He was a really sweet guy... I'll never forget him.. He literally changed my life... LOL (and because of those events, it led me to meeting the horse I shared for 11years)

[Laura83]

I really don't think it's as bad as we make it sound.

Safety equipment helps and sensible decision making. I've never had anything bad happen to me in 17 years. I've fallen off yes, but as someone else said - you go 'oof' and you get back up, few bruises for a couple of days but I've had worse falls of a bicycle to be honest.

[*Sez*]

Ditto Molly34! I know I tend to post when bad things happen, such as when his lordship is sick or injured, or when I've fallen off. "Good" threads come up when I have new photos, or if we achieved a particular goal, but I don't post each evening to say "Rode and had no accidents! Yay!" Although I might because it sounds cheery! :D
I've been on and around horses since I was a toddler, and whilst I am sure I had many falls as a kid, none of them were particularly serious, apart from one incident in which I was dragged by a panicking pony. In perspective, I rode nearly every week and that was one nasty fall out of ten or eleven years. In my adult years, I've had two bad falls, both from my own horse, but only one was particularly serious, only because it involved another horse and rider. In my years of horse riding, I have (*touch wood*) never broken a bone.
Serious injuries seem to be few and far between, and seem to be often as the result of a bad combination of horse and rider, or an external factor which has scared the horse. All we can do to reduce the risk is to not take any unnecessary risks, expose our horses to as many scary things under controlled situations, and take sensible steps to protect ourselves (such as wearing a hard hat and sensible boots, and always ensuring that someone either knows where you are riding, or that you have a phone on you in case of an accident).

I think I know more skiiers who have been badly injured than horse riders!

[lauren123]

I have never hurt myself when i have falling off :pBut you got to remember that all horses can be spooky at some time .And some repond worst or better to different things. I know someone (my mum) who fell of a horse while out on a hack the horse went one way and my mum went the other and sadly wont ever ride again :eek: (but i wont go into what happened ) i think any sport in the world is a risk you might not hurt yourself badly playing football but might hurt yourself badly in riding or you might not i think in situations like that its how you act while your riding and in everyday life :)

[molly34]

I think I know more skiiers who have been badly injured than horse riders!
And riders who've injured themselves worse skiing than anywhere near horses! :o

I've been riding 'properly' as an adult and skiing (annual trips + occasional dry slope visits) for about the same time.
Riding = 8 (?) falls and no serious injuries except a black eye.
Skiing = 20+ falls, 2 trips down a black run on my back, bruises on every part of my body, 1 concussion and a b*ggered knee..... :rolleyes:

[Pale Moon]

I do understand the sentiments made here - I snapped my tendon just by getting out the BATH for god's sake, so you can injure yourself very badly doing the most mundane things....:rolleyes:

However, - there is no getting away from it, riding IS a high risk sport. For insurance purposes it is classed with motor-racing and sky-diving for heavens sake! Putting it bluntly, you are sitting on a live animal - not a car - with a mind of its own - lets also not forget said animal is a prey animal so if scared will bolt - regardless of who is sat on his back at any given time!

I am a firm believer that you can do much to reduce the risks associated with riding by taking steps such as not over-horsing yourself, being aware of your own riding abilities and not putting yourself in overly risky situations, such as hacking out on majorly busy roads on a green horse!

I have had my horse for seven years and have fallen off him twice - both times were as a result of me being stupid and revving him up far too much - so I only have myself to blame.:o

[ravenstorrough1]

I'm afraid horses - not just riding - are dangerous to be around simply because of size and power - no matter how 'safe' your horse is or how safe you are, you cannot predict when an accident will happen. Mostly, no one actually thinks to ask that question before they get involved with riding and by that time it is too late - the bug has bitten and there's no giving it up.

I started riding when I was 16 and before I could even trot, a horse bolted with me, came to dead stop at end of field and I hit the wall - I thought I had broken my hip and was petrified of going any faster than a trot for years. I was determined to 'make it' and persevered. I did an HND in Horse Management to get more experience, fell off over a hundred times in many different situations but never had another really bad accident until the first time I rode my first horse - he bolted - dumped me and I ended up in hospital with compressed spine.

I have now been riding for 12 years and in last few years, I have only fallen off a few times. I have however been kicked in the face by my absolutley safe horse and last year my mum was doing in-hand with her absolutley safe horse, tripped, horse fell on top of her and she broke her leg and dislocated her knee right out the back of her leg! It took her 8 months to recover and she will never be able to run again as the knee could pop out at any time!

Also - it is a fact that horse riding is more dangerous than motorbiking and hospitals see far more HR accidents than anything else.

I think we just try not to think of the risks and try to minimise them to an extent but if you get involved you have to accept that it is high risk. I may have been put off if someone had said that to me years ago but what I have in return is very special and I count myself very lucky to have horses. Some people never even get to see a horse in their whole life! I can't imagine! ;)

[Grinyer224]

i've heard that it's the most dangerous sport inc xtreame sports.

this cud be believed since they are so unpredictable but if you choose your horse and RI carefully then you shud have no problems

[molly34]

if you choose your horse and RI carefully then you shud have no problems
Unfortunately horses are a little more unpredictable than that, and one of the first steps to minimising risks is to accept that you'll never be totally safe or problem free!

My old RI was excellent, experienced, great with horses..... and had her cheekbone broken by one of the nicest, most laid back, 'safe' dobbins there - sh*t happens!

[ravenstorrough1]

Originally Posted by Grinyer224
if you choose your horse and RI carefully then you shud have no problems

Unfortunately horses are a little more unpredictable than that, and one of the first steps to minimising risks is to accept that you'll never be totally safe or problem free!

My old RI was excellent, experienced, great with horses..... and had her cheekbone broken by one of the nicest, most laid back, 'safe' dobbins there - sh*t happens!

Couldn't agree more - 'you shud have no problems' is just not true - if you want to learn to ride, you have to accept that falling off, being stood on and banged about is part of it.

[Heucherella]

I have wanted to ride for years, but waited until I felt that my kids could manage without me on a day-to-day basis (catch buses to school, cook dinner etc). I was prepared to risk my health and ultimately my life to fulfil my dream, but I wasn't prepared to leave them in the lurch, even if it was only for a week in bed, or something else minor. Now my youngest is 16, and I am riding every week, and loving it! Only one fall (bounced off while learning to jump), resulting in minor bruises. I have already told my family that if something happens to me, I won't regret taking up riding, and that they shouldn't either, as is makes me so happy. :D

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

I've had worse falls of a bicycle to be honest.

Lol, true! Me and my mum have had worse injuries using bikes than riding! i've never hurt myself as yet riding but sprained my hand cycling and my mum cut her head open cycling and needed stitches!

As long as you wear all the proper gear (would reccomend a body protector aswell), ride at an approved RS and go at your own pace (ie. dont be afraid to say 'no' to something you are uncomfortable with, then I'd imagine you'd be taking significant steps to reduce the risk! Dont ride horses you feel unsafe on, either - far better to enjoy your time in the saddle!

Its also worth running your eye over your horse before you get on - check horse is walking ok and doesnt look to be in pain at all (obvious but it could still be missed!), check nothing's pinching, make sure your girth is tight and fitted correctly, (and double-check!), get your leathers even, check for loose stitching or fraying on tack when you are tacking up or getting ready to mount, check saddle is in the right place and that the saddlecloth isnt caught and isnt going to rub (its so easy to get it caught and rolled up at one side when tacking up - not everyone checks!), check buckles are strong (ie on your reins etc) and that everything is how it should be. If you are unsure, ask! Things like this could potentially get missed in any busy RS, and could end up in a nasty accident! MUCH better to be safe than regret getting on the horse at all.

[eventerbabe]

there's no getting away from it. You are asking half a ton of animal (with a brain of it's own ;) ) to co-operate. Sometimes this goes awry. I think if we all pondered on how dangerous horse riding is we'd never do it. But same would apply to stepping out of our front door on a morning. I've had more near misses with lunatic drivers jumping red lights at the crossing on my way to work than i've ever had on horseback. i've been dropped on by a horse, fired into fences and walls, double barreled twice (once in the knee, once in the hip), thrown off into a ditch, trampled on, you name it. Also had a bloodied nose and nearly been knocked out numerous times from getting smacked in the face or smacked/pushed into things head first. Yet i'm still here to tell the tale. I do always wear an approved hat, gloves and BP when i ride though.

[acw295]

If you ask my mum (terrified of horses) then it is suicidal :eek:

I think it is a risk sport - but no more dangerous than other risk sports either. I take suitable precautions and don't think about it, I love it so I'll do it anyway :)

All of my worst injuries have not been riding related (I dislocated my kneecap several times doing other things, never riding) - but I have fallen off and hurt myself and had a few bloody noses etc from handling horses on the ground too. It's part of the fun :p

[carrimclaren]

However, - there is no getting away from it, riding IS a high risk sport. For insurance purposes it is classed with motor-racing and sky-diving for heavens sake! Putting it bluntly, you are sitting on a live animal - not a car - with a mind of its own - lets also not forget said animal is a prey animal so if scared will bolt - regardless of who is sat on his back at any given time!

I am a firm believer that you can do much to reduce the risks associated with riding by taking steps such as not over-horsing yourself, being aware of your own riding abilities and not putting yourself in overly risky situations, such as hacking out on majorly busy roads on a green horse!



Definitely agree with this. I try not to think about the "what if" side of my riding but i am well aware that it is there and try to be sensible about what i do and how i do it. At the end of the day it's one of the most dangerous sports so it's going to carry a high risk factor. But you have to accept this if you want to do it, try to be as safe and sensible as possible and then just try it.
I accept the negative side i know is there because my horses are the only things that keep me sane especially at the moment.

[jenb]

I've been riding 20 years and have never been seriously injured from a fall (touch wood!). I have, however, had a very bad kick to the hip (along with numerous other kicks), a bite which required a trip to A&E & stitches (along with numerous other bites!) and a kick to the head which required stitching. And lots of rope burn and other silly little injuries.

Horses are potentially dangerous animals - if you really don't want to fall off, don't get on! You can do lots to minimise the risks though, like taking lessons and learning as much as you can, and being aware of your own capabilities and try not to over horse yourself - both in the saddle and on the ground!

[lindylou]

I know how you feel I am having very panicky moments as have just started riding at BHS approved school every other week but I also have two small children 4yrs and 15 mnths and I keep asking myself should I wait till they are older. But I do love my lessons and it is the only me time I get but then again I could have a accident in a car as I am in that more times than anything and other drivers are so much a risk.

I think I will just stick to my lessons and when MY children are alot older I will possibly get my own horse.

I think that is a good compromise.

though OH has had so many injuries from playing football that has laid him up for weeks.

Lindy

[vixie]

when i was little i lived next door to a woman who's daughter was thrown off her horse and died....thus my mother and nan have always hated me riding...but as with every sport you have to take a risk and be sensible about what you do.

and yes it is right up there at the top on the list of most dangerous sports.

[sillywhippet]

Pretty much agree with what has been said.
Sadly it's not just your body they can hurt either, horses have this way of working their way under your skin and once there it's like a tattoo. A horse lies somewhere between sporting equipment and a close family memeber, though more towards the family memeber. What I'm trying to say in a very long winded way is, it's emotionally dangerous as well, still if it isn't then it's not worth doing.

[LaurenEff]

Erm I'm going to put this in the short version...

Are horses dangerous?

Yes. Same as everyone else has said.

[Everhopeful]

I understand your reservations Henmuffin as I'm also new to riding and did have a few worries myself about accidents. My husband printed something off the Internet which said that you are 350 times more likely to have a serious accident on a horse than on a motorbike but I find this difficult to believe and I'm not sure what those figures are based on or how accurate. Riding is a risk sport but then so are others - rugby, skiing, etc. but like everyone else says, we can't stop living. Look at the number of car accidents but we still keep driving because it makes life so much easier. I've fallen off a few times - all clear, clean falls thankfully and I've just got up and admired my bruises. I just fell off today whilst trying out a horse and can already feel the lump coming up on my leg from where it hit the fence! I know my limitations - I'm not a very good rider as much as I love it - so in my endless search for the right horse, I know just what I'm looking for. Something very forgiving, ploddy and likes to take it easy. Unfortunately, I can't find it! I'm the biggest coward in the world so if I'm prepared to do it then it must be worth it!

[LeiGhh]

I think this is my first post but I read some of the threads once in a while, I'm an avid forum poster!
In reply to the topic, at one point, after overcoming a great fear of horses (the source is unknown as to why), I finally, after a lot of urging and wonderful encouragement, found myself sitting on horseback, walking and an apparently average trot which I was convinced was canter! I'd personally say my fear was greater than that of somebody who is simply wary of horses because they don't understand them as an animal, I asked my dad and he said he took me to see some horses as a child and I was petrified and refused to go near them!

So anyway, my courage built and built and I learned a great amount through visiting the yard with my friend and asking questions about anything and everything! Slightly off point, I'm known to ramble, as at ease I feel being in a horses company now, the fact they have their own mind is always at the back of my head nagging away. I know most people would be anxious or worried riding, but I don't know, I always feel they'd be able to sense my excessive fear of them as an animal and play up, my imagination does run away with me sometimes! However, I think it's natural to worry and be anxious, I'd say it's part of the fun as long as you're not terrified! Ha!

[Miki]

In response to the statistic about motorbikes that is just because more people ride them than horses so a lesser precentage get hurt even when the actual numbers are more. See, if only two people rode horses and one hundred motorbikes and one person was seriously injured each way you would be given a fifty fifty chance of serious injury horseback riding and a 1 in 100 chance for motorbikes. Ahh, statistics.
I have been fairly seriously injured (broken pelvis) but my mental state honestly took more of a blow. Yes there was a lot of pain but that went away. Most people don't hurt themselves like that when they fall. In fact I know people who haven't fallen in ten years! Don't know how they manage it and don't expect to never fall but again, most people don't get injured. Most people get right back on and only deal with being sore, not get taken to the hospital. Lucky me, I got to be the weirdo who hurt themselves. Figures.

[Nimbus65]

Interesting question - my husband keeps chiding me that the sport is too dangerous. I began taking proper lessons as an adult (38) so came to it with a more cautious approach than the girlies at my yard who have been at since they were four years old. I've had a few falls (landed on my feet after one of them), and only one has caused anything approaching a serious injury (I tore a large muscle in my back). I make sure I always wear a hat (not allowed on a horse w/out one at my yard) and we all (my two girls ride too) wear body protectors when we're jumping (although I don't jump much any more).

Thing is, it's a dangerous sport if you take unnecessary risks and don't protect yourself (riding bareback and hatless in a field, as an example). As others have said, it's not like riding a (more predictable) bicycle or motorcycle . . . horses are sentient beings - prey animals even - who can either do something naughty out of sheer high spirits (an excited buck on the first hack of the spring) or react suddenly out of fear. But you either accept the risk and ride anyway or you choose not to ride. Simple really.

And while I'm pretty risk averse (no team chasing for me!), I do think that the risk factor is a small part of the enjoyment. Yes, it's annoying when Ollie puts in a huge spook at the trampolining dog (yes, really), but it makes riding him more interesting than riding a bike ;)

N

[Kady A]

I've been riding for nearly 40 years and have been fortunate only to have a couple of "bad" falls. As a kid, I used to ride hatless, bareback etc on the roads - I wouldn't DREAM of doing it now. I had a bad fall about 7 years ago which ended up with me fracturing my skull - not the horse's fault (or mine), but caused by an inconsiderate motorcyclist "wheelying" at the side of us and then riding off leaving havoc in his wake. I upped my life cover after that accident - not just because at the time my son was only three but mainly because my employers were not very sympathetic when I rang in to say I was in hospital! In fact it was one of those "we hope you are insured" conversations.

Crossing the road can be dangerous - thats why we should be observant and look both ways. I think if you take note of advice you are given - wear a well fitting hat of the highest standard you can, wear gloves when riding or leading a horse and if you want to wear a body protector - wear one. Be realistic about your abilities (and your confidence levels!) - I have seen supremely confident riders come a cropper because their confidence was greater than their ability :p

The most important thing .... enjoy what you are doing. When you start to have doubts its time to quit. Never take your horse's lovely temperament and good behaviour for granted - we ALL have had days, after all our horses are independent thinkers ... just like us ;)

Going back to insurance - when applying for a mortgage a good few years ago, I was asked about my hobbies/sports - at the time I was out competing a bit and doing a bit of riding for a well known showjumper in my free time - I was told that showjumping would seriously increase my premiums and possibly affect my ability to get a mortgage as they classed it as a higher risk sport than ski-ing. I was quite shocked at that. I know polo is considered extremely high risk - but then I suppose its almost a full contact sport on horseback.