Spotting signs of concussion after a fall and how to deal with it

Hands up if you’ve been told that the most important thing to do after a fall from your horse is to get back on? Most of us have had this phrase drummed into us at one time or another and, as horse people, we take pride in putting our horses ahead of ourselves. While often done with all the right intentions, there are times when this mentality can be detrimental to our health – and suffering a concussion is one such example.

Concussion might be more commonly associated with contact sports such as rugby, but equestrianism also comes with an increased risk at all levels. In technical terms, concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain that causes a disturbance in its function. While concussion is most commonly associated with head injuries, it can occur when impact to any area of your body causes rapid head movement.

Knowing what to do in the event of a concussion – whether that’s to yourself or someone else – can make a huge difference when it comes to recovery and long-term health.

Head gear

Wearing a riding hat when you’re in the saddle or around horses is an important safety decision. While wearing one won’t prevent concussion, it will still protect your skull from other damage. One study in racing showed that 70% of falls resulted in head injury – of these, 91% were concussions and 46% showed no external damage to their helmet.

 Did you know?

While a lot of research is being carried out, there’s currently no scan or other test that can definitively prove a concussion. Diagnosis must be made based on the nature of the injury, and the signs and symptoms the patient is displaying.

 If the worst happens

Concussion can happen anywhere – at the yard, out hacking or at a competition. Knowing what to do if one occurs could make a huge difference to the recovery of the person involved. Try to remember the four Rs…

recognise the signs and symptoms

remove the injured person from the field of play

rest and recover until all symptoms have been resolved

TOP TIP

Consider filling in the medical ID feature on your phone so that your emergency contact’s details are accessible in the event of an accident.

Find out more information about concussion in the July issue of Horse&Rider magazine, on sale 16 June 2022.