Video analysis of jockey fall characteristics in horse racing.

OBJECTIVES: To identify characteristics of jockey falls associated with high-risk landings using a modified Equestrian Fall Assessment Instrument. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Video footage of 22 flat and 58 jump racing falls (N = 80) which occurred in Great Britain, Ireland, and New Zealand from 2013 to 2018 was systematically analysed using the modified Equestrian Fall Assessment Instrument. Race, horse, and jockey-level factors, including the nature of ground contact (landings), were characterised identifying factors associated with high-risk landings. High-risk landings refer to cases where the jockey's head impacted the ground or where there was potential horse impact on the jockey. A multivariable logistic regression model was applied identifying independent variables associated with high-risk landings. RESULTS: In 79 % (63/80) of race falls examined, at least one high-risk landing factor was present. Three independent variables explained 40.3 % of variance in high-risk landings. Lower race class (odds ratio 1.5; 95 % confidence interval 0.96, 2.39; p = 0.054), hanging onto the reins upon ground impact (odds ratio 7.5; 95 % confidence interval 1.04, 53.63; p = 0.028), and no jockey tuck-and-roll behaviour following ground impact (odds ratio 4.9; 95 % confidence interval 1.65, 14.44; p = 0.001) were associated with high-risk landings. CONCLUSIONS: Jockeys who ride in lower race classes, who hung onto the reins before landing, and who didn't tuck-and-roll during a fall had increased risk of a high-risk landing. Further examination of relationships between race, jockey experience and fall behaviour characteristics upon injury outcomes, and evaluation of potential protective benefits of fall training are required.

Development of a video analysis protocol and assessment of fall characteristics in equestrian cross-country eventing.

Cross-country eventing is one of the highest-risk sporting activities for serious injury outcomes. This study investigated relationships between fall characteristics and high-risk falls at jumps in cross-country eventing. A video analysis protocol was systematically developed to analyze 87 video recordings of high-risk rider falls; defined as when the rider's head impacted the ground and/or where there was potential horse impact with the rider. Falls were classified according to competition type, jump type, horse-related, and rider-related factors. At least one high-risk fall characteristic was observed in 45 of 87 examined falls. Multivariable best subsets regression identified five independent variables explaining 38.4% of the variance in the number of high-risk falls. Increased likelihood of high-risk falls was associated with continuation of horse direction or speed upon rider ground impact, higher jump approach speed, changes in rider body posture upon landing, rider air jacket usage, and reduced rider fall time. The Eventing Fall Assessment Instrument (EFAI) video analysis protocol (attached as supplementary material) facilitated systematic examination of multiple characteristics associated with high-risk falls and identified likely influential characteristics. Based on EFAI and subsequent data analyses, findings suggest optimized approach speed for correct striding and take-off; jump design to enable run-out; and rider training could help reduce the occurrence of high-risk falls. Air jacket usage and their design characteristics warrant further investigation.

Do riders who wear an air jacket in equestrian eventing have reduced injury risk in falls? A retrospective data analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between air jacket usage and rider injury severity in equestrian eventing competition falls world-wide. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. METHODS: An analysis was conducted on Fédération Equestre Internationale data for 1819 riders who fell wearing an air jacket and 1486 riders who fell while not wearing an air jacket from 2015 to 2017. Injury data were categorised as either 'no/slight injury' or 'serious/fatal injury'. A chi-square test determined whether an association was present between injury severity category and air jacket usage and binary logistic regression determined the effect size of this association. RESULTS: As a result of falls, 3203 riders sustained no/slight injuries and 102 sustained serious/fatal injuries. While 55.0% of riders who fell were wearing an air jacket, they represented 67.6% of the serious/fatal injury outcomes. Air jacket usage was significantly associated with serious/fatal injuries in falls (X²â€¯= 6.76; p = 0.009). Riders wearing an air jacket had 1.7 times (95%CI 1.14-2.64) increased odds of sustaining a serious or fatal injury in a fall compared to riders not wearing an air jacket. CONCLUSIONS: Riders wearing an air jacket were over represented in the percentage of serious or fatal injuries in falls compared to riders who only wore a standard body protector. Further research is needed to understand the reason(s) for this finding. It is recommended that additional data on injury outcomes, rider characteristics and the biomechanics of falls be examined in future analyses, and that air jacket and body protector characteristics be further investigated.