To think horse riding is too dangerous?

[bellav]

DD10 developed a sudden love for horses after we read War Horse together last autumn.

She has asked for riding lessons and as yet we have said no due to cost but we had secretly planned to get her a few for her birthday next month.

But I have now got cold feet after reading stories on here about serious injuries and even deaths among riders doing mundane things like riding indoors in "safe" conditions.

One article linked said it is more dangerous than riding a motorbike, with a serious accident every 350 hours vs 7000. I know many of these are from cross-country etc, but I can't help worry about the ones that aren't.

AIBU to not want to start down this path?

I know lots of people who ride and have done for most of their lives. Some had accidents and injuries but most didn’t. And none of the injuries were fatal. One broke her arm quite badly, that was the worst, it was a complicated rupture so she’s had some chronic issues but nothing seriously debilitating.

in contacts, almost everyone I know who rode motorcycles had accidents and many quite serious. DH used to ride a bike and broke his back before we met. Even today, 20 years later, he has back issues dating back to that injury. I’d take horse back riding over motorcycles any day!

the sport I’m most scared of is trampolining and those kind of gymnastics, almost everyone I knew who did that at semi pro level had some sort of permanent damage from it. That’s hardcore. Oh and don’t get me started on skiing!

also, lots of people have serious injuries playing football!

Horse back riding can seem more scary as horses are large animals etc., but in reality, I don’t think the risk of serious injury is that bad. If you can afford it and make it work logistically, which is usually the biggest challenges for horse back riding, I’d let your DD go for it!

ps: she may also not “catch the bug”
I tried riding as a child, most my friends were horsey but I didn’t get into it. It just didn’t click for me, I did it for around and a year and then stopped. But I’m still glad I tried it, it taught me about horses and the few times in my life I’ve been in a situation where I had a chance to ride, I could do it (not very professionally, but enough to get n the saddle and go for a little simple ride in a forest or similar.)

Where have you got the statistics from?

The sport most likely to result in death of a child is football (yes obviously popularity & death rate are different)

Gymnastics, trampolining & swimming all have higher rates of death or life changing injury

Source RoSPA

This article is not saying what you think it is. Note in first orange box: “it is not possible to get a complete statistical overview…” so saying there are 10 deaths a year and 100 RTCs. And?
I have had a couple of riding injuries, but equally similar injuries tripping over a curb and doing dog agility. Life has risks

No, nothing like that. I just moved areas and then got busy with GCSEs. I always regretted not carrying on with it, but it wasn't to be. I don't know why I am so scared now. Mum-brain!

I spent my formative years at the local riding school at every single opportunity I could get. The worst injury I remember was someone who dislocated her shoulder in a bizarre wheelbarrow incident with no horses involved at all. 😁

Riding is certainly not an injury-free pastime, but anyone having lessons is going to be under constant supervision and on a steady pony, so accidents are very unlikely.

@bellav go with her get some mum n daughter time. Rebuild your confidence!

@thatsawhopperthatlemon
I was only trying to stop trampolines getting a bad name, when someone said there's probably more trampoline accidents than riding. But there's probably also a lot more hours spent on trampolines than horses too.

Totally agree accidents happen. You can't wrap kids up in cotton wool. If you were to try to avoid accidents then you wouldn't get out of bed.

And even beds not 100% safe - i was trying to turn of an alarm clock, rolled over and hit my eye of the bedside cabinet - i don't think anyone really believed that's how I got a black eye.

I don't/never have ridden. However risks are involved with lots of things.She sounds keen and my friend has been riding for years. A few accidents sure but still here to tell the tale.@

My DD rode from age 7, as she got older and started upping the pace a little she did have falls, some in an arena setting but was never badly hurt and would get back up and carry on.. What I think it gave her was resilience, in later life when she's had knock back or struggles she dusts herself off and keeps going. It also gave her a hobby and friendships, it made her responsible for the welfare of and animal and kept her focus off boys for a lot longer than her peers.

Her main childhood injuries were a broken leg, from coming off a trampoline and shredding her leg trying to climb over a wire fence, both totally unrelated to horses.

So take your DDfor the lessons, she'll enjoy it or not, just see how she goes.

It's pretty risky as activities go.

I know two people who have had bad injuries, one an experienced rider with a broken neck and another a relative novice with a broken back. Fortunately both recovered fine.

It's one of those things you have to go into with your eyes open, understand the risks, mitigate them with protective equipment and make sure you have good insurance because there is the possibility of sustaining life changing injuries, no matter how experienced you are.

What do you mean by good insurance? Do people take out specific insurance for this? I could understand for adults who may not be able to work if injured, but is there something for kids too?

Any sport can be dangerous. Your DD has to remember that unlike many sports, she’s working with another brain, that can be spooky at anything. A tractor may pass and they are fine, but watch out for that leaf blowing across the road.

My advice would be find a nice riding school, they will have bomb proof horses, that anyone can hop on. This will keep her going long enough.

We have 6 horses, they can be expensive, depending on ambition and what you do, we compete most weekends.

However, if your DD loves it, finding a yard where she can volunteer or get some pocket money doing yard jobs I.e poo picking she will be able to find her own lessons or riding depending on what the yard has available.

Oh and don’t forget she will fall off eventually.

You don't need any insurance to go to a riding school as they are fully insured themselves.

Life changing injury at a riding school is virtually non - existent. You are at greater risk from serious injury in the car on the way there.

There are risks with horses, but there are risks with a lot of things that people enjoy. A riding school risk carries out risk assessments to be as safe as possible

The risk of most serious injury in horse riding comes from the higher level competing - cross country jumping for example. You would not be doing anything like that in a riding school.

If you can put your anxiety to one side it is a lovely hobby to have & if your DC clicks with it & develops a love of horses then that is far greater benefit than the sport alone.

Contact with horses helps with emotional & behavioural regulation, teaches patience & co operation & non verbal communication. All things that other hobbies cannot do.

It's also one of the few childhood hobbies that people continue throughout adulthood. Most gymnasts, violin players, brownies etc have given up by teens but people who develop a passion for horses often continue it for life.

I would say let DC try it. Buy a good helmet & body protector & have them properly fitted & get decent boots. Try not to watch the lessons if it makes you anxious.

The riding school near me has been going for 45 years & never seen a serious injury. There are occasional bumps, rare broken arms etc.

I think she means critical illness insurance.

Op people die and get seriously injured doing pretty mundane things, freak accidents happen. My friend lost her mum falling down 3 stairs at the front door.
You can't live your life thinking my child could die going in the front door.

I also know a teen who broke a wrist indoor bowling, not even the heavy 10pin bowling, carpet bowls like what old people play in the church hall!

It doesn't matter what you ask about someone will have a horror story or someone getting seriously hurt doing something pretty safe.

All of this 👆 Horses are magic. They teach kids (and adults) much more than just how to ride. I’ve worked with horses used in therapy for people with learning disabilities and some of the things I’ve seen have been so touching it has made me cry. If she gets hooked though, you’ll never have any spare money again! I think it’s worth every penny though.

Improved mental health & resilience is another huge benefit from contact with horses.

Like a PP has said horses are often used in therapy for people with physical & learning disabilities and also powerful in helping people with mental health struggles, autism, ADHD etc.

If you balance up the tiny risk of a severe injury against the improvement in mental health & wellbeing, it's a no brainer

I’ve been riding my whole life and I’m older than modern religion.

In that time my worst injuries have been a few cracked ribs over the years and on one occasion a bit of concussion. That was from riding work on race horses, not riding a riding school cob in an arena.

With the exception of one proper freak accident, everyone I know who’s had a really nasty injury has been riding racehorses/been eventing at a decent level/breaking and backing. Which your child won’t be doing. I also think more experienced people can get a little complacent with some things (I know I do)

It’s a riskier sport in that there is another living being involved that is a flight animal but a good riding school will have steady ponies. Even if she gets really into it it doesn’t mean you have to provide her with a 80% blood sharper than a tack eventer.

It does have very serious risks but there are ways to minimise these although not entirely remove them.
Presuming your daughter would be starting on a safe pony at a reputable riding school wearing appropriate safety equipment and in a safe secure environment the risks are pretty low.
Obviously if she eventually becomes competent (and addicted!) and gets her own pony then the risks can increase depending on how safety conscious you/ she is in every aspect of this.
Even considering this I think horses are a wonderful interest for your daughter and on the whole much safer than many activities she might otherwise drift into without the discipline of a commitment to a pony.
The most certain risk is to your pocket. No way to decrease that!

It is risky and falls from a horse can be pretty unpleasant. However it is also one of the best feelings ever and I would never swap it for anything.

Getting in a car is pretty dangerous too FWIW.

It CAN be dangerous, yes. But so many other things that we do day to day are dangerous too, and we don't think about it.
I've had horses since I was 3 and I'm late 30's now. I know it can be dangerous but I make sure I have all the up to date riding wear, especially as I compete. I'm also very aware that these are large, fight or flight animals but when you grow up with them, you learn how to handle them.
A riding school is the best place for your dd if she wants to start riding. They'll make sure she's behind safe ears and she'll grow in confidence more and more. If she continues to ride, most riding stables will have an 'own a pony' day so that she can learn and become more confident in handling a pony from the ground.
I've had my fair share of broken bones from riding but I think once you're an equestrian, the love never leaves you, regardless of injury! Myself and others have been known to be back in the saddle before being fully healed as a broken bone is merely a hindrance 😆

OP has said that she can’t afford riding lessons AND is concerned about risk.

I've worked in some hospital acute neuro wards. After seeing the brain damaged caused by horse accidents i would not be riding one, let alone letting my daughter. Not worth the risk.

It doesn't sound great

🔴 1. Horseback Riding – Highest injury rate per participant

• Injury rate: Estimated 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 riders are injured annually.
• Injury severity: High — common injuries include head trauma, spinal injuries, and fractures.
• Key fact: It has one of the highest rates of hospital admissions per hour of participation among all sports.
• Stat: A 2007 study in the Emergency Medicine Journal reported horseback riding causes more hospital admissions per hour than football, skiing, and motorcycling.

🟠 2. Motorbike Riding

• Injury rate: Roughly 1 in 20 to 1 in 30 riders are injured annually (depending on context).
• Injury severity: Often severe — fractures, head trauma, road rash.
• Protective factor: Use of helmet and gear greatly affects outcomes.
• Stat: Per participant, risk is much higher than driving — particularly for younger or inexperienced riders.

🟡 3. Skiing

• Injury rate: About 2 to 3 injuries per 1,000 skier days.
• Per participant: If someone skis 10 days a year, injury risk is around 1–3% annually.
• Injury severity: Usually minor — knee injuries, sprains, fractures.
• Fatalities: Rare, mostly due to high-speed collisions or avalanches.

🟢 4. Driving a Car – Lowest injury rate per participant

• Injury rate: About 1 in 100 drivers involved in a crash annually in developed countries.
• Per participant: Since nearly everyone drives, the per-participant rate is low.
• Severity: Varies — but due to seatbelts, airbags, and crash design, many are minor.
• Stat: U.S. annual injury rate in car crashes is around 4–5 million, but that’s out of 200+ million licensed drivers.

Great user name BTW! Your post has cheered me up no end. I'm 60, and my ponies are nearing 20 now. I thought I'd be too old to have another when these pass away. Reading your post has made me think differently!

Was this from just riding ponies in riding stables or doing something more adventurous?