Heads up
Would you recognise when a rider’s concussed and know what to do? Ashleigh Wallace has the lowdown
Photos: Jon Stroud, Mick Atkins, Oleksandr Osipov, Lightspring/Shutterstock.com
It’s no secret that riding is a high-risk sport and, while you do everything possible to keep yourself safe, accidents can – and do – happen.
Recently released guidelines from British Equestrian (BEF) aim to help people understand more about concussion and know what action to take. It’s hoped that better education on this topic will reduce the risks and potential long-term effects associated with concussion-related incidents. We find out more...
Our expert
Ashleigh Wallace is the BEF’s Athlete Health Lead for the World Class Programme. With more than 20 years’ experience, she’s worked at several Olympic Games and across a number of different sports.
What is concussion?
Concussion is known as a traumatic brain injury. When there is a blow to the head, or anywhere else on the body, there are shearing forces that happen deep in the brain. This shearing (strain) starts what’s known as a metabolic cascade.