Where’s your head at?
Concussion is a hot topic in sport, but how can you spot the signs and how should you deal with it? Experts from British Equestrian reveal all
Photos: Jon Stroud. With thanks to British Equestrian for their help with this feature, britishequestrian.org.uk
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.