[Injuries in horseback riding--incidence and causes]

This article presents the examination of 78 accidents in horseback riding, referring to their origin and kind of injury. It was found that 76% of all injuries did not occur during the active phase of riding, but in the time just before and right after it. Children without any experience in horseback riding were most susceptible to injuries. Referring to lesions occurring before and after the active phase, the longer extremity was predominantly involved (40%); furthermore, the skull was injured in 18% and the hand in 14% of all lesions. During the active phase of horseback riding, skull injuries increased to 34%. Thoracic and spinal lesions occurred in 15% each. The frequency of all lesions shows a reversed proportional dependence on the amount of experience in this sport. Severity of the accidents increases significantly with increasing demand on performance. In consideration of these studies the thesis can be advanced that coordinated prevention directly before and after the active riding phase can decrease the frequency of all accidents and especially the involvement of the lower extremity and the skull.