Question:
I would probably ask the boys and girls at the National Brain Injury Association for some clarification. As I read this, dumb redneck that I am, they seem to be saying that 17% of equestrian injuries and 60% of equestrian deaths are caused by a prior brain injury. They probably mean that 17% of equestrian injuries (in their sample) are brain injuries, and that 60% of equestrian deaths (in their sample) are caused by brain injury. A big Washington outfit ought to be able hire somebody who can express himself clearly in English. Does this mean that, even if I wear a helmet, there's still an 80% chance that my brain will be turned to mush in an accident? That's not going to sell many helmets. Does it mean that riding a horse, in and of itself, causes brain injury? Are they saying that riders suffer from rectocranial inversions? I really have no idea what this statement means, or how that 20% figure was computed.

I don't mean to nit-pick, and I'm not arguing against wearing a helmet. To persuade people to wear helmets, it would be better to present the case a bit more clearly.

Answer: I would think the helmet stat would be higher. I for one, make the personal choice to usually ride without a helmet. Now before you all boo and hiss, I'm not one of those "I ain't never weared a helmet and I ain't never gonna wear one," types of people. I'm a responsible rider who simply hopes the govt will stay out of my private life and let me, an informed person, weigh the risks and make a choice myself. The one brain injury I did receive was when I was riding at a friend's and she insisted I wear a helmet. I landed on my butt (ok, go ahead and laugh), and the impact gave me a concussion. My trainer was also killed by a brain injury from a fall, but the doctors and witnesses concluded that a helmet would not have helped. I know lots of people do wear helmets and have been saved by them, and I would insist any good parent or instructor make children wear them. Go ahead and flame if you want, but this if just my humble opinion.

I've mentioned before, I represent a client who specializes in brain injury rehabilitation.I've just received a fax from the National Brain Injury Association in Washington, D.C., containing some statistics I requested. For rec.eq, and for a community relations project I'm hoping to plan with my local pony club, I also requested some stats. on horseback riding-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). I'm quoting information contained in these fact sheets. "Brain injury is responsible for more than 17% of all horseback riding injuries, and more than 60% of equestrian-related deaths." (They cited this quote from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, 1991-92)

"Equestrian helmets are 20% effective in reducing the incidence of traumatic brain injury among horse riders." (Cited Centers for Disease Control, Injuries associated with horseback riding, United States.