Proposed rule change requiring medical evaluation after any fall

[Mondo]

@Impractical_Horsewoman

who still might be of the school of “hospital or on.”

I’m sad to say I stopped being that trainer when I had a student come off her horse. She was complaining about her arm being very painful. I asked if she could get back on and she said yes, but she had a very hard time doing it. Turns out, she’d dislocated her shoulder in that fall. Needless to say, I felt horrible, but she didn’t fire me as her coach. I’ve never made that mistake again. If someone tells me they are in pain or they are afraid to get back on, we’ll stop for the day and work it out.
I had another student come off (not in a lesson) when her horse bolted. She broke her back. She was adamant that I not call 911 and that she could get up and drive herself home. She did and I have never again listened when a student says “don’t call 911!” There is just TOO MUCH that can go wrong. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

and I think students actually appreciate coaches who are concerned about their health and listen to them, rather than just focus on getting them back in the saddle, no matter what.

[Zevida]

@rothmpp

I think part of the issue is that the general public does not understand that you do not have to hit your head to get a concussion.

Since a concussion is basically bruising your brain. Abrupt stops or changes in direction can cause it - basically if your brain keeps moving at the rate of speed it was and slams against your skull, you get a concussion, since your brain is floating inside your skull. The most commonly understood example is whiplash - it is not always just your neck, but can also cause a concussion.

I realize most people here understand the distinction, but the general public often believes you have to hit your head for a concussion to even be a possibility.

I was a test dummy for this today. I was sitting on the side of the bed of my truck and jumped down. Usually I use a stool to get in and jump down onto the stool. But this time I’d hauled myself in on the tire. So when I jumped down it was to 2’ lower than usual, but my lower body wasn’t ready to absorb that and when I landed I got an immediate headache from concussion onto the ground too hard on my two feet. It subsided after a minute or two, but if I’d jumped from higher or with more velocity I could see how that could cause a real concussion.