The psychological impact of injury on amateur horse riders

The psychological and emotional responses after serious injury are known to affect an individual’s well-being, as well as their likelihood of effectively and successfully returning to sport. While injuries in equestrians may be well documented, research into the short and long-term psychological implications are scant. Injured athletes were found to go through a range of negative emotions during a period of injury rehabilitation, such as: anxiety, anger, confusion, depression, impaired self-esteem, hopelessness and worry. These psychological processes have the potential to affect recovery, both physical and psychological, with a major concern being that many athletes retain an element of fear of re-injury. The aim of this study was to identify emergent common themes within the amateur rider cohort to provide an appraisal of the psychological and emotional processes. Ethical consideration was granted by the institutional ethics committee prior to data collection. Five amateur riders were interviewed about their experiences when they suffered a serious injury (defined as requiring a minimum of 21 days off), considering the psychological and emotional processes participants encountered in the period from injury to recovery. This study found that amateur riders face similar negative psychological impact after injury as in other sports, however, while some long term consequences were seen as each participant changed their riding practices after the incident, more research is needed to determine the extent to which these processes affect longevity and success within the sport. With this information an understanding can be formed of the implications for the sport and its participants, as well as potential support regarding psychological interventions and their application to equestrian sport.