Introduction:
The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is a licensing and supervisory authority that controls and promotes the safety and reliability of products, services and industrial activities. Our surveillance covers a wide variety of topics from cosmetics to industrial plants. Tukes has a special authority group supervising the broad range of consumer services. The group executes regular inspections to consumer services, including riding schools and other horse stables. This authority group also monitors and investigate riding accidents. The primary legislation is the Consumer Safety Act which requires service providers to monitor accidents and to produce and maintain a safety document. Accidents must be reported to Tukes. In addition, the Act confers various other obligations on service providers. After a number of serious riding accidents, Tukes investigated further into the causes, consequences and prevention of such accidents. Our aim was to identify the root cause of accidents and major incidents and make preventative recommendations. Our investigation revealed that many of the accidents could have been preventable. For example, we reported that a lack of safe distancing was a major cause of horse kicking incidents.

Objectives:
Tukes received 136 mandatory reports from riding schools, stable owners and other related businesses during the 5 years 2017-2021. Our objective is to analyze these reports to gain deeper insights into these incidents.

Methods:
Tukes manages a database of all reported accidents and incidents. We use this data to identify and classify the causes that can trigger accidents using data analytical tools. By classifying and analysing accidents according to riding area, time of the year, horse behaviour, severity of injury or injured body part, we can determine counter-measures and provide guidance to reduce such accidents in the future.

Results:
Our investigation revealed that the majority of accidents occurred due to the riders lack of balance. We therefore categorized accidents as a result of riders lack of balance and accidents due to horse behavior into two distinct groups.

Conclusion:
Although it is unrealistic to expect a zero accident rate when dealing with large and unpredictable animals, nevertheless the current rate of accidents can be substantially reduced with simple measures and further recommendations. Tukes has therefore made new recommendations to riders and also to service providers.

Keywords:  Horse, riding, accident, injury, horse behavior, rider, lack of balance, preventable.

Other info: Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) - Helsinki - Uusimaa - Finland