Colts Neck, NJ is well known for its large number of equestrian farms (as the town’s name would suggest). Although much of the town has been converted from farmland into housing lots, many horse farms still exist; Colts Neck has long been a hotspot for riders in the Monmouth County Area.
Did you know that horseback riding is more dangerous than being on a motorcycle? I had no idea of this fact until someone recently pointed it out to me after suffering a minor injury. Apparently, motorcyclists experience injury once for every 7,000 hours of riding, while equestrians average one injury for every 350 hours.
In this United States alone, there are an estimated 30 million equestrians. While both motorcyclists and automobile racers are actually safer than the average horseback rider,* most of us never consider horseback riding to be as dangerous of a sport as it is.
I am not trying to rain on anyone’s parade. I just think that perhaps its time to think about how to prevent such injuries, and the best types of care for equestrians with sports injuries in Colts Neck.
Safety Tips to Prevent Injury in Colts Neck:
- Riders should make sure that helmets meet basic safety standards. Check that boots fit properly and that clothing is not loose.
- Check to be sure that your saddle and stirrups are the proper size and adjusted specifically for your use.
- Children should always be supervised (I think that goes without saying) and all new riders should have experienced instructors available at all times.
- Instructors should have completed a course in horse-safety from an accredited organization.
- New equestrians should first ride in flat, open spaces, and not attempt jumps or stunts of any kind that are beyond their personal skill level.
- Never ride when under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or when you are especially tired.
- Never walk behind a horse; they often find this threatening. Also, be alert for sudden noises or movements, as the horse may respond abruptly.
- If you have fallen from a horse but are not badly injured, roll your body away from the horse (when possible) after hitting the ground.**
It is extremely important to seek immediate medical attention for any horseback riding incident involving the head or spine. Once it has been determined that injuries are not life-threatening, other problems may still exist, include those that can lead to back pain, neck pain, headaches, arm and shoulder pain, etc. When these symptoms appear, Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation Center has an excellent variety of treatment options for pain management in Colts Neck.
Our office incorporates a Medical Doctor (specializing in pain management and rehabilitation); a team of Physical Therapists; an Acupuncturist; and Doctors of Chiropractic. To learn more about pain management in Colts Neck, NJ, feel free to contact our office. We also treat auto accident injuries, sports injuries, and many other conditions with the best in conservative, healthy pain management.
* Firth JL. Equestrian injuries. In: Schneider RC, Kennedy JC, Plant ML, eds. Sports injuries: mechanism, prevention, and treatment. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1985:431-9.)
**The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
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