Most horse riders ‘unaware of traumatic brain injury risk’

Better safety testing of helmets and knowledge about concussion are needed, says psychologist

A New Zealand academic has called for independent safety testing of equestrian helmets, following a study that found few safety tests for concussion included horse-riding injuries.

Alice Theadom, a clinical psychologist and director of the traumatic brain injury network at Auckland University of Technology, says it is “extremely hard” to find out if riding helmets have been safety-tested or who has conducted the relevant tests.