A Cross-Sectional Study of Horse-Related Injuries in Veterinary and Animal Science Students at an Australian University.
Authors: Riley Christopher B, Liddiard Jessica R, Thompson Kirrilly
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Horse-Related Injuries in University Students During their educational programmes, veterinary and animal science students face measurable occupational hazards that warrant institutional attention. This Australian cross-sectional study surveyed 260 students to quantify injury risk, identify injury patterns, and establish whether existing safeguarding protocols were adequate. The research revealed that 8.5% of respondents (22 students) sustained 27 horse-related incidents, with lower limb injuries predominating—notably foot/ankle (nine cases) and upper leg/knee (eight cases)—whilst trampling and hindleg kicks each accounted for 30.4% of incidents. Concerning from a welfare perspective was the finding that 60.9% of injuries received no treatment whatsoever, suggesting either underestimation of injury severity or poor reporting culture; the majority of incidents (56.5%) occurred during off-campus placement work, where supervision and immediate medical support may be limited. Equine professionals involved in student training or placement oversight should consider this data when designing risk-reduction strategies, ensuring that injury reporting systems are transparent and accessible, that students receive adequate hazard awareness training prior to placement, and that institutional protocols for assessing and managing even minor injuries are clearly documented and consistently applied.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Educational institutions should implement proactive injury prevention protocols and safety training for students handling horses, particularly during off-campus work placements where 56.5% of injuries occurred
- •Establish mandatory reporting systems and monitoring of student injuries to identify trends and evaluate effectiveness of risk-reduction initiatives
- •Encourage students to seek professional medical evaluation for all horse-related injuries, not just severe cases, to ensure proper documentation and evidence-based treatment
Key Findings
- •8.5% of veterinary and animal science students (22 of 260) reported horse-related injuries during their educational programs
- •Trampling and hind limb kicks each accounted for 30.4% of injuries, with bruising being the most common injury type (91.3%)
- •56.5% of incidents occurred during program-related work experience placements, with 60.9% of injuries receiving no treatment
- •Foot/ankle (28.1%), upper leg/knee (25.0%), and hands (9.4%) were the most frequently injured body regions