Concern about the increasing number of deaths and injuries both in Australia and overseas, particularly during horse eventing, has prompted a new study by Adelaide’s Flinders University.

Researchers from the university’s Centre for Injury Studies estimate 20 people die and more than 3000 are hospitalised every year with serious injuries.

In 1996/97, 20 per cent of serious injuries occurred to the head of the victim, which increased to 21 per cent in 1997/98.

Researchers believe the real figures could be even higher as many injuries are not reported in national data collections because they are treated at emergency departments, doctors’ rooms or by first aid workers.

The latest study will focus on the sport of eventing, which sees horse and rider combinations complete three different disciplines of dressage, cross country and showjumping.

Every year riders and horses are killed or injured in the cross country section of eventing, a discipline which involves a long and demanding course with sizable, fixed fences.

Australian eventing gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Stuart Tinney recently completed a high-level three-day event with one arm in a sling, and both Gillian Rolton and Wendy Schaeffer broke bones at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the three-day event.

Associate lecturer at Flinders University Dr Raymond Cripps will conduct the study in conjunction with the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA), with the aim of helping the equestrian industry create prevention and management strategies for rider injuries.

Dr Cripps said falls would be monitored at one and three-day events in New South Wales and South Australia until January next year, with a final report being prepared for the following March.

He said the rising death and injury rate in relation to eventing could be due to the increasingly competitive nature of the sport.

“In general, particularly in Europe, eventing is getting much more competitive,” he said.

It is hoped the study could eventually extend to include all states over a longer time period, he said.