Horseback Riding Perception and Experience Ouestionnaire

Horseback Riding Perception and Experience Ouestionnaire
Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions. This information will be treated as confidential and will not be released or revealed without your written consent.
Name: Age: Gender:
Mobile phone: Email:
Are you currently riding?
 Yes
 No
How long have you been riding?
...........weeks
.........months
...........years
Are you satisfied with the current situation at your riding club?
1) Facilities
 Yes
 No
2) Instructors
 Yes
 No
3) Grooms
 Yes
 No
4) Horses
 Yes
 No
If not, why?
How long were you riding before you stopped?
...........weeks
.........months
...........years
If you have stopped riding, why?
Reason:
Explanation:
Suggestions:
 No time
 Too costly
 Too far away
Bad experiences:
 Accidents & falls
 Fearful
 Intimidating
 Frustrating
 Others
Your initial interest in riding:
Non-competitive:
 Leisure, recreational riding
 Hacking/trail riding
 Fitness riding
 Others
Competitive:
 Show-jumping
 Dressage
 Endurance
 Cross country
Competitive:
 Eventing
 Racing
 Others
Your riding proficiency achieved:
 Beginner
Little or no knowledge of horses and should receive instruction in enclosed arena
 Novice
Can manage an obedient horse in walk, trot and canter. Competent to go out on hack
 Intermediate
Able to tack up, ride confidently in all gaits while maintaining full control all the time
 Advanced
Capable of doing some lateral work, jumping fences and competing. Good knowledge of correct stable management & horse care
Has your initial perception of horseback riding differed now?
 Yes
 No
Please explain:

Hazards and risk factors

Identifying the causative factors and taking preventative measures is crucial in the prevention of injury in horseback riding. Retrospective studies conducted by Silver and Lloyd Parry (1991) showed high incidences of spinal and head injuries sustained from accidents in horseback riding. Horse and rider contributions to accidents were analysed and concluded that the majority of these accidents were preventable.


Different forms of riding are more dangerous than others with speed, jumping and unfamiliar terrain having a higher risk to injury from accidents. Furthermore, since movements in horseback riding are instigated by the rider and its outcome based on the perception of the horse, a good understanding of animal behaviour and its character would result in better reciprocation between both horse and rider. Riding lessons under the guidance of an instructor would require the said to possess good communicative coaching skills pertaining to human and equine behaviour as well as biomechanical and functional kinaesthetic knowledge. Furthermore, the specific needs, wants and capability of the rider should be matched to the qualities of the horse and the qualifications and experience of the instructor.