Although concussion and mental health awareness is growing in the larger world of sport, little research has explored the mental health of equestrians or considered the unique contextual factors and demands horse sports place on athletes.
Annika McGivern, an Equestrian Canada coach and eventer from Victoria, B.C., who is completing an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is currently conducting a study on this topic. In cooperation with her supervisor Dr. Gavin Breslin of Ulster University, McGivern is hoping to begin to fill this gap in research, starting with an online survey, which can be accessed here.
McGivern’s work aims to establish current levels of concussion and mental health levels in equestrian athletes in Canada, the UK, Australia, the U.S. and the Republic of Ireland by assessing symptoms of concussion, well-being, depression and resiliency. Once levels are established, a further aim is to analyse differences, if any, between countries.