Mortality data

Between 1979-98, there were an estimated 20 horse-related deaths per annum in Australia. The external cause of the 410 deaths during this 20-year period are summarised in Table 1. Eight per cent of the deaths (n=33) were caused by motor vehicle traffic accidents involving a collision with horse riders or horse-drawn vehicles, or during animal-drawn vehicle accidents. Ninety-two per cent of the deaths (n=377) occurred during horse riding accidents, with 54 per cent (n=224) of the deaths in males. For all external cause categories, males accounted for about 60 per cent of the deaths (n=248).

No deaths were registered to other codes in the range E810 to E825 where the fourth digit is `5' (`rider of animal; occupant of animal-drawn vehicle'), nor to other codes in the range E826 to E829 where the fourth digit is `2' (`rider of animal') or `3' (`occupant of animal-drawn vehicle').

Although 20 deaths per year in Australia are few in number and yields a mean annual rate of 0.13 deaths per 100,000 population, the rate in terms of horse riding participants is of the order of 7.8 horse-related deaths per 100,000 participants per year (based on 257.5 thousand horse riding participants reported for the year 1997 (Australian Bureau of Statistics (1999)). Because of small numbers of horse-related deaths each year, rates are quite variable over the 20-year period. When rates are calculated for the 10-year periods 1979-88 and 1989-98, there is a decline in the horse-related death rate from 0.17 deaths per 100,000 population in 1979-88 to 0.08 deaths per 100,000 population in 1989-98.

In Table 2, each E-code category of horse-related injury deaths for the 20-year period reviewed, are presented for age-specific groups. Riders, particularly in age groups 15 to 24 years of age and 35 to 54 years of age, appear to be of greatest risk of lethal horse-related injury and account for 54 per cent (n=221) of the deaths. Examination of these cases indicated that for age-group 15 to 24 years, 54 per cent of the deaths in this age group (n=61) were females and for age group 35 to 54 years, 71 per cent (n=76) were males (possibly reflecting more professional (work-related) horse riding activity in older males than females, hence more risk of lethal injuries) (Pounder 1984).

In Figure 1, age-specific rates of injury deaths from horse-related injury are presented for both sexes. Because of the low number of reported deaths and data variability in each age group, 20-year population averages were used in rate calculations. It is evident from the 95% confidence intervals, based on the Poisson distribution, that for age groups 0 to 44 years of age, there is statistically no significant difference between horse-related death rates in males and females. At age 45 years and above, the death rates in males are significantly higher than females. This is in agreement with Australian and overseas reports on lethal horse-related injuries.

Figure 1: Age-specific estimated death rates from horse-related injury by sex, Australia 1979-98.

Note: Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals for rates. Rates are based on 20-year population averages.

Age-adjusted death rates from horse-related injuries by sex during the period 1979 to 1998 are presented in Figure 2. Because of small numbers of horse-related deaths reported annually and their variability in number each year, 20-year population averages were used to calculate crude rates and to reduce the variability in age-adjusted rates. Interpretation of these data must be made with caution, due to this variability over the 20-year time period. An examination of age-adjusted death rates appears to indicate a decline in horse-related injury death rate in both sexes over the 20-year period.

Figure 2: Age-adjusted rates of estimated injury deaths from horse-related injury by sex, Australia 1979-1998.

Note: age-adjusted rates based on E-code categories E813.5, E814.5, E827.3, and E828.2.

Crude rates of horse-related deaths by state and territory of death registration are presented in Figure 3. It is evident from the 95% confidence intervals, based on the Poisson distribution, that Queensland and Tasmania have horse-related death rates that are statistically different from the national rate of 0.13 deaths per 100,000 population. In Queensland, the rate of 0.25 horse-related deaths per 100,000 population, is significantly higher than the national rate and rates in all other states, but not significantly higher than the rates in Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory. In Tasmania, the rate of 0.06 horse-related deaths per 100,000 population is significantly lower than the national rate and the rate in Queensland, but not rates of any other state or territory.

Figure 3: Crude rate of estimated horse-related deaths by state and territory of death registration, Australia 1979-98.

Note: Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals for rates. Rates are based on 20-year population averages.