This article presents a summary by the EFA on the topic of pregnancy and equestrian sport. We think it might be interesting for women-riders and might answer some of their questions regarding this issue.

The question of pregnancy and sport has lurked in the background for many years, but has recently been pushed to the fore with the recent case involving Netball Australia. A National Forum on Pregnancy and Sport was held in Sydney on 1 August this year, with participants from state and national sporting organisations, departments of sport, EEO and anti-discrimination agencies, media, sports lawyers and medical practitioners including Sports Medicine Australia. Legal, ethical, insurance, statistical, political and medical aspects were considered carefully.

In Equestrian sport, I am unaware of any episodes where the pregnancy of a rider was an issue, and indeed many remember leading riders such as jumper Vicki Roycroft and, more recently, eventer Karen Owen competing at top level towards the end of their pregnancies, and producing offspring without drama only a few weeks later.

Medical aspects:

Equestrian sport carries an inherent risk. The main risk is physical trauma from falls, and obviously some disciplines of the sport carry relatively more risk than others ... for example the faster sports involving Jumping, such as Show Jumping and particularly Eventing, would incur a higher risk of trauma than the quieter disciplines of, say, Hacking or Dressage. None-the-less, there is still some possibility of falls inducing trauma in all Equestrian disciplines.
No recommendations are based on proper studies. There is little scientific or statistical data on Equestrian activities and pregnancy (as with virtually all sports). Recommendations regarding risks therefore are based on anecdote and individual medical opinions. On the contrary, there are also anecdote-based medical opinions that physically fit women and sportswomen in particular
do better in labour.

In theory, trauma to a baby is most likely related to abdominal trauma, usually causing abruption of the placenta, a dangerous condition where the placenta partially or completely comes away from the wall of the uterus, interrupting the circulation to the baby. I am not aware of reports of this happening in the past in Equestrian accidents, either in studies or in case reports, but it is quite possible that it has happened, and been unreported. It certainly is well recognised in trauma caused by other accidents. Studies have shown that injuries to the abdomen, pelvis and chest comprise less than 2% of all horse related injuries presenting to hospitals. However, these injuries are likely to be seen in a proportionately higher incidence in Jumping and particularly Eventing, where the horse may fall on the rider's body.

It would be quite meaningless to require pregnant women to obtain a certificate stating that she is fit to compete, and few doctors would provide this type of certificate. It is also unlikely that a written disclaimer of responsibility is of any value, as it would be worthless unless full information has been sought, understood and carefully considered by the woman.

Legal aspects:

The Sex Discrimination Act of 1984 means that in most circumstances sporting administrators cannot ban pregnant women competing in sport. However, a sporting body has a duty to alert competitors, and especially pregnant women, of the risks involved in competing in a particular sport. It is up to a woman to make an informed decision, based on legal, medical and any other considerations. The sporting body has a duty of care to ensure that as much as possible foreseeable risks are minimalised, and the sport as safe as reasonably possible. A sporting body only has to do all that is reasonable.

Sport administrators should not give actual medical advice, but have a duty to direct pregnant sportswomen to obtain sufficient and adequate advice, to enable them to make their own decision. It would not be appropriate for a competitor to seek such advice from a clubÕs doctor (ie the doctor officiating at a competition) due to a possible conflict of interest, and women should be encouraged to get independent advice, and if unsure, to get a second opinion. It should be up to the women to reveal the fact of her pregnancy to a sporting body, and there can be no compulsion.

Insurance aspects:

The EFA Personal Accident policy specifically excludes injury that is attributable wholly or partly to childbirth or pregnancy or the complications of these. While this means that trauma totally unrelated to the pregnancy in either cause or effect, is likely to be covered, there is a considerable grey area, into which our pregnant competitors may fall.

Ethical aspects:

It is impossible to eliminate risk to a person, or an unborn child. Parents have the right to determine the shape of their own lives, and it is assumed that they have the interests of their unborn child at heart. It may well be an unacceptable discrimination to ban women from competing on the basis of a medical condition.

In Summary:

• The sport should not ban pregnant women from riding or competing.
• The sport should point out to pregnant women or to women contemplating pregnancy, that they should seek out comprehensive advice on the risks and benefits, from appropriate medical sources, and make their own decisions based on these medical as well as legal and insurance issues.
• The sport should develop guidelines on this issue, and make them publicly available to competitors and members.