Concussion Awareness

EC’s Accidents & Return to Sport Rule

EC’s concussion-related Accidents & Return to Sport Rule came into effect Jan. 1, 2017 for all EC sanctioned competitions in Canada.

Key components of the rule include the following:

In the event of a fall/accident where a concussion can be reasonably suspected, the competitors must receive medical clearance by qualified medical personnel onsite before continuing to compete.
The competitor is solely responsible for ensuring the onsite medical assessment takes place. Should a competitor refuse to be evaluated, they will be disqualified from the competition.
If onsite qualified medical personnel suspect a concussion or believe the competitor may be at risk of concussion due to the nature of the fall or impact, the competitor will be suspended from competition and placed on a Medical Suspension List until medically released.
Competitors will remain on the EC Medical Suspension List until they submit an EC Return-to-Sport Form, signed by a licensed physician, to EC.
No competitor shall compete at EC sanctioned competitions while on the EC Medical Suspension List and competition organizers may refuse entry to anyone currently on the list.

For much more information go to Equestrian Canada’s Concussion Awareness page and scroll down. https://www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/rules/concussion-awareness

After a suspected concussion, when can you start riding again? You can find general guidance on the Equestrian Return to Sport Strategy https://www.parachutecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Equestrian-Return-to-Sport-Strategy.pdf but always consult with your doctor first.