Horses for courses

A group of children and youths are led on a children’s hunt meet in Co Meath, which was attended by the Association

A collection of doctors has responded to what they see as a singular need within the sporting community in Ireland. The Medical Equestrian Association of Ireland comprises doctors who have a particular love for all things equestrian and the motivation to dedicate their time to what can be a particularly dangerous sport and a challenging area of medical care.

The Association combines  a group of doctors who act as medical officers at equestrian events and is led by Dr Antonia Lehane, a GP based in Swords, Co Dublin.

Dr Lehane told Irish Medical Times: “We cover a wide variety of different horse sports, not only racing, but amateur racing, point-to-pointing, cross-country events, three-day events, horse trials, show-jumping, and a wide range of other activities. Anything to do with horses, basically.”

The country-wide group is made up of approximately 25 doctors, mainly GPs, and has been in existence since 1988. It organises formal skills training every year for those involved in the Association to help doctors prepare for the particular types of injuries involved at such events.

“We work closely with the Racecourse Doctors’ Association and the Turf Club doctors; we perform similar duties but we cover more varied events, as opposed to just racing events,” said Dr Lehane.

While the work is voluntary, she explained that the doctors “receive expenses and an honorarium, but we certainly don’t do it on a commercial basis”.
Most of the doctors became involved because they, or members of their families, were already involved in horse-related activity, she explained to IMT.

“I was riding horses since childhood and I eventually got involved in an event at the RDS because I had experience in managing people who had suffered the sort of trauma that comes with falling off horses,” explained Dr Lehane, who is also Chief Medical Officer for the Horse Show.

“Dr Carlos McDowell has also been involved from the start and she is Chief Medical Officer for Tattersalls’ three-day event, which is probably our biggest one in the country right now.”

While most in the Association have a background in general practice, a number of its younger members have training in emergency medicine, but Dr Lehane explained: “There is an enormous difference between being out in a muddy field in the rain dealing with somebody who has major trauma, to being in the ED, having a patient presented to you on a trolley.”

Flexible and adaptable
The experience of one doctor in particular illustrated the different challenges that might not be immediately apparent. “She said she found it difficult to cope with the fact that the person was on the ground and she had to stoop down to them, as opposed to the person being trolleyed-in at her waist level. We have to be very flexible and adaptable,” said Dr Lehane.

Dr Antonia Lehane: ‘Varied events’

Yet she added that such incidents were a good way for doctors to gain a more rounded breadth of experience. “That’s why this lends itself well to general practitioners, particularly rural ones, who have to manage emergencies in difficult situations.”

Training seminar
The Association is holding a training seminar focused on dealing with the injuries common to horse-related sports events and has issued a call for any doctors with an interest in equestrian events to get involved.

It will include the topics: ‘The Medical Officer — Medico-Legal Aspects’, by Dr Lehane herself; ‘The Doctor’s Bag and Analgesia’, delivered by Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Carlos McDowell; ‘Pre-Hospital Management of Soft Tissue Injuries’ by ED Consultant Mr Conor Kelly; and ‘Basic Life Support (BLS)’ by Order of Malta Regional Training Officer Phillip Burke.

Participants will be awarded a Cardiac First Responder Advanced Certificate, issued by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.

The day will also involve outdoor case scenarios particular to that unique branch of medical care to provide hands-on experience for participants.

The event, ‘Management of Equestrian Sports Injuries — Basic Life Support Skills and Training’ will take place on Saturday, February 11, at Tattersalls Ireland in Fairyhouse, Rathoath, Co Meath and ICGP-accredited CME points apply.

• Any doctors interested in registering for the event or getting involved in the organisation can contact antonialehane@eircom.net.