Whanganui, Aotearoa New Zealand · Affiliated with NZPCA · Central Districts Region Contact & FAQ

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Health & Safety · Head Injury

Concussion — know the signs, know what to do.

Concussion is a brain injury. It can happen without a direct blow to the head, and you don't have to lose consciousness. Every rider, parent, coach and official should know the signs.

If in doubt — sit them out.

🚨 If a rider is unconscious, has a seizure, is vomiting, has unequal pupils, or has a suspected neck/spine injury — call 111 immediately. Do not move them.

What is concussion?

A brain injury that needs to be taken seriously

Concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head — or a hit to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. In equestrian sport, falls, kicks and sudden stops are all potential causes.

You do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Symptoms can appear immediately or hours later. Returning to riding too soon — before the brain has recovered — risks a second, potentially far more serious injury.

For guidance, Wanganui Petre Pony Club follows the NZPCA concussion policy and the ACC National Concussion Guidelines.

⚠️

Signs of concussion to watch for

😵 Headache or pressure in the head

🌀 Dizziness or balance problems

😶 Appears dazed, stunned or confused

🤢 Nausea or vomiting

💡 Sensitive to light or noise

😴 Feeling sluggish or foggy

🧠 Memory problems or slow answers

😢 Emotional or mood changes

Symptoms may not appear for hours after the incident — keep watching the rider.

At the event or rally

What to do if you suspect concussion

Stop riding immediately

Remove the rider from their horse. Do not let them remount — even if they feel fine.

Assess & monitor

Check for signs of concussion. If any are present, treat as a confirmed concussion. Call 111 if there are red-flag symptoms (unconscious, seizure, neck pain).

Inform parents / guardians

Contact a parent or guardian immediately. They must collect the rider and take them to a doctor or hospital for assessment.

Complete an incident report

Record the incident using the club's accident report form. The H&S Officer will follow up.

Helmet reminder

After any fall or head impact, the rider's helmet must be replaced before they ride again — even if there is no visible damage. Impact can compromise the helmet's protective structure without any outward sign.

Return to riding

Graduated return-to-sport protocol

A rider must be fully symptom-free before beginning the return-to-sport process, and must receive medical clearance first. Each stage takes a minimum of 24 hours. If symptoms return at any stage, go back to complete rest.

Complete rest

No sport, no screens, no school if symptomatic. Rest until symptom-free.

Goal: recovery

Light aerobic exercise

Walking, light swimming — no resistance training, no riding.

Goal: increase heart rate

Sport-specific exercise

Groundwork with horses, unmounted equestrian activity. No contact risk.

Goal: add movement

Non-contact riding practice

Light riding in a controlled environment — no jumping, no competition.

Goal: coordination & confidence

Full practice — medical clearance required

Return to normal rallies and training with medical sign-off.

Goal: increase load

Return to competition

Full return to pony club competition and events — with medical clearance.

Full return ✓

⚠️

A child or young person must have written medical clearance from a doctor before returning to stage 5 or 6. The club requires this before they ride at a rally after a confirmed concussion.

Official resources