Horse sport can lead the way in menopause work

New research highlighting the issues many female riders are facing has won a major award

- BECKY MURRAY

EQUESTRIAN sport has the opportunity to lead the way in menopause research – as new findings highlight the struggles women are facing.

British Equestrian level four coach, University of Gloucestershire student, and saddle fitter Steph Bradley’s work aimed to understand how the perimenopause and menopause affects riders.

The research, which will be submitted for publication in a scientific journal, won the best postgraduate research prize at the Alltech-Hartpury Equine student conference on 8 May.

More than 1,600 riders completed a questionnaire. The results found that 68% felt their motivation for riding was negatively affected by their symptoms, and one in three had stopped riding temporarily or permanently.

Some 700 said they had less confidence, and 60% said their coaching sessions had been negatively affected. Just 50% of respondents felt they could speak openly to a female coach about their symptoms affecting their riding, and only 10% felt they could talk to a male coach.

STAGGERING

MRS BRADLEY told H&H the responses were “staggering”, and in many cases women were not associating some symptoms with the menopause.