Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity

While the role of the horse in riding hazards is well recognised, little attention has been paid to the role of specific theoretical psychological processes of humans in contributing to and mitigating risk. The injury, mortality or compensation claim rates for participants in the horse-racing indust...

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Main Authors: Jodi DeAraugo, Suzanne McLaren, Phil McManus, Paul D. McGreevy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-02-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/6/2/12
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author Jodi DeAraugo
Suzanne McLaren
Phil McManus
Paul D. McGreevy
author_facet Jodi DeAraugo
Suzanne McLaren
Phil McManus
Paul D. McGreevy
author_sort Jodi DeAraugo
collection DOAJ
description While the role of the horse in riding hazards is well recognised, little attention has been paid to the role of specific theoretical psychological processes of humans in contributing to and mitigating risk. The injury, mortality or compensation claim rates for participants in the horse-racing industry, veterinary medicine and equestrian disciplines provide compelling evidence for improving risk mitigation models. There is a paucity of theoretical principles regarding the risk of injury and mortality associated with human–horse interactions. In this paper we introduce and apply the four psychological principles of context, loss of focus, global cognitive style and the application of self as the frame of reference as a potential approach for assessing and managing human–horse risks. When these principles produce errors that are combined with a rigid self-referenced point, it becomes clear how rapidly risk emerges and how other people and animals may repeatedly become at risk over time. Here, with a focus on the thoroughbred racing industry, veterinary practice and equestrian disciplines, we review the merits of contextually applied strategies, an evolving reappraisal of risk, flexibility, and focused specifics of situations that may serve to modify human behaviour and mitigate risk.
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spelling doaj.art-addc421aa0584bea8e09c84f75e1cb402022-12-22T03:08:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152016-02-01621210.3390/ani6020012ani6020012Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and RigidityJodi DeAraugo0Suzanne McLaren1Phil McManus2Paul D. McGreevy3Faculty of Health, Department of Psychology, Federation University, University Drive, Mount Helen, Victoria 3350, AustraliaFaculty of Health, Department of Psychology, Federation University, University Drive, Mount Helen, Victoria 3350, AustraliaSchool of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Room 435, F09, Madsen Building, New South Wales 2006, AustraliaDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Room 206, R.M.C. Gunn Building, New South Wales 2006, AustraliaWhile the role of the horse in riding hazards is well recognised, little attention has been paid to the role of specific theoretical psychological processes of humans in contributing to and mitigating risk. The injury, mortality or compensation claim rates for participants in the horse-racing industry, veterinary medicine and equestrian disciplines provide compelling evidence for improving risk mitigation models. There is a paucity of theoretical principles regarding the risk of injury and mortality associated with human–horse interactions. In this paper we introduce and apply the four psychological principles of context, loss of focus, global cognitive style and the application of self as the frame of reference as a potential approach for assessing and managing human–horse risks. When these principles produce errors that are combined with a rigid self-referenced point, it becomes clear how rapidly risk emerges and how other people and animals may repeatedly become at risk over time. Here, with a focus on the thoroughbred racing industry, veterinary practice and equestrian disciplines, we review the merits of contextually applied strategies, an evolving reappraisal of risk, flexibility, and focused specifics of situations that may serve to modify human behaviour and mitigate risk.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/6/2/12human–horse riskcontext-specificityattentioncognitive errorself-reference
spellingShingle Jodi DeAraugo
Suzanne McLaren
Phil McManus
Paul D. McGreevy
Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
Animals
human–horse risk
context-specificity
attention
cognitive error
self-reference
title Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
title_full Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
title_fullStr Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
title_full_unstemmed Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
title_short Improving the Understanding of Psychological Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accident and Injury: Context, Loss of Focus, Cognitive Errors and Rigidity
title_sort improving the understanding of psychological factors contributing to horse related accident and injury context loss of focus cognitive errors and rigidity
topic human–horse risk
context-specificity
attention
cognitive error
self-reference
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/6/2/12
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AT suzannemclaren improvingtheunderstandingofpsychologicalfactorscontributingtohorserelatedaccidentandinjurycontextlossoffocuscognitiveerrorsandrigidity
AT philmcmanus improvingtheunderstandingofpsychologicalfactorscontributingtohorserelatedaccidentandinjurycontextlossoffocuscognitiveerrorsandrigidity
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