Understanding Pony Club’s Concussion Policy and Reporting

Concussion isn’t “just a bump on the head”, it’s a brain injury, and at Pony Club the health and safety of riders, coaches, volunteers and officials is taken seriously. With equestrian activities involving the risk of falls and impacts, PCA’s concussion policy sets out clear expectations for recognising, managing and reporting suspected and diagnosed concussions. 

What is Concussion?

Concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. It doesn’t always involve a loss of consciousness, but it can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, blurred vision and sensitivity to light or noise.

Because symptoms can be subtle and may evolve over hours or days, PCA’s policy emphasises caution, especially in community and youth sport settings where riders may be more vulnerable. 

Immediate Action: Recognition and Removal

At all Pony Club rallies, activities and competitions:

• Any rider who suffers a fall or blow to the head must be screened for signs of concussion by a First Aid Officer, medical practitioner, or other trained official. 
• Riders with any suspicion of concussion are not permitted to remount or continue riding until medically assessed. 
• Parents and guardians cannot override the decision of the First Aid Officer or medical provider regarding suspected concussion on the day. 
• The rider must not be left alone following the injury, and careful monitoring is required in the hours after the incident. 

In essence: “If in doubt, sit them out.” 

More info can be found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIq-kjaWz8

Concussion Policy: https://ponyclubaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PCA-Concussion-Policy-2024-with-CRT-IRS-links-.pdf

Mandatory Stand-Down and Return-to-Riding Protocol

A key part of the policy is the mandatory exclusion from riding after a concussion:

• Riders with a diagnosed concussion are not permitted to ride at Pony Club rallies, musters or events for a minimum of 21 days.
• In addition to the stand-down period, riders must be symptom-free for at least 14 days before they can consider returning to riding.
• To have a concussion suspension lifted earlier, a medical certificate of full recovery signed by a registered medical practitioner must be provided. 

This period aligns with best practice concussion management in Australian sport and community activity.

Here is your combined and professionally structured section, tailored for Pony Club NSW, incorporating both the national reporting requirements and the new NSW triplicate books:

Concussion & Incident Reporting Requirements

Under the policies of Pony Club Australia, all suspected and diagnosed concussions — whether they occur at a rally, competition or training session — must be documented.

Clubs and event organisers are required to complete a Pony Club Australia Incident Report and submit it to the relevant State Office. This includes incidents where concussion is suspected but not yet medically diagnosed.

Incident reporting is a vital part of risk management. It allows us to monitor concussion occurrences across the sport, identify trends, support injured riders appropriately, and continually strengthen our safety protocols. Accurate reporting also plays an important role in improving concussion awareness and shaping future safety procedures at all levels of Pony Club.

The official PCA online reporting system can be accessed here:
https://form.jotform.com/PonyClubAust/pca-incident-reporting-system

Reporting an Incident in NSW

At Pony Club NSW, we understand that not all clubs operate in metro areas with stable or reliable internet access. When incidents occur particularly in regional and remote locations we need a system that works efficiently on the ground.

To make this process easier, triplicate Incident Report Books will be distributed to clubs and zones at upcoming State Meetings.

These books have been designed to simplify reporting at events and ensure documentation is completed immediately and accurately.

How the Triplicate System Works

When an incident occurs, the form is completed at the event and automatically creates three copies:

• One copy for the member or parent/guardian
• One copy for the State Office
• One copy retained by the Club or Zone

This ensures transparency, accountability and timely communication while supporting volunteers with a practical, accessible reporting method.

The introduction of the triplicate books does not replace the requirement to submit the report to the State Office, rather, it streamlines the process and ensures that documentation is captured clearly at the time of the incident, even where internet access is limited.

Our goal is simple: make reporting easier for volunteers, clearer for families, and safer for our riders.

Together, through consistent and accurate reporting, we continue to build a strong safety culture across Pony Club NSW.

Why It Matters

Concussion can affect not just physical performance but cognitive function, mood and learning — particularly in children and adolescents. Timely identification, appropriate rest and a medically guided return are essential to reducing the risk of prolonged or recurrent symptoms. (ausport.gov.au)

The Pony Club concussion policy supports a culture where safety takes precedence over competition, reminding us all, riders, officials, parents and coaches — that one brain injury is one too many.