Bites, kicks, stomps, falls—there are plenty of ways people can get hurt around horses. But how many of these accidents are preventable? One Danish researcher believes that with improved understanding of equine behavior, riders both novice and experienced can avoid potentially harmful horse situations.

Denmark might be a small country, but it’s home to 170,000 horses, 140,000 riders, and 500 registered riding schools. Each year, 5.8% (9,000, most of which are children 10-15 years old) of Danish riders enter an emergency room as a result of their horse hobbies, said Payana Hendriksen, of the Danish Animal Welfare Society, during the 9th Annual International Society for Equitation Science, held July 18-20 at the University of Delaware, in Newark.

Half of the accidents occur due to falls, but the other half "happen while the rider is standing next to the horse (e.g., being bitten, kicked, squeezed), presumably as a result of the rider misinterpreting the behavior of the horse," Hendriksen explained.

Because of the limited equine behavior education offered in Danish riding schools, the Danish Animal Welfare Society created a website to both teach riders about and test their understanding of horse behavior