A Japanese short-term traveler recently sustained serious injuries, including a spinal fracture, after falling from a horse during a riding tour in Mongolia. While wearing a helmet, the traveler lost balance when the horse began running downhill and fell, hitting their back hard. After being examined at a Mongolian medical facility, the traveler was diagnosed as needing immediate surgery and was urgently repatriated to Japan.
Here are some important points to consider when participating in horseback riding tours in Mongolia:
[Precautions for Horseback Riding]
- Recognize the risks of horseback riding and ensure proper preparation and safety gear
- The most common cause of injury in horseback riding is falling, which can result in severe injuries from impact or colliding with rocks, as well as being trampled or kicked by the horse.
- Since there is always a risk of falling while riding, wearing a helmet, as well as protective gear for the torso, is essential for safety. When joining a riding tour, make sure to confirm the availability of helmets and other protective gear in advance, and consider bringing your own if necessary.
- Mongolia offers numerous horseback riding tours. If you are a beginner, check beforehand whether there are instructors who speak Japanese or English and whether the tour accommodates foreign participants. It’s recommended to choose a reliable and well-established tour.
- If you are a beginner and have any concerns about riding, consult with the instructor. Solo riding, without being led by a guide, increases the risk of falling, so make careful decisions based on your physical condition and riding experience, and avoid pushing yourself beyond your limits.
- Ensure you have travel insurance to cover potential accidents
- Many horseback riding tours require participants to sign a liability waiver. In the event of an accident, such as a fall, you will be responsible for all post-incident arrangements, including medical treatment and repatriation.
- Medical standards and the availability of medication in Mongolia are significantly different from those in Japan. If you sustain a serious injury, you may need to be transported out of the country by air, incurring substantial medical and transport costs. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have travel insurance with sufficient coverage (ideally, treatment and rescue costs of at least 30 million yen).
- If you plan to use insurance attached to a credit card, make sure to verify in advance whether the conditions and coverage amount are adequate.
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