#RidingFails on TikTok: Why Falling Off a Horse Isn't Just a Funny Clip

What the #RidingFails TikTok study found

Riding fails TikTok videos make falling off a horse look like a harmless blooper, and a new study says that framing matters. Researchers at Malmö University in Sweden found that young riders on TikTok present falls as funny, normal and even a sign of progress, while the serious injuries that can follow almost never appear on screen.

The study, "Platformed risk culture: Youth equestrians' framings of falling off the horse on TikTok," is by PhD student Klara Boije af Gennäs and two colleagues. It appeared in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport, and the university publicized it on October 6, 2026.

The team analysed more than 60 videos under #ridingfails and over 6,700 comments. Three patterns stood out:

• Comedy first. Falls are cut to funny music and played for laughs.
• Falling as character-building. Clips tell a story of setback, struggle and success, so a fall becomes a natural part of the sport and something that makes you stronger.
• Injuries off camera. Even when commenters describe concussions or fractures of their own, the videos rarely show serious injuries.

"It normalises something that is actually risky and serious," Boije af Gennäs told the university. Swedish broadcaster TV4 and the magazine Tidningen Ridsport covered the findings. For scale, Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) reports that about 1,000 to 1,200 people a year were admitted to hospital after riding accidents between 2001 and 2021, and 860 in 2022, about 95 percent of them female. Concussion is one of the most common riding injuries.

Why falls look funny online, and what the clip leaves out

Nobody is saying riders are wrong to laugh at a slow-motion slide off a pony. Humor is how a lot of riders cope, and a 15-second clip can't tell you much anyway.

The problem is what gets edited out. A typical #ridingfails video ends a second after the rider hits the ground. You don't see:

• The headache that started that evening.
• The trip to urgent care, or the weeks off school sports.
• The horse that was sore, scared or badly fitted and needed attention too.
• The rider who quietly lost confidence and stopped riding.

When most of what you see is people bouncing up and laughing, it's easy to think that's the normal outcome. The researchers' worry is that this "risk culture" teaches young riders to downplay real warning signs, especially head injuries.

The "TikTok trainer" comment section

The study also looked at who shows up in the comments. It found two broad groups: supporters who cheer the rider on, and self-appointed experts the researchers call "TikTok trainers" who critique the rider's position and the horse's welfare.

Some of that feedback is fair, especially when it's about the horse. But a stranger who saw 10 seconds of video can't know the horse's history, the footing or the instructor's plan. If a comment makes you think, take it to your real trainer. If it's just a pile-on, mute it.

What actually happens when you fall off a horse

A fall from a horse is a fall from a moving animal, often from several feet up. That's why riding carries a real risk of head injury, even though most falls end with nothing worse than a bruise.

The big concern is your head. A UVA Health neuropsychologist who looked at local emergency room visits found a higher rate of concussions among horseback riders than among football players. And a concussion doesn't always look dramatic: you don't have to black out, and you can feel "fine" for hours.

The US Equestrian (USEF) concussion strategy says to watch for signs of a concussion for 24 to 48 hours after a fall. Common symptoms the CDC lists include:

• Headache or dizziness
• Feeling foggy, slow or "off"
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Nausea, irritability or sleeping more or less than usual

For a deeper look at why standard tests can miss concussions in riders, read our guide to concussion in horse riders.

What to do after falling off a horse: a calm checklist

The old barn rule says "get right back on." That's fine after a soft tumble with no head contact. It's the wrong rule after a hit to the head.

Right after the fall

1. Stay down for a moment. Don't jump up for the camera. Check in with your body first.
2. Let an adult or instructor catch the horse. A loose horse is someone else's job right now.
3. Ask: did my head or helmet touch anything? The ground, a rail, a jump pole, the horse.
4. If yes, you're done riding for the day. No "one more lap" to end on a good note.

Call emergency services right away if you notice

The CDC's danger signs include: a headache that keeps getting worse, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, seizures, unusual confusion or agitation, trouble waking up, or not recognizing people or places. Also call if the rider was knocked out, even briefly, or has neck pain.

In the hours and days after

• Tell a parent or coach, even if you feel okay. Symptoms can show up later.
• See a doctor before you ride again if you hit your head or have any symptoms. A medical professional decides when you're ready, not the barn group chat.
• Ease back in. USEF's Equestrian-Specific Return to Sport Concussion Strategy moves from rest to light activity to unmounted work to short supervised rides, with at least a day or two between stages. Competing comes last and needs medical clearance.

A second knock before the first has healed is what doctors most want to avoid. That's why "shake it off" is bad advice.

Replace your helmet after a fall

If your helmet hit the ground, replace it, even if you can't see a crack. Riding helmets are built to absorb one serious impact, and the foam inside can be crushed without visible damage. USEF and UVA Health both say to replace a helmet after a significant impact.

Even without a fall, most makers suggest replacing a helmet after about five years. Check yours:

Our guide on when to replace a riding helmet covers sizing, safety standards and whether kids need a body protector. For more gear basics, see tack and equipment.

How to film and post riding videos responsibly

Filming your rides is genuinely useful. Video is one of the best ways to see your position and your horse's way of going. A few habits keep it healthy:

• Film to learn, not to catch a fall. Set up the camera for a lesson, not for "content."
• If you post a fall, post what came next. "Hit my head, sat out a week, new helmet" is the most useful caption on the internet.
• Skip the funny-music edit on hard falls. Save the laughs for the harmless bloopers.
• Get permission. Ask before posting other riders, especially younger kids, and keep barn names and locations private.
• Think about the horse. If a clip shows a horse in pain or panic, it's a welfare moment, not a punchline.
• Be a kind commenter. Ask "are you okay?" before you critique anyone's heels.

Parents and instructors: Boije af Gennäs says federations, clubs and trainers need to understand social media norms, because the stable and the feed are no longer separate worlds. A relaxed chat about what's "normal" on TikTok will land better than a lecture. Our parents and teachers hub and safety basics are good places to start.

What to watch next

• Club and federation responses. The study calls on equestrian organizations to meet young riders where they are, so watch for youth safety campaigns built for social media.
• More research on risk culture. Boije af Gennäs researches injuries in equestrian sport at Malmö, so more findings are likely.
• Your own feed. Notice which clips show the full story, and follow riders who do.

If a fall has left you nervous in the saddle, that's normal too. Our step-by-step guide to fear of riding after a fall can help, and horse safety for kids covers the basics for younger riders.