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Background <p> Menopause significantly affects female athletic participation, yet its specific impact on the equestrian community remains under-researched. Aims Examine how menopausal symptoms impact female equestrians' confidence, motivation and riding behaviour. </p> Methods <p>Exploratory, cross-sectional, multi-method survey design was employed. Data were collected via an online questionnaire distributed across social media equestrian groups (<i>N</i> = 613; mean age = 53.07 ± 0.27&#xa0;years). Quantitative data were analysed using Pearson's chi-square tests of independence with Cramér’s V, to assess effect size. Benjamini–Hochberg corrections and adjusted residuals were applied where appropriate. The associations between variables were further examined using Spearman's Rank correlation. Qualitative data from open-ended responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.</p> Results <p>A total of 605 participants (98..7%) reported experiencing at least one menopausal symptom, with overall symptom burden highest among women aged 45–54&#xa0;years. After Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons (FDR = 0.05), significant age-related associations remained for brain fog, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), and anxiety. Sleep and genitourinary symptoms showed no significant differences across age groups. Importantly, 66.9% of riders (<i>n</i> = 410) reported feeling less confident when riding during the menopausal transition. Qualitative analysis identified five higher-order themes describing how women navigated these changes: (1) cognitive appraisal, (2) cognitive restructuring, (3) emotional responses, (4) physical functional decline, (5) cognitive functioning and distortions.</p> Conclusion <p>Menopausal symptoms significantly affect a female equestrian's confidence, physical decline, and psychological well-being. These findings highlight an urgent need for coaches and sports associations to develop targeted support, training, and education strategies to safely retain female participation and protect rider identity throughout this midlife transition.</p>

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Menopausal symptoms and equestrian participation: the perceived impact on confidence, motivation and riding behaviour

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月6日

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  • J. Prescott,
  • C. V. Uttley,
  • P. J. Taylor,
  • S. J. Hobbs

摘要

Background

Menopause significantly affects female athletic participation, yet its specific impact on the equestrian community remains under-researched. Aims Examine how menopausal symptoms impact female equestrians' confidence, motivation and riding behaviour.

Methods

Exploratory, cross-sectional, multi-method survey design was employed. Data were collected via an online questionnaire distributed across social media equestrian groups (N = 613; mean age = 53.07 ± 0.27 years). Quantitative data were analysed using Pearson's chi-square tests of independence with Cramér’s V, to assess effect size. Benjamini–Hochberg corrections and adjusted residuals were applied where appropriate. The associations between variables were further examined using Spearman's Rank correlation. Qualitative data from open-ended responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 605 participants (98..7%) reported experiencing at least one menopausal symptom, with overall symptom burden highest among women aged 45–54 years. After Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons (FDR = 0.05), significant age-related associations remained for brain fog, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), and anxiety. Sleep and genitourinary symptoms showed no significant differences across age groups. Importantly, 66.9% of riders (n = 410) reported feeling less confident when riding during the menopausal transition. Qualitative analysis identified five higher-order themes describing how women navigated these changes: (1) cognitive appraisal, (2) cognitive restructuring, (3) emotional responses, (4) physical functional decline, (5) cognitive functioning and distortions.

Conclusion

Menopausal symptoms significantly affect a female equestrian's confidence, physical decline, and psychological well-being. These findings highlight an urgent need for coaches and sports associations to develop targeted support, training, and education strategies to safely retain female participation and protect rider identity throughout this midlife transition.