Breaking the Silence: The unexplored impact of perimenopause and menopause symptoms of female equestrians

Objective: Understanding the impact of menopause (M) and perimenopause (P) symptoms with female equestrians is crucial as it not only affects participation but their overall well-being. Yet, there is limited research in this area, thus this study explored the P and M symptoms on rider participation. Study Design: n = 1,629 female participants from a range of equestrian disciplines aged between 21 – 73 years of age (x ± s; age = 51.86 ± 14.95 years) who were within or beyond P or M were recruited and completed an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and thematic coding were used for further analysis and interpretation. Results: Key themes included: (1) Physical health changes, including joint pain (74%) and weight gain (66%). (2) Mental Health and emotional well-being, with sleeplessness (74%), anxiety (78%), and a loss of confidence (76%). (3) Riding confidence, with a decrease in riding confidence (75%). (4) Support and awareness suggested there was a lack of support within the female equestrian community. Finally, (5) Hormone Replacement Therapy alleviated symptoms that interfere with riding and daily life. Conclusions: The P and M experience for female equestrians is complex and can negatively impact participation, proactive awareness for riders and coaches can better support this life stage.