When it comes to riding lessons and trail riding, there are a lot of rules that can help you stay safe around horses. Horses are, after all, a lot bigger than we are. The following tips are designed to help you make the most out of your barn and trail time and most of all to help you not get hurt.
Avoid Getting Stepped On
While this tip may seem obvious, after all, you wouldn’t put your foot under your lawn mower, a lot of people forget how large a horse really is. If a horse steps on your foot, you run the risk of broken bones, crushing and severe bruising. You should always wear proper boots around horses, but be mindful of where their feet are and where yours are.
Avoid Being Kicked
Yes, this is another fairly obvious piece of advice. While a lot of people may worry about being kicked, they don’t always employ common sense about dealing with horses even well trained ones. For example, don’t make sudden movements near the horse and never back one into a corner. Avoid threatening gestures and striking at the horse. A horse by nature, is a prey animal, they are biologically inclined to flee from danger. If they cannot flee, they will strike out. When moving around a horse, keep a running commentary going and a light hand motion on their side so they know where you are. Avoid stepping behind a horse, especially in a boxed in area that forces you to go too closely to their hindquarters. You need about 12 feet around the back of the horse if you plan to go that way.
Wear a Helmet
Helmets are not always comfortable, but take the time to find one that is. The helmet you choose should follow the ASTMISEI guidelines. That shows that it has been approved by the Safety Equipment Institute and will protect your head if you fall, strike an overhead object or may get hit by a traveling object. Believe it or not, I have seen someone hit by a ball when riding.
Avoid Getting Sloppy
We all get a little sloppy about doing things in a particular order when we are comfortable. This can be especially dangerous around horses. Confidence isn’t a problem, but a confident horse person also understands how to stay safe. Even the safest animal can be startled and speaking from experience, the one time I dashed out to the barn in a pair of canvas shoes to do just one thing was the one time a horse stepped on my foot. Trust me when I say you don’t want your foot crushed.