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The Rider |
Safety |
        
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One of the most important considerations when you take up riding as an
adult learner (or start riding again after a break) is, will I get hurt?
No longer, do you have the fearlessness of youth or the amazing resilience of a child's body, and unfortunately a major injury doesn't just mean a few days or weeks off school. So before you even start your first lessons, have a think about safety (and it should be one of your top priorities at all times when you are riding). Whether you own your own horse, intend to, or are riding only at a school you will need to know some common sense rules for staying safe around horses. Thinking from the Horse's perspective
Generally you won't be
hurt because a horse tries to injure you, but simply you are in the
wrong place at the wrong time.
To help you avoid this problem,
consider the following :
When you consider each of the points above it becomes clear why some of the most common accidents around horses are being trodden on or being kicked. Most of the time it should be very easy to remain safe around the horses you are learning to ride on. For a start, these will most likely be steady horses, who are used things that may surprise younger animals - vehicles, hoses, farm bikes, cats and dogs, noisy machinery etc The golden rules around horses are; speak quietly, handle gently and avoid sudden movements or noises. This doesn't mean that you tip-toe around your horse but more that you should act confidently and let the horse know where you are at all times. However don't overdo this, in order for your horse to accept some commotion around him you need to desensitise him gradually to things that worry him. This is also true when you are riding. If your horse spooks at something, you should neither panic nor praise your horse. Panicking or punishing him will simply reinforce your horse's fear and praising him after spooking will send the message - 'well done, next time you see that object I want you to do the same thing'. However, you can praise your horse if he\she walks past a 'frightening' object without any fuss. Approach your horse towards its shoulder if possible where it can easily see you. Speak quietly as you approach, don't assume that the horse has seen you, it may be concentrating on something else or day-dreaming, this is especially important if you are approaching from the rear. Do not immediately rush the horse and try to grab it or throw a halter on it as you approach instead take a moment to offer a hand to sniff (horse's greet each other by touching and sniffing each others noses) and giving a nice scratch along the neck and\or wither. Try to remember to scratch rather than pat your horse. Keep your energy levels the same as you want from your horse - if you are rushing and full of adrenaline, your horse will be too! |
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The picture on the
left shows the areas of safety (marked in grey) and danger
(marked in white). The danger area at the back of a horse extends
4-6 feet behind the horse, this is the area where a serious kick can
occur. The picture shown is from the Equine Institute's video tape
Safety for you and your Horse.
A kick is more often
than not an instinctive reaction to a fright or perceived threat.
If your horse knows where you are and what you're up to, it has no
reason to kick out.
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You are responsible
for the safety of your feet, your horse usually can't see where his feet
are and that means he probably can't see yours! When saddling or
grooming make sure that you are aware of where your feet are in relation
to your horse's hooves. If he shifts, be prepared to move too.
Even if the horse puts only a small amount of his weight down on your
foot it is incredibly painful! and it can be hard to convince a horse to
move off your foot when he's just put it down.
Train your horse in basic manners, don't assume he knows or agrees that
you should get some respect.
If you don't train your horse then
don't be surprised if he starts to train you.
Finally, make sure
that you don't create a problem for yourself or others by allowing your
horse to get away with unacceptable behaviour. This means that you
should make your horse stand still when you are mounting, and any
attempts at biting when you are doing up the girth or other bad habits
should be discouraged. This doesn't necessarily mean punishment,
which can have a detrimental effect, but if a horse makes a show of
biting (in the air) when you are doing up the girth, growl at him\her,
or stamp your foot if the attempt is too close for comfort. This
will let your horse know that this is not acceptable behaviour and head
it off, before it becomes a real bite. Do not be intimidated or
this will encourage him\her, remember these are tests of your place in
the hierarchy and you need to pass these tests each and every time.
Always make sure that
any bad behaviour is not being caused by pain! If your horse
starts to bite toward its girth, he may have a poorly fitting saddle,
galls you haven't noticed or some other problem - its your
responsibility to make sure that he doesn't have a valid reason for his
behaviour.
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When you're learning to ride, the single most important safety element will be the attitude of your instructor(s) and yourself. Finding a riding school or instructor who is more interested in your safety than their own ego will be the single best decision you can make. If at any time during your lessons you feel that you are being pushed to do things that are beyond you, make sure that tell your instructor. If they don't reassess your program and let you take a step back, ask if you can swap instructors or change where you are getting lessons. During your first lesson, take note of how much attention the instructor pays to you. Do you get a hand mounting up? Is your first lesson on the lunge or does the horse have a neck strap for you to hang onto? Are you given information on safety issues and basic tack items such as how to adjust your stirrup leathers and girth, how to lead out your horse and your riding helmet checked for correct fit. As far as your general surroundings go, you should be making sure that the area where you ride or receive lessons is safe underfoot in all the weather conditions you'll be riding in. If you're riding in an outdoor arena or paddock also check for things in the surrounding areas that may cause problems, overhanging trees or loose items that may blow across your area in the wind causing your horse to spook. Will you be riding under lights ? Is there anything that will create 'scary' shadows at night - some horses are naturally more spooky than others. If you're fairly laid back, this may not be an issue, I've ridden a part-Arab who finds pretty much anything, including his own shadow, quite surprising, but if you ignore it and let him take a good look for the first couple of minutes and then calmly insist that he get on with work, it's fine. However, if you are a nervous rider, you might find that a horse who bounces and shies underneath you very alarming, even though there is no malice in his actions. Take all these things into consideration, if you are concerned about any of the safety issues where you ride, talk to the instructors or change location. Simply changing to the most bombproof horse in the stable until you gain some more confidence may be all that's required. |
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Whatever style of helmet you choose make sure that it has passed safety standards, in NZ this will mean that it will have a sticker from the Safety Standards Authority on it. Current Safety Standards are; AS/NZS 3838 Australia\NZ, EN 1384 Europe\UK, ASTN F1163 US. If your helmet has suffered an impact, check it carefully for signs of damage. If in doubt, get a new one as the damage suffered may have weakened it so that it does not stand up to the next impact as it should.
Boots are also important. If you are
riding regularly you will need a pair of boots with a small heel.
The heel stops your foot from slipping through the stirrup and becoming
caught.
You should also be riding in stirrups that are the right size for your boots. Stirrups should have approx. 1.5cm (1/2") clearance on both sides of your boot. This is again to make sure that your foot can slip easily from the stirrup. This may seem really annoying when you are first learning and just don't seem to be able to keep your stirrups but it is essential for safety's sake. 
If you are moving into competitive
riding, additional items such as body protectors may be the
order of the day.
Fluorescent accessories such as,
helmet covers, vests, leg bands and bridle covers are an excellent
idea if you ride on the roads at any time and essential if you are
near or on the roads in low light. There are commercially made
products or you could simply add reflective webbing to your existing
tack yourself.
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WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE written by Karen en Hayes, DVM, MS Equestrians And Cyclists: Can We Get Along? Theo Stein Horse sightings Understanding the equine eye by Ken Marcella, D.V.M. Equine Eyesight What Do They See? written by Cheryl McNamee V-Bandz - Fluorescent products from Frogpool Manor Saddlers (UK)
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If
you're a beginner don't be afraid to ask if you can use something like the
SOS strap shown left. A stirrup leather around the horse's neck can
also help, it gives you something to hang onto until you work out how to
make your legs grip 'on' instead of popping you off! 