A helmet can be fitted with a brim that slips over the top for sun protection.

Correct footwear is equally important. Boots for riding must have a smooth sole (to reduce the chances of the boot catching on the iron), a heel (to reduce the chances of the boot from going right through the iron) and preferably not lace up (laces can catch on the iron and also prevent the boot from slipping off the foot if it is caught up in the iron in the case of a fallen rider being dragged). If boots with ridged soles are used for riding an attachment (such as toe stoppers ™) or caged front stirrups should be used. These attachments and types of stirrup are a great idea for correctly shod riders also. When handling horses, strong boots with ridging on the sole for grip are recommended.

good quality, safe gear

Make sure that all of your gear is good quality, in good condition, is strong and fits the horse. When you are first starting out it is sometimes tempting to buy the cheapest version of everything. Don't be tempted. Cheap gear is often uncomfortable for the horse and you, and is rarely as safe as good quality gear. Good quality, second hand gear is usually much better than cheap new gear, and it has a much better resale value.

If your gear does not fit properly it will lead to sore spots on the horse that can cause the horse to misbehave (a saddle that does not fit properly is like having to wear a pair of shoes that don't fit, remember that feeling?) You cannot expect your horse to work well if his gear does not fit. Fitting gear can be difficult until you know what to look for. Get the help of an experienced horse person. If you are buying your tack from a saddlery shop the staff are often trained to do this. Your instructor should also be able to help.

You cannot expect your horse to work well if his gear does not fit. Sooner or later a horse will start to misbehave if he or she is uncomfortable or in pain from badly fitting gear.

feeding a horse for safety

Incorrect feeding can be a safety issue. There are many factors to maintaining your horse in good condition such as worming, dental care, feeding, rugging etc. (see the care and welfare page for more about these subjects and details of workshops). Horses that are overfed and under worked can be dangerous due to having excess energy. Until you understand how horses digest food and what happens to the nutrients that come from digestion you should keep feeding as simple as possible. Unless your horse is working very hard (endurance, eventing etc.) you should aim for a diet that is very high in fibre - high fibre feeds are grass and hay. Most horses are fine on an all grass/hay diet with the addition of a mineral supplement that is formulated for horses. Green spring grass however can be too high in energy for many horses, which may cause them to misbehave (it can also cause serious health problems in the horse such as laminitis/founder), so at this time of the year some horses need to have restricted grazing and more hay. There are many good books on the subject of feeding. A book that I particularly recommend to Australian horse owners is Feeding horses in Australia by Kohnke J, F. Kelleher & P. Trevor-Jones (1999) published by RIRDC, ACT (see the links page for the RIRDC website).

Incorrect feeding can be a safety issue. Horses that are overfed and under worked can be dangerous due to having excess energy.

handling and riding

Horses that are stabled or yarded and are not turned out for exercise must be worked every day (either via ground work or by being ridden). Horses that live in large paddocks do not necessarily have to be ridden every day but still need regular handling. Many accidents happen simply because the horse was too fresh and the rider mounted before the horse was in the 'right frame of mind'. For many people riding infrequently is the only option. Learning ground work skills is especially important in these cases. If you are not comfortable handling your horse on the ground you certainly should not be riding him or her. Are you able to (in hand) make your horse move backwards, forwards and sideways (shoulders across and hind end across)? Are you able to lower the horse's head (a calm down cue) easily. There are many good clinics and workshops that you can attend to learn these skills. Good clinics and workshops are well worth the investment. See the training page for more information about ground work and ridden work.

Horses need regular exercise and regular handling. Many accidents happen simply because a horse was too fresh before being mounted.

riding out

When riding in a group certain rules must be established so that everyone is safe. These are just some of the safety guidelines that you need to think about when riding in groups:

Make sure you have control of your horse before you go out of an enclosed area. If you have to ride on the roads you must be in control of your horse, this means that as a bare minimum you should be able to always stop your horse, whatever happens, turn your horse, move the front and back end over if necessary and step back a couple of steps.

You should not be on the roads with your horse if you are an inexperienced rider or nervous of the situation. If your horse is frightened of traffic then you should not be on the roads either. Some horses are confident around traffic, but that does not mean they won't shy at something on the edge of the road, and step out in front of a vehicle. It is a good idea to wear bright/reflective clothing. Always be courteous to drivers who slow down. These are just some of the things you need to know about riding on the roads.

Make sure you have full control of your horse before you go out of an enclosed area.

Is your horse the right horse for you? Your horse should be safe for you to ride. Sometimes lessons will sort out the issues but sometimes the horse is not for you at this stage and you should sell - or find another home - for him or her get something more suitable before you lose your confidence or even worse, get injured. If selling the horse on be honest about why you are selling. Don't let someone else make the same mistake that you made. It is always a difficult decision to make to sell a horse, if in doubt seek reputable professional advice.

As you can see owning and riding a horse can have many pitfalls, but if you are careful, use good judgement and if you are still not sure, ask someone who is knowledgeable, you can have a safe and enjoyable experience. Please remember that the list above does not cover every eventuality, just some of the common issues. It is always a case that "if its worth doing, its worth doing right". Be careful, have fun.

Sometimes you have to face the fact that the horse is not right for you at this stage in your riding career.

riding instruction

workshops and talks

I provide workshops and club talks on the subject of safety and horses. See the workshops page for any dates that may be coming up in your area. I live in SE Queensland (Tamborine) Australia and travel frequently to other states/countries so why not contact me to discuss the possibility of arranging a talk or workshop in your area.

People interested in attending or co-ordinating workshops in their area please contact:

email: jane@equiculture.com.au or phone: 07 55438623

Attention Riding Club Members/ Pony Club Members etc.

Workshops and talks on many subjects can be arranged through your club as a social event or even as a fund raiser for your club.

Remember The information contained on this web site is the opinion or is based on the skills/experience of the author, and any use or misuse of any of the information is entirely the responsibility of the user. We cannot be held responsible for what you choose to do with the information.

 

Horse Safe: A Complete Guide to Equine Safety

by Jane Myers, published by CSIRO

This book is available in many book stores, saddlery stores or by contacting jane@equiculture.com.au

It is also available on line from the CSIRO website www.publish.csiro.au and from international book sellers such as Amazon.

It costs $49.95 (AU) plus postage.

Book description

Horse riding is widely enjoyed as a professional sport or a hobby by riders of all ages. It is also acknowledged as being potentially dangerous, yet many of these dangers can be avoided and the severity of accidents drastically reduced if safe practices and risk management are employed.

Horse Safe covers safety around horses in detail and aims to raise awareness of what can happen. Beginning with an explanation of horses’ natural behavioural characteristics, such as herd behaviour, intelligence and body language, the author then presents the more human aspects of horse safety – safety equipment and how it should be maintained, the working environment, systems for safe horse management, safe riding, training for safe horses, and transporting horses safely. The book concludes with a chapter on how to reduce the risks when buying a horse and how to avoid potential pitfalls.

Written by Jane Myers and endorsed by the Horse Safety Australia (AHSE), Horse Safe is highly practical and is invaluable for riders of all disciplines and skill levels.