Rules for Horse and Barn Safety

I've never considered horseback riding to be a particularly dangerous sport - no more so than others, anyway - but any activity can become a haven for accidents and injuries if the proper safety cautions aren't observed. Even the most advanced riders must be careful not to become too comfortable in their knowledge, because carelessness leads to accidents that could have been easily avoided. You must have respect for the dangers of any activity you pursue, or expect negative consequence as a result of your imprudence.

Kentucky law states that if riders have signed the liability waiver provided by a stable or equine professional, then the rider is responsible for his or her actions when working with or around horses. The only case in which this does not apply is in the instance of equine professional neglect, which means that a trainer or instructor intentionally or carelessly puts a rider into a situation that he or she cannot control. For that reason, new riders should be aware of the safety precautions necessary when deciding to work with horses.

First of all, horses are extremely large animals, which means that they can hurt you without maliciously trying. I personally have sustained a crushed ankle, three broken fingers, four broken toes, and three cracked vertebrae from working with horses, and in none of those instances were any horses at fault. I was careless, and I paid for that vice. If you mindfully follow the following safety rules, however, you shouldn't be placing yourself at any risk.

Always wear a helmet.

Helmets are currently required for riders aged seventeen and younger, but I strongly advise them for anyone who works with horses. Though a helmet cannot entirely prevent head injuries, it reduces the risk by about 96%. Buy an ATSM approved helmet and make sure that it properly fits your head. The back of the helmet should extend to the bottom of your skull, and it should not move when you move your head up and down.

Before you mount, always make sure that the helmet is properly secured, and I even recommend that you wear it while grooming. If you were to clean out the back hooves of your horse, and he were to kick out, you could be kicked in the head. Therefore, it is best to always be protected.

Never walk within four feet of a horse's hindquarters.

If you must pass behind a horse, either pass directly behind so that you are touching his rump, or at least four feet away. This guarantees that you will be out of the kicking zone. I frequently forget this rule, and I have been kicked before, which isn't much fun. Even horses that seem safe and reliable might kick due to unknown causes - such as a horsefly biting their legs. They are instinctually-driven animals, which means that they don't always consider their human counterparts' safety.

Never run in the barn or around horses.

Since horses are flight animals (versus fight animals), they tend to run or leap sideways when frightened. If you run down the barn aisle or around horses in the pasture, you will frighten them, and they might do something dangerous. Also, if you run around horses that are being ridden, you might cause injury to other riders who lose control of their horses.

Never overestimate your riding skill.

If you are a beginning or novice rider, never tell a trainer or guide that your riding skill is better than it actually is. Horse trainers are professionals, but they aren't psychic, and you don't want to risk pairing with a horse you cannot control. It is always best to err on the side of safety, and end up with too gentle a mount, rather than risking injury. Also, a trainer will not be amused if he or she discovers that you have misrepresented your riding ability.

Feed treats with an open palm.

Because of where their eyes are located, horses have difficulty distinguishing between a carrot and fingers. If you want to feed them a treat, hold your palm flat so that they don't accidently grab digits instead of food.

Never approach a horse you do not know.

There are horses that are less easily handled than others, and you should never attempt to approach one you do not know. If you are unsure, as a trainer to tell you which horses can be petted, and stay away from the ones that he or she warns you against. You never know about a particular horse's history, and he might be skittish or mean or just plain energetic.

Lead horses with the rope neatly folded in your hand.

Never bunch a lead rope up in your hand so that it can't be easily released should something happen. Two years ago, one of my students made this mistake, and ended up with two broken fingers. Her horse was frightened by a bird that flew through the barn, and he reared up, yanking the rope taught in her hand. If you haven't been taught how to lead, as a trainer or friend to show you.

Where clothes that won't compromise your safety in the saddle.

Long shirts can get caught on the cantle of your saddle and boots without heels can be caught in stirrups. Large shirts can also billow in the wind, and might frighten your horse out of the corner of his eye.

Make sure that your tack fits the horse.

Tack is your horse's equipment - saddle, bridle, reins, girth, etc. If your tack doesn't fit you or the horse, you could be in serious trouble. If you don't know how, ask a trainer to show you the way to tell if your saddle and bridle are adjusted correctly. Illfitting tack can cause injury to both you and the horse.

Tighten your girth!

This is the most commonly forgotten step before riders mount their horses, and it is a terrible mistake! When I was seven, my family took a trail ride in Colorado on vacation, and the trail guide rode with my sister, who was only three at the time. We were halfway up the mountain when the guide's horse stumbled, and the saddle slid all the way upside down so that the guide and my sister were under the horse. Thankfully, the guide wasn't using her stirrups, and shewas able to wiggle free of her horse's legs, carrying my sister to safety. But imagine if they had been trotting or loping at the time.

Kick your feet free of the stirrups.

If something dangerous happens - if your horse takes off, for instance - kick your feet free of the stirrups. This way, if you fall, you will not get hung up in the saddle and be dragged. It is much better to hit the ground safely than to be attached to your horse as he gallops off into the distance.

And finally….

Ask questions!

There is no way that I can cover all of the safety rules in this article; in fact, I probably don't even know all of the safety rules, and I've been doing this all my life. If you have a question, ask, because your trainers and instructors are there for that specific purpose. You won't sound stupid for not knowing the answer, and it might save you from a perilous situation.