Horse Safety — Top 10 Safety Tips for Riders

My uncle, who’s a family doctor, calls horses “women’s motorcycles.” But luckily, you can follow a few simple guidelines that minimize the risk inherent to trying to boss around an animal that outweighs you by a factor of ten and thinks plastic bags, squirrels and fallen branches are deadly enemies.

Here are ten things you can do to keep yourself and your horse safe.

1.  Wear appropriate riding gear. This includes a proper riding helmet, riding boots, riding pants, a belt, a sleeved shirt, and a protective vest for cross country and other higher risk sports. Just don’t ride if you don’t have these things–it’s not worth it!

2.  Don’t panic. No matter what happens, the most important thing you can do is stay calm. The moment you lose your cool, you lose the ability to think clearly. Plus, if you panic, your horse will figure whatever has you spooked is worth him worrying about too!

3.  Practice emergency situations. This is one of the best ways not to panic. Learn and practice emergency dismounts and how to stop a runaway horse. Practice riding without stirrups in case you accidentally lose one. Practice, practice, practice riding with a deep, balanced seat! When these things have become second nature, you’ll be able to respond without thinking, no matter what happens.

4.  Ride with someone. This can be an instructor, a parent or even a friend. Don’t ride alone. No matter how smart your horse is, he won’t be able to call for help if anything happens. Everyone needs an instructor to teach them and help them learn. Plus, a second pair of eyes can help prevent problems before they explode.

5.  Clock hours in the saddle. The best way to be safe on a horse is to know how to ride one. And the only way to learn is to spend a whole lot of time practicing. No amount of mental preparation or reading or even observing can replace experience.

6.  Be flexible. Some days you’ll hit every transition, every turn, every jump. And some days it’ll be a battle to just get past a terrifying piece of fly tape at the entrance to the arena. If either of you just aren’t feeling it, take a break and have some fun. An angry rider makes mistakes, and twelve hundred pounds of frustration can cause some serious damage. Pick a goal each time you ride and shoot for that, no matter where you might have been the day before.

7.  Know your limits. I’ve jumped my horse with my eyes closed, with no stirrups, even bareback. But not before I’d ridden him over a thousand poles, jumped a thousand cross rails and ridden a thousand courses–with my saddle on and eyes open! I push my limits, but never past what I think Noah (my horse) and I can do. Don’t be afraid to stop if you really aren’t ready for something! Things go bad very quickly when you rush.

8.  There is no such thing as a bomb-proof horse. You can get pretty darn close, but every horse has his kryptonite. Expect your horse to eventually do something stupid, then it won’t surprise you when he does.

9.  Find a horse that is just right. Don’t go out and buy a Formula One race car when you just need wheels to get to school. There is no reason to buy or ride a horse that is more energy, speed or spirit than you can handle. I’ve seen it, and it’s not pretty. The right horse is one that fits what you want to do, not the fanciest or most expensive or best bred horse. A horse with experience will almost always be a better bet than a young or untrained horse.

10.  Know your riding area. Knowledge can help you stay out of hard situations. Know where there are construction sites or other “spooky” areas. Figure out which places get slippery in the rain or snow. Note which hours are busy in the arena or when there is higher traffic on the riding trail.  Avoiding a problem entirely is much better than trying to fix one.

Have fun, and stay safe!