If you share an arena with other riders, knowing what to do can help avoid accidents.
Here are ten simple rules to follow whenever there are other riders around:
1. Call out, “Door!” before you open a door to an arena, and wait for a response before you enter. This will let anyone inside know you are there and they will be able to let you know when it is safe to enter.
2. Mount and adjust tack in the center of the arena, where you are out of the way of other riders. Stopping along the rail blocks the way for anyone else who is riding.
3. Leave at least one horse-length between your horse and another horse. Riding too closely can scare horses or result in a horse or rider getting kicked.
4. Often at big gatherings, riders tie a red ribbon onto the tail of any horse that kicks. Make sure to give plenty of room to any horse with a red ribbon in its tail. And if your horse is a kicker, make sure you tie on a red ribbon!
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.
