Horseback riding is very popular and both kids and adults love it. It has so many benefits physically and mentally, and the time spent at a farm is never wasted. However, as anyone involved with horses knows, there are safety risks when
Horseback riding is very popular and both kids and adults love it. It has so many benefits physically and mentally, and the time spent at a farm is never wasted. However, as anyone involved with horses knows, there are safety risks when riding and grooming horses. They are big prey animals, and you never know what may happen. Though horses are generally mellow and friendly, they can get scared and accidents happen.
In this article, we will look at the safety risks you should take into account when riding horses.
Falling off is one of the biggest risks
Riding horses is very safe – as long as you will not fall off. However, the truth is that eventually, everyone falls. Especially, when you keep on riding years after years. Sometimes, the reason for falling can be as simple as losing your balance. Other times, the horse may get scared and take a funny step, which will cause you to lose your balance. Also, some horses may exhibit some funny behavior, such as bucking, and it can cause you to fall as well.
Showjumpers and eventers are at a bigger risk of falling off, as both of these sports are extreme and done at a greater speed than dressage, for instance.
The ways you can protect yourself from getting injured when falling off are the following:
- Wear a helmet: you should always wear a helmet, no matter the discipline
- Wear a safety vest: for instance, Hit-Air vests are excellent for everyone
- Get safety stirrups: they prevent your foot from getting stuck in your stirrup when you fall off
Accidents happen when grooming, too
When you are grooming your horse, accidents may happen then, too. Your horse might step on your toes, kick or bite you, or try to run over you if he gets scared. Though these are unlikely events, they need to be taken into account when grooming. You can easily prevent accidents from happening in these situations simply by taking into account a few safety measures:
- Don’t walk behind the horse: if your horse gets scared or doesn’t see you, he may kick