Equestrian Safety For You And The Horse

Posted by rockmartin on May 27th, 2021

With tried-and-true Gaited Horse safety tips, you'll learn how to stay healthy around horses. Avoid typical blunders and take away important lessons from the errors of others.

Health comes first, whether you're new to horses or otherwise. Horses are, after all, large creatures. That means you have to be constantly vigilant about your health and well-being. They're still creatures. That is, you must be the brains of the group while still keeping them secure.

Three Reasons Why Equestrian Safety Is Important

-          Medical and veterinary costs are exorbitant!

-          Pain is excruciating.

-          Don't make a fool of yourself.

In an ideal world, every horse will be well behaved and well trained. This isn't a dream world, though. Young horses, poorly spooky horses, trained horses, cantankerous horses, fearful horses...and great horses that have rough moments exist in the real world.

When it comes to equine welfare, the majority of it boils down to common sense. However, because what you don't know can harm you, I've put together a list of safety information that any equestrian can use.

Security for Equestrians

Getting To Know You

Horses have a tendency to jump about, which can be surprising at times. All unexpected movements must be anticipated, and the body must be held in a secure position. They are swift, heavy, and weigh hundreds hundred pounds more than you weigh. So...

Always be mindful of your body's connection to the horse's body. The shoulder is the best position to stand next to a horse. You'll be out of the way if the horse's back end turns. You'll be out of the road if he unexpectedly swings his head. You can either drive him backward or shift sideways with him if he takes a sideways step against you.

In confined spaces such as stalls, horse trailers, and the like, are mindful of your body location. Please ensure you have a plan B in case something goes wrong. Allowing the horse to pin you against buildings or walls is not a good idea. Have them scoot over to make room for you. If you're in a confined space, don't stay too long.

Being conscious of what is going on around you is important for good equestrian welfare. Try to predict something that could startle the Gaited Horse so you can take sufficient action before it happens.

Do not position your face straight over the lowered head of a horse or in front of the face of a squirmy horse.

When walking behind a Gaited Horse, keep a safe distance between you and the horse. Keep out of kicking range if you're passing by horses... 5-6 foot tall. If you're cleaning a horse and want to move to the other side, keep the distance from of the tail at 5-6 inches. If a horse decides to kick, the very worst position to be is 1-3 steps long. That allows him plenty of space to get those hoofs in a good hard swing at you. Don't give him any more power.

When leading a Gaited Horse, take a place at the shoulder. She has the ability to knock you down when you're in front of her. In addition, if the horse loses balance, you will retain control at the shoulder. You can force his head toward you if he abruptly bolts ahead, pulling him into a circle. Allow him to go in circles around you while you stay safe in the middle.

Find more information relating to recreational riding, and gaited horse here.