How to Be Safe Around Horses

Horses are big, strong, loving and intelligent animals, and handling and riding them is one of life's greatest pleasures. Making time to develop a relationship with a horse or a pony is one of the most rewarding experiences.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Spend time learning about horses and their method of communicating. Your learning will be effort well repaid in terms of safety and understanding the horse. Horses require much observing and listening from you as their handler or rider. Through observation, you learn to contemplate the horse's next move and respond appropriately, sometimes to keep yourself out of harm's way. Of key importance for every horse owner and rider to know is:
   • Horses have a ready in-built flight system; it's their survival mechanism honed over millions of years and it is part of who they are.
   • Horses have sight limitations. This adds to their flightiness but more importantly, it increases your need to move responsibly and considerately when in the presence of horses.
   • Horses have pecking orders that involve fear and dominance. It takes time and patience to develop yourself as the herd leader but through consistent training methods and considerate behavior around your horse, you will develop a mutually beneficial relationship based on respect.
   • As the handler of a horse, you have an amazing and beautiful animal in your presence. You have the chance to nurture the horse's strengths and to manage the horse's weaknesses through observation of safe handling practices, good training and excellent understanding of what a horse needs.
2. 2
   Always be aware of your position in relation to the horse and help him to stay aware of where you are too. Horses will react fast when angered or afraid, regardless of your presence. And a scared or angry horse can turn his hindquarters to face you faster than you can imagine. The first most important thing is to stay close to your horse and to keep one hand on the horse at all times. Your hands are your primary communication tools with your horse (voice being secondary) and, as counter-intuitive as this may seem, the closer you are to the horse, the harder it is for the horse to kick you. For example, resting your hand on the horse's shoulder or hindquarters when positioned at these points tells your horse you are there even if he cannot see you. It also gives you the best opportunity to push yourself away should the horse choose to kick.
   • The safest place around a horse is to stand next to his shoulders. It's not a guarantee––it is just that horses are less likely to use their forelegs to kick out. It doesn't mean that they can't or won't though, so keep alert at all times (see below for staying alert).
   • By standing close to a horse and placing your hand on him, you can notice any sudden increase in tension––and anticipate a kick––much faster than if you're standing further apart.
3. 3
   Approach any horse, no matter how familiar to you, from the side so that he can see you. Do not approach horses from the direct front or from behind. Get into the habit of always approaching a horse toward his left shoulder.
4. 4
   Never stand directly behind a horse. This is your horse's blind spot and more importantly, it's his powerful kicking space. Never underestimate a horse's kicking distance––many experienced equestrians have been maimed and killed from being behind the horse.
   • When you need to pass the horse's backside, place one hand on his hindquarter on the side you're leaving from. Keeping the hand there, bend your elbow onto your horse and walk quickly and calmly behind his hindquarters while not removing this hand and arm connection. Keep your body as close to his body as possible. You can also speak in a calm voice if your horse is used to you talking to him. Keeping your hand and arm connection will let him know you're still there, and will help to avoid spooking him.
   • If you're not comfortable doing this very close encounters method, particularly if you're a beginner or the horse is unknown to you, walk well beyond his kicking range to get to the other side.
   • Never duck under the horse's belly (barrel) or neck. This is almost guaranteed to spook him as your movement is quick, low and out of his sight. Both actions leave you wide open to being kicked and trampled on. From the front, he is also liable to rear and kick down on you.
   • When grooming the back of your horse, stand to the side and face the rear. Use one hand to brush his tail, and the other hand to stand to brush as you stand close to his hindquarters.
5. 5
   Speak and behave calmly in the presence of horses. Horses are great for teaching you to be peaceful and patient because that's exactly the kind of person who connects best with a horse.
   • Never yell or shout at a horse.
   • Keep reprimands to the tone of a raised voice and no more.
   • Use calm, reassuring talk to familiarize the horse with your presence. Speak to your horse rather than at him.
6. 6
   Be on the alert at all times. Check what could possibly frighten a horse, such as running children, an approaching car, or even a strange sight such as extra bales of hay in a new place. Look often at the horse's ears - if the ears are pointed straight up that shows alertness and curiosity. If you can see that he has hugely widened eyes (you can see the whites all the way round the pupil, as for humans) the horse is scared. If this happens,calmly talk to the horse and try to find a place where he would feel more comfortable, if possible.
   • Never run or shout around horses––they may spook at the sudden noise. Encourage others around you to calm down and to move slowly.
7. 7
   Desensitize or "sack out" your horse where appropriate. If you have certain common objects around the yard that upset your horse, it's important to teach him to stop fearing them. Sacking out is a method of training a horse to accept items through feeling and seeing them while not being allowed to leave. You can use the process of desensitization whenever objects that need to be used around the horse appear to bother him. It's a process requiring understanding, patience and perseverance but the results will be worth the effort, as you horse accepts that these objects are no longer threats.
   • For more details, see How to desensitize a horse.
8. 8
   Always ensure that other people are nearby when working with a horse. Nobody should handle horses or ride them without someone being nearby to assist should something go wrong. Beginners should not be around horses unaided at all; someone experienced should be directly present at all times until you are more competent. As you grow in confidence, having people within calling distance or who can hear if something goes wrong may be okay if you can be assured they realize that they need to come and help.
   • Handle horses in a well-run yard with support from experienced horse people.
   • Ask someone to work or ride near you, so if you are hurt there is someone to help.
9. 9
   Train your horse to accept a cross lead, being tied to a post or standing in stocks. This is essential for work with vets, farriers and anyone else who needs to perform work on the horse. The horse must be able to do this calmly, without pawing or fidgeting. Use these methods when grooming and bathing––it's best if your horse is used to all three methods, as stocks are useful when drawing blood for testing while cross tying or post tying are helpful for grooming and bathing your horse. Reward good behavior when tied up, reprimand pawing or impatience.
   • Get your horse used to having his feet picked up and picked at from early on. He should be comfortable with both front and back feet being lifted, and teach him to do so on cue. Farriers and vets will need easy access to hooves at all times.
   • Be especially cautious when working with the back feet of a horse. They are powerful kicking resources if the horse chooses to do so. Stay alert and position yourself on the side of the hind leg, never in front of it. While raising his leg gently, lean on the horse as you say "lift" or "up" (his cue). Let his leg rest on either your thighs or leg, bend your knees and clean his hoof with one hand while holding it steady with the other hand. Keep close as you release the leg gently and praise him each time.
10. 10
    Lead horses with care. As always, be aware of your body position in relation to your horse's and stay alert. Keep your body close to his neck area, behind his poll but in front of his left shoulder. From here you have good control and visual contact with your horse.
    • To hold the lead, place your right hand on the rope just below the snap.
    • Hold the gathered remainder of the rope in your hand, with the loops coming out of the sides. Never loop extra lead rope around your hand––your hand can be broken or even taken off if the horse spooks and tries to bolt. Also, you can be dragged along if a horse continues to run.
    • Step forward and give your cue, such as "walk." Adjust your pace to the horse's pace. There is more to leading than this, so read a good summary on leading your horse, while ensuring these safety features.
    • Check ahead when leading for anything that might spook the horse. If you do see something, react calmly and either try to remove the object or take the horse in a different direction.
11. 11
    Wear appropriate clothing for handling and riding horses. Clothing can protect you from falls and being trodden on, make you more visible, prevent you from becoming snagged in any part of the horse's equipment, and more. Suitable approaches to clothing includes:
    • Boots: Footwear should be leather boots. Do not wear steel toed boots; if the horse steps on your foot, the steel can cut your toes off. If you are riding, the boots must have a small heel.
    • Helmet: Wear a helmet whenever you ride or mount the horse. Helmets should have a harness and be less than 5 years old. They should never have received an impact or been stored improperly. They should conform to the latest Safety Standards. See external links.
    • Body protectors: Body protectors should fit comfortably, be less then 5 years old and conform to the latest Safety Standards.
    • Glasses: If you wear glasses, they should have flexible frames. Contact lenses increase the likelihood of getting dust and hair in your eyes. Ask your optician for advice.
    • Loose pieces: Tie back loose elements. Long hair should be tied back and jackets zipped up to avoid scaring the horses.
    • Gloves: Gloves and long sleeves help protect against minor injuries.
    • Rub-free: Comfortable and seamless underwear and jodhpurs/breeches can help avoid rubs and sores.
    • Visibility: If you're riding in the evening or any situation where there is not full sunlight, always wear something fluorescent.
12. 12
    Make sure you have the appropriate tack. Check that all tack is the correct size and shape for the horse. Check all tack for wear and tear. This includes any cracking of stretching of the leather and the quality of the stitching. Anything that is close to breaking or snapping is a safety risk.
13. 13
    Check your the positioning of the tack both before and during riding.
    • Before you mount up, make sure that you have checked your girth and that your saddle is in the right place.
    • Check that you don't have loose reins because you won't want to crash into another horse when stopping your horse.
    • Make sure that you have your stirrups set at the right length, and when riding always allow your weight to fall into your heel.
    • Use a neck strap while riding. They don't interfere with the horse or yourself at all, and offer something else to grab at other then the reins and are easier to hold onto then the mane. A spare stirrup leather makes a very good neck strap.
14. 14
    Think safety when releasing a horse after riding. There are some important safety considerations at the end of the ride, to ensure that accidents don't occur due to lapses of attention. Since both you and the horse are a little bit tireder than before the ride, it's helpful to follow a post-ride checklist and it's vital that your horse is well trained in restraining himself against bolting off. Things that help to ensure continued safety during the post-ride release include:
    • Place a halter on him loosely and tie him to a post or other suitable place before removing the tack. Use a quick release knot for tying.
    • Give him a wash, groom and conversation time. Then take a short, relaxing walk together.
    • Take your time leading him back to the pasture. Teach him early on to not rush off but to stand calmly beside you with the halter on.
    • Remove the halter. Then pat him and praise him for his calm behavior. He should be able to remain standing by your side until you turn to leave.
    • If returning him to a stall, it's much the same. He should be able to stand and wait patiently for you to remove his halter before eating his feed. Good behavior inside the stall is absolutely essential, particularly for your own safety.

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EditTips

• Learn how to tie a horse safely without having access to ties. Sometimes you may need to know how to do this when out riding and you need to stop somewhere. Good tying matters because a spooked horse can injure himself––and potentially you or other people or animals––if poorly tied. Don't tie your horse to anything he can move, such as hollow items, fence boards, door handles, etc. Always look for reinforced objects such as secured rings, steel railings and fence posts. Use a quick-release knot for tying to solid objects, so that you can pull it open quickly.
• There are other times when safety is a paramount issue when handling your horse. For example, learn early on how to safely load your horse into and out of a horse trailer, even if you don't think you need to use one. You never know when you might need to transport your horse to a vet or you decide to change where your horse is being kept.
• If you're showing horses, you have a range of additional safety issues to consider, such as adjusting to new stalls, being within the presence of large crowds and sometimes misbehaving people, noises associated with shows, etc. Learn as much as you can about how other people showing horses have made things easier for their horses and ensured that safety comes first.

EditWarnings

• Never run or make loud noises around horses, as it may spook them.
• Never ride, train, or in some cases, even handle a horse, alone.
• Always wear a helmet when riding, whatever your age, but especially for children and teens.
• If you sense that a horse is in a bad mood, or could endanger you in any way, be extra vigilant but don't give up immediately or you will reinforce the bad behavior.
• Signs of rearing and kicking should be something you learn to contemplate well before they happen; stay observant at all times.

EditThings You'll Need

• Treats to reinforce praise of good, safe behavior
• Appropriate clothing
• Tack in excellent condition
• Reading matter on horse communication and behavior