Thursday, August 6, 2009

Equestrian Safety: How To Protect You And Your Horse

By Riche Goldmann

Horseback riding is a fun and exhilarating experience, but it can also become a nightmare in the event of an accident. This is why it is very important to protect both you and your horse by taking necessary safety precautions. The first thing that you need to do is to wear a helmet. This will protect your head in the event of an accident. Equestrian helmets are made specifically for this purpose and should be worn at all times. Your helmet should also meet ASTM/SEI safety guidelines.

What you wear on your feet can be just as important as what you wear on your head. You need to wear a good sturdy shoe or boot with a good heel. This will keep your feet from sliding while in the stirrups and will help you to be better able to maneuver your foot in the event of an accident. It is imperative that you never wear tennis shoes, sandals, or go shoeless when horseback riding.

Saddling your horse needs to be done as gently as possible so you and your horse both stay protected and safe. To protect your horses back, you need to put a saddle pad on first. Then, put the saddle in the middle of the pad so its directly over your horses spine. Your horse should feel comfortable. Putting a saddle on your horse roughly can cause him to suddenly run and injure you. Be careful not to let the buckles hit your horses legs. The girth or cinch needs to be secured once the saddle is situated correctly. Do this on the off-side first and be very careful the girth doesnt hit the legs of your horse. Watch that your horse doesnt kick you while youre adjusting his saddle.

Lots of accidents happen at the mounting and dismounting of a horse. Therefore, it is important that you are very careful when getting on and off of your horse. Using a mounting block can help you a lot. It can help you to get your balance and decreases the distance between the ground and the top of the horse, making it easier for you to get on. It also puts less pressure on the horse's back, making the mounting process much easier for him as well.

That being said, take care of your horse the best way you can, by making sure that you do what you need to do. Do the recommendations listed here and you'll be off to a great start!

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