SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Horse Care
Teach Me Horse Care Tips
Top
6 Safety Issues with Horses
If you’re learning to handle your first horse,
or just enjoy observing, it is important to learn about safety
precautions to prevent any possible accidents and injuries.
Even the calmest, most gentle horse has the potential
to hurt somebody when startled or scared. Horses don’t have to be aggressive
to injure a person. Just the fact that they are much larger
and stronger than a person can cause them to unintentionally
hurt somebody. Despite their size and strengths, horses are
gentle giants that can have wonderful relationships with people
as long as the proper safety measures have been taken. The
horse is by nature a prey animal, making his ability to react
quickly and out-run a predator a key to survival in the wild.
This survival instinct still remains strong in domestic horses.
Here is some advice that may help you avoid kicks, bites,
trampled toes, drags, or runaways. If you are a new horse owner,
do not feel overwhelmed by all the information you need to
remember, safety rules can become habits very quickly and before
you know it, you’ll have it all down pat.
Leading
While
on the ground with your horse, you want to remain calm
and quiet. Any sudden movements can cause a
horse to jump sideways (shy) or to kick out. The safest
way to lead a horse is by using a halter and a lead rope.
When
leading the horse through a doorway, make sure the door
is open wide enough so the horse doesn’t hit the door on
the way
out. This can startle the horse and cause you to be dragged
or trampled. Never hook your fingers through the straps
of the hater, nor the bit or the rings. If for some reason
the
horse pulls away from you, your fingers could become trapped
and injured or you be dragged.
Standing
Never
stand directly behind the horse for any reason. Even if
you’re grooming the tail, stand off to one
side and gently pull the tail over to you. When cleaning
the hooves or applying bandages, never kneel or squat. Always
bend
over so if the horse suddenly moves, you will be able to
get out of the way. You want to make sure the horse will
be able
to see you and not hiding behind him. The safest place to
stand is either beside his shoulder or at least ten feet
away. You
will also want to be in a position to move quickly if needed.
Finger
and toes
When
using reins, long lines or lead ropes, never loop them around
your hands or any other body part. If
the horse becomes startled and pulls away from you, you could
be injured and dragged. When feeding treats, always use a
bucket or tub to avoid your fingers from being mistaken of
a carrot.
Horses don’t always stop to look and smell to see if that
finger is a carrot or not. Footwear is also very important.
You never
want to wear thin shoes or sandals when around horses. Boots
or other sturdy steel toed shoe should be worn instead to
protect your feet if the horse accidentally steps on them.
Quick
release
Whether
you’re cleaning a stall, grooming or saddling up, tie up
your horse. Never leave a tied up
horse
unattended. When tying up your horse, it would be a good
idea to learn how to tie a quick release knot (panic snap)
in case
for some reason the horse becomes frightened and begins pulling
then he can free himself. Sometimes the feeling of being
constrained can cause a horse to panic to a point where he
can hurt himself
and even you as you are trying to release him or calm him
down.
Mount
up
Always
be sure to wear the appropriate riding gear. Start by protecting
your head by wearing an ASTM approved
riding helmet. Next, wear sturdy boots with minimal tread
and one inch heels. If you use stirrups, the boots you wear
should
make you able to release your foot easily and not slip through.
If you fall, you can be dragged and injured if you are not
able to release your foot. As always, be in complete control. Communication
Always
tell someone where you are going and what time to expect
you to return. It is best to ride with
a buddy or to bring along a two-way radio or a cell phone
in case of emergencies. #
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
>
Home Page > Horse
Care Articles:
Main Page |
