Monday, August 3, 2009

Equestrian Safety: Protect You And Your Horse

By Riche Goldmann

Horseback riding can be a fun and pleasurable experience, but it is extremely important to take the proper safety precautions to protect both you and your horse from unnecessary injury. One of the easiest, yet so important, things that you should do when riding a horse is wear a safety helmet. You helmet needs to fit your head properly so that is will stay on your head in the event you fall. There are equestrian helmets on the market and meet very important safety standards. Any helmet you buy should meet ASTM/SEI certifications.

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.

You also need to know how to saddle your horse correctly so that you both stay protected and safe. Begin by putting a saddle pad on your horse; this will protect your horse's back. Next, place the actual saddle in the middle of the pad so that it is directly above your horse's spine. This should be comfortable for your horse. Make sure that you are gentle throughout this process, as any roughness could cause him pain and to injure you as a result. Be careful in making sure that the buckles do not hit the horse's legs. In addition, make sure that the saddle is fastened securely once it is situated. Also, be sure that you position yourself so that the horse doesn't kick you while putting the saddle on him.

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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