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Horse handling
Horses have the strength, speed and ability to cause injury if they are not handled properly. People need to consider their limitations around horses and avoid riding horses which are likely to exploit those limitations.
When horse riding:
- Wear leather soled riding boots, jeans, jodhpurs or long trousers, and a safety approved riding helmet.
- Use whips, spurs, breastplates and running rings.
- Ensure bridles, bits, saddles and girths are kept in good repair and fit the horse comfortably.
- Keep the stirrup leathers, girth straps and surcingles well oiled and checked regularly.
- Choose strong stirrup irons and the appropriate size that allows the foot to slip in and out freely without allowing it to be forced completely through.
- Keep saddle cloths free from burrs and other foreign material.
- Be aware that horses vary in conformation, temperament, ability and levels of training. Some require breastplates or cruppers to keep the saddle in place and running rings, nosebands or headchecks to keep their head and neck in a position for easy control.
Other practices that need to be considered include:
- Riders need to be careful when galloping close to a beast. It is extremely dangerous to allow the horse to touch a beast behind the point of the shoulder. The horse can fall by touching the beast’s hind legs or from the beast turning completely under the horse’s neck.
- Be careful riding under gate caps in stock yards. Some are too low for horse and rider to pass under safely.
- Take extra care when riding in slippery or boggy conditions.
- Match riders to horses that are within riders handling capabilities.
- Only tolerate a bucking or bolting horse during the breaking-in and early stages of training.
- If a horse is likely to buck, it is best to saddle it and give it some exercise prior to mounting. This can be done by lunging or leading it from another horse. The horse can then be mounted and ridden in a small yard before being ridden in an unconfined area.
- If a horse is likely to bolt it should be ridden in a yard first. If it bolts in an unconfined area, gradually circle the horse by applying pressure to one rein until the horse is under control.
- Always remain alert and in a position of control whilst mounted. Only adjust equipment from the ground.
More about horse riding safety.
Last updated 21 August 2008