All of us have concerns about our safety around horses, although it's equally important to ensure their safety, as well.
Below are some ways to make certain your equine friend suffers no harm as you learn how to ride a horse.
1. Tying:
Often times, people tie their horses in such a way that it puts their animal in harm's way, and this article addresses that issue.
Please avoid tying a horse up to any solid structure, always! You should always use a segment of cut cord or something similar to round it over, then twist the lead rope into it. If your horse gets spooked, the cord will break apart and let the horse escape without any injury or damage to the object by which he was tied.
This also applies to tying him in a trailer.
When tying the horse, be certain that the rope does not hang below his shoulder so that he will not get his foot tangled in it. And you must ensure that there is enough slack so that he will not feel excessively restricted.
If you tie your horse by the reins, you run the risk of the bit ripping his mouth if he panics and pulls back, and you will also end up with snapped reins.
Ensure that haynets do dangle loosely when empty. You need to tie them sufficiently high so that the horse can reach, but such that they do not create a danger.
2. Stirrups:
Remain cautious of the stirrups and keep them running up whenever you are off of the horse. They could pelt your horse's flanks as you lead him or snag onto a protruding object, thus causing him to be spooked.
3. Safety in the Vicinity of the Barn:
Be wary whenever you are walking through the barn. Should you notice a pitch fork somewhere that a horse or person could step on it, pick it up and put it away. Wheelbarrows can be a danger should a horse become stuck between the handles and then panic.
Our horses deserve the safest living conditions we can offer to them. While you acquire greater experience with your equestrian confidant, you will find more and more new ways to keep him safer.
Visit Jim Milton's horse riding video blog for more tips and information on horseback riding. Jim is a professional horse rider and instructor. Benefit from checking his website and horse riding lessons and daily tweets.
