Don't 'Horse Around' with Your Horse

By Darlene M. Cox

All of us who are avid horse lovers and riders can identify with how good it feels to be in the company of our beloved equine friends, whether it is from sitting atop our trusty mount enjoying the beauty of nature’s best or gently stroking a soft face and muzzle as it hangs over a stall door. There is a connectivity of soul and spirit that most horse people understand.

Sometimes when we are in our comfort zone with our horse we may become complacent about safety issues. Safety should always come first with every aspect of horse handling or care. Thousands of horse-related injuries are sustained each year, many of which could have easily been avoided if certain safety rules were followed.

The following are some basic “Do’s and Don’ts” that I try to follow whenever I am in the company of my horse:

DON’TS	DO’S
Ground Handling
Do not hand feed treats to your horse.	Always place treats in a feeding bin or on the ground.
Never walk up quickly or quietly behind your horse.	It is best to approach your horse’s shoulder from an angle; however, if you must approach from the rear, move at an angle toward your horse’s hip and speak to him before you reach out to touch. Look for him to respond to your voice with a flick of his ear or moving his head to look at you.
Don’t ignore aggressive ‘warning signals’ your horse may be giving you.	Pay attention to the body language of your horse. Is he distributing aggressive signs of ear pinning, teeth baring, or wheeling to kick?
Never lead your horse through the middle of a pasture-bound herd.	Always be mindful of the other horses in the pasture, particularly the alpha horse or those who have higher status in the pecking order. Skirt a path around the herd, and if you are approached, ‘shoo’ them off.
When leading your horse do not walk in front of him.	Lead your horse with your body placed a little in front and off the side of his shoulder, walking in a parallel path.
Don’t place particular parts of your body in vulnerable positions when haltering or standing near your horse’s head.	Stand to the side of your horse; positioning yourself in front of his shoulder and no further than the throatlatch. When standing beside or in front of your horse’s head always place your arm in front of your chest. Better to sustain a bite on the arm than soft tissue.
If you have your horse in hand when the farrier visits, never stand on the opposite side from which he is working.	Always stand on the same side as the farrier because if something occurs in the trimming/shoeing process to spook your horse, he is going to move ‘away’ from the farrier.
Don’t tie your horse to a flimsy object and NEVER knot the lead rope.	Always tie your horse to a secure object (post, hitching rail, tree, etc.) Learn to tie using the “quick release” knot. Tie at eye level with rope length of about 2”.
When your horse is tied, never move around him in the front. Moving in front would put you in harms way in the event of an emergency.	Always move around a tied horse from the rear, keeping your body close to his and touching him with your hand as you move around.
Don’t position yourself without an escape route in the event your horse may react or panic to any given situation.	Always make sure you can get clear of your horse during a panic or reactive moment.
Don’t ignore what is happening around the general area.	Always be mindful of what is going on. Pay attention.
Unless you have a death wish, don’t walk into a pasture with multiple buckets of feed at dinner time.	Position feed buckets along the fence line, whether attached to the fence or on the ground. Feed the horses in pecking order status – highest to lowest.
Riding
Don’t ride your horse without wearing a helmet. Statistically speaking, more fatalities in horse-related accidents are incurred by those who do not wear helmets.	Helmets save lives! Do wear an ASTM-approved riding helmet.
Don’t ride if your mind’s not ‘on it’.	Be mentally and physically able to ride. Always be prepared for your horse to react to an unknown situation.
Do not drink alcohol when riding.	Save the cold ones to enjoy around the campfire.
Do not ride alone.	Always have a riding buddy. If this isn’t possible, communicate with someone where you will be riding, when you left, and what time to expect you back.
Do not ride your horse while wearing tennis shoes, sandals, or in bare feet.	Always ride while wearing a shoe or boot with a heel and a smooth sole that will allow it to slide easily out of the stirrup in the event of an emergency.
Do not wear clothing that is loosely fitted and flapping around.	Make sure shirts are tucked into pants to prevent them from catching onto the saddle horn during an emergency situation.
Don’t mount your horse without checking tack placement.	Always check tack placement before mounting. Bridle – make sure bit is placed well in the mouth and that the reins are not twisted or caught on something. Saddle – make sure saddle is properly positioned and that latigo is sufficiently snug /secure and rear strap is fastened appropriately. Stirrups – Ensure they are in proper position.
Do not mount your horse while he is tied to a hitching rail.	Untie your horse before mounting. Sometimes a horse will react badly when they are mounted while tied. We are the most unbalanced during mounting and dismounting and can quickly be injured in such instances.
When riding within a group, do not allow your horse to invade another horse’s space.	Always be mindful of the distance between you and the rider in front. Keep at least a one-horse length distance between you. Similar distance applies when the riding group takes a break. Always make sure there is an adequate distance between two horses. Be mindful of horse body language in these situations and react accordingly.
Don’t ride on trails that are too challenging for or beyond the conditioning of you and your horse. If you’re feint of heart and your horse is one step removed from a pasture potato, then “Man From Snowy River” trails aren’t for you.	Always have an understanding of the types of trails you and your horse can comfortably and physically handle. If you’re riding in a group, communicate this with the trail boss so you won’t find yourself where you don’t want to be.
When road riding, do not ride in the middle of the road.	Always ride single-file on the left side of the road and keep an eye out behind you for approaching traffic.

While the list of these Do’s and Don’ts could go on endlessly, the general rule of thumb is to ride with safety in mind. Implementing the above safety points will ensure that the experiences with your horse will be accident free.

Happy trails!