Dangers of Horseback Riding: precautions you can take to mitigate unnecessary risks.
In this article we will talk about the risks of horseback riding, including working on the ground with horses, and how to mitigate them. As a child, walking down to my neighbor's to ride, the thought would often invade my head that I could die while horseback riding. Something happened I think in my brain during that phase... I chose riding. I would often say goodbye to my mom before leaving the house expecting that I very well may not make it home. I became a risk taker, a gutsy rider and my knowledge in horsemanship accelerated in leaps and bounds. This mindset remained in me to this day: instead of allowing counterfeit, dangerous horses rule me, I chose to give power only to the horses who I knew would care for me to the best of their ability.
Horses are, give or take a few hundred lbs, thousand pound prey animals with opinions of their own. Like any sport, or dealing with any other large animals, there are dangers to be found both on the ground as well as in the saddle. There are very real threats that come with working with horses, including being trampled, bit, kicked, thrown, crushed and more! Ask any equestrian about the risks of horseback riding and working with horses and they will have a tale to tell about so and so who broke their “insert body part” horseback riding. But for all the risks we take as equestrians there is a solid reason we do; horseback riding is fun! It is rewarding to build a bond with a massive animal via a second language. The exercise is as good as any other sport and we get to feel like we are flying while we are at it! So read on to learn how you might be able to mitigate the risk of horseback riding and spend more time enjoying yourself in the saddle and less time being afraid to hop on your black beauty out in the stables.
#1. Find an appropriate trainer
Not all trainers are alike. A trainer does not need a certification although they should at least have some kind of insurance that they are covered under. The world is full of trainers, anyone can call themselves a trainer, and anyone who has been in the horse world long enough will have some tidbit of advice to give. The term trainer is also mildly misleading because regardless of who works with your horse, the horse will learn which includes bad habits and behavior that can be incredibly dangerous for you and them.
Be very careful about the person you choose to work with. Steer clear of the people who know it all and broadcast that point. Inspect your potential trainer’s credentials carefully for the following;
What discipline do they do?
Is it something you'd like to learn?
Are they warm, open and intelligent people?
Do they resort to hitting and yelling at their horses instead of working through problems with communication that fits with the horse's personality?
Sit in on a lesson or two if you can before taking one with them. Observe how they teach;
Are they clear in their communication?
Do they put their students in precarious situations and on horses that do not match the riders?
Are the students falling, being bucked off, etc ? (This last point can indicate a teacher who doesn’t work with their horses on a regular basis to keep them safe enough to teach students.)
Most of all, do you like them? For example; It's very common to find teachers who will yell and heavily critique you. This is no good if you are afraid though, it can raise your anxiety and make it difficult to learn, which can in turn make your horse anxious and you can end up confusing the horse, or worse, getting hurt. Who you turn to for knowledge can make or break your experience with horses. Also don’t shy away from the small barns and trainers who don’t show or don’t have a barn full of fancy horses if you are just starting out, following Ego's principles from Ratatouille “not anyone can cook(train/teach), but the best cooks(trainers/teachers) can come from anywhere”.
#2. Wear protective gear
Like all impact sports equestrians have a list of ASTM certified gear; helmets, safety vests, boots, etc. that they can choose from for protection. At the very least always wear your helmet when riding (and when around potentially dangerous horses) and wear a boot with a heel which will prevent your ankle from slipping through your stirrup and causing you to be dragged should you fall off. If you are simply riding on the flat in a well sanded arena it may be overkill to wear a safety vest, but if you feel you need one for any reason, why not!
#3. Shop around
When it comes time to purchase or lease a horse spend time shopping . There are many, many horses out there with many different personalities and abilities. Make a shopping list of the perfect horse for you, taking into consideration your riding level NOW (not where you want to be in 5 years) and confidence level. The best practice is to take someone that you trust with experience with horses with you, like your trainer, when hunting for your perfect steed. It is easy to let your love for a certain color, age or type of horse cloud your judgement but your trusted person wont be so easily influenced and can help back you up when it comes to technical details and whether that beautiful Andalusian really is a good fit for you or not. Once you pick out a horse you like and who fits you, ask to bring the horse on a trial for a month.
The horse industry, like any others, has it’s crooks. Sometimes horses are drugged during showings to make them compliant. It’s not unreasonable for an owner to request a good faith deposit but if an owner is not willing to do a trial you should proceed very cautiously.
Have a pre purchase/pre lease exam done on your potential new friend. The most often case of an equine acting up is due to pain of some sort, either ill fitting tack or other underlying health problems that a vet will very likely catch during a pre purchase evaluation. Lameness can cause refusals at a jump, resistance and otherwise dangerous behavior under saddle. Ulcers can invite a horse to nip or kick on the ground.
#4. Don’t “over horse” yourself
Horses are not like dogs and cats; they are expensive livestock that can easily hurt or kill you. Bringing a horse to a trainer when you find there are holes in your communication does not necessarily mean there will suddenly be better communication in the future because someone “fixed” your animal. It is truly possible that a horse just simply doesn’t like you no matter how much time you’ve invested. Perhaps you are a timid rider and the horse is a hot, green youngster who needs miles and wet saddle pads. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can change your animal’s core personality. Don’t ride a horse that you don’t feel you can confidently control. I am not saying if your horse bucks/bites/bolts/kicks etc. don’t get help, I am saying, when all else has been exhausted, its not a bad thing to admit that a horse is not the right fit for you. Someone else might enjoy spirit's stamina and will to gallop all day on trails, while all you want to do is find a pokey horse to enjoy the sites with.
I know first hand how difficult it is to choose to sell your beloved horse. I’ve gone through quite a few, not proudly, who didn’t agree with me. I had one particular grey gelding named Beau who I adored everything about…. except that when it came time for me to climb into the saddle he and I wanted very different things! You see, Beau was very slow. He was a trail horse through and through, enjoyed the sights but wasn’t one to expect to go very far. My riding style however is quick. I spend ten years riding a gelding who could outpace any horse at a walk, I didn’t enjoy being at the back of the pack! Beau and I didn’t click and he ended up leased out to different people several times over the 6 years I owned him until it dawned on me: I was being selfish wanting to retain ‘ownership rights’ to Beau. He deserved his own human to love him for him.
#5. Don’t take unnecessary risks
Wear your protective gear. If you don’t feel confident jumping, or that you can stay on if your horse veers at the last minute, don’t do it! Find someone who can teach you how to do it properly and build up your technique. If your friends want to go for a gallop, bareback, on the trail and you are just not comfortable at that pace regardless of tack, don't do it. If your horse is having a bad day because its blustery and he hates wind and you bring him out of the pasture to work, focus on groundwork, longeing, teaching tricks etc. Don't take him for a trail ride if you aren’t confident enough to deal with bucking, rearing, bolting and other possible outcomes to your windy day ride. More than any other sport it is imperative to trust your gut with horses. If something doesn’t feel right or you don’t feel ready then take a minute to really appreciate the fact that you might simply be picking up on your horses attitude.
It is worth it to note however that if you are a naturally timid rider you may not grow, in ability or confidence, by being ultra careful. When working with a trusted trainer it can sometimes be to your best interest to take a “calculated” risk and trust that your trainer knows what you can or cannot handle. This is why the first thing on my list is SO IMPORTANT.
Even if you follow all of these guidelines, horseback riding is a dangerous activity. Your horse can be the very best animal on the planet and still spook at a leaf and leave you in the dust of the trail with a broken arm. However, if you take these precautions you can mitigate a lot of unnecessary dangers while riding and enjoy your time while you’re at it! Horseback riding is such a wonderful sport and worth a try despite its dangers.
