Working Safely With Horses

Whether you are learning to handle your first horse, or just enjoy leaning over the fence watching, learning a few safety precautions will prevent accidents and injuries. The calmest horse or smallest pony has the potential to hurt someone if it is startled or scared. These recommendations may help you avoid kicks, trampled toes, bites, drags, or run-aways. If you are just starting out, you may feel a bit overwhelmed at all you need to remember. But quickly safety rules become habits,just like looking both ways before crossing the street.

As prey animals a horse's ability to react quickly and out-run a predator was key to their survival in the wild. This instinct remains strong in domestic horses.

On the ground:

• Be calm and quiet. Sudden moves can cause a horse to shy (jump sideways) or kick out.

• The safest way to lead a horse is with a halter and lead rope. Don't hook your fingers through the halter straps or rings or the bit. If the horse pulls away your fingers could be caught, injuring them or catching your hand so that you are dragged.

• Never stand directly behind a horse. If you are grooming its tail stand to one side and pull the tail gently over.

• When cleaning a horse's hooves or putting on leg bandages don't squat or kneel. Bend over so that if the horse moves you can get out of the way quickly.

• Never loop lead ropes, longe lines, or reins around your hands or any other body part. If your horse pulls away you could be dragged.

• Feed treats from buckets or tubs. Horses can very quickly become greedy and mistake fingers for carrots.

• Wear sturdy shoes or boots that will protect your feet if your horse or pony steps on them. No sandals or thin shoes!

• When tying use a quick release knot or panic snap so that if your horse gets scared and pulls he can quickly be freed. The feeling of being constrained can make a scared horse panic to the point of hurting himself or you.

• The safest place to stand is beside your horse's shoulder where you can see each other or about 10 or more feet away.

• When grooming, saddling up, or cleaning your horse's stall, tie your horse up. A loose horse in a barn can cause havoc. And don't leave a tied horse unattended.

• When going through a doorway make sure the door is wide open so the horse doesn't hit itself on it, startling the horse and resulting in you being trampled or dragged.