Everyone wants to be safe around horses, even the daredevils. No one comes to the barn with the hope of falling off, getting stepped on, or any other injury happening, but still they do.
I like to think of safety as an all-encompassing mindset, a religion of it’s own, if you will. Good horsemanship requires a constant thought towards prevention of accidents, as well as knowledge of what to do when they inevitably occur. We can (and do) teach best practices around horses to avoid the common on known risks: don’t wrap a lead rope around your hand, always turn the horse to face you before unclipping the lead/taking off the halter in a field or stall, close all gates and doors, know where to stand. Each of these can be taught and explained as to the purpose. Those that will truly keep horses and humans safe, however, can look beyond the obvious and see a bit into the future.
Understanding safety around a horse farm comes from knowing that there will always be accidents, no matter how prepared you are. We can do our best to minimize by adhering to some basic tenets. Horses always need an escape route: provide them one. Breakaway ties, physical space, options that don’t include running you over. The most trustworthy horses are the most likely to cause you injury: not because they are naughty, but because they are horses are you are going to forget that and treat them like sweet puppies. Even the old nag horses must be turned loose correctly, and not walk directly behind you, and respect your space. Find the right equipment, make sure it’s set, then leave it alone. Constantly moving and adjusting your tack and equipment is a great way to compromise it and the safety features it has. Pick the right equipment, put it on correctly, then stop worrying about it.
To get really good at staying safe you have to knowing the worst-case scenario. Hopefully they will never happen, but knowing what COULD happen is the best way to prevent those accidents. Knowing the negative outcome gives you a chance to create a positive one by prevention. Talk to barn managers, trainers, horse professionals, people that you can learn from their past mistakes and experience. Looking for the most safe and secure way to operate around the barn becomes second-nature, and before you know it you’ve made it another trip around the sun.
