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Safety Procedures Around Horses-Trail RidingSafety Precautions To Take Before Going Horseback Riding
Whether it is your first time on a horse or you are treating the family to an annual horseback ride, it is important to consider the safety on the ride.
Most barns have their safety rules posted for all riders to read before mounting a horse. If the barn owner or manager do not give written descriptions of what they expect of the riders or clearly states over the phone or email what the riders need to acquire before the ride, look for another place to go riding because this place probably isn’t to concerned with safety. General rules all riders should followWear long pantsShorts should never be worn when riding in a saddle. The saddle will rub your bare legs raw. Jeans or thick tights are great for the purpose. Wear closed toed shoes or boots with a heelSandals, flip-flops, stilettos and loafers are not riding attire. Don’t buy expensive riding boots if riding is something you and your family do once a year. As long as the boots have a good sole and heel on them they will suffice. The heel is important so the foot will not slip through the stirrup and get stuck. HelmetsMost barns have requirements for kids under a certain age to wear helmets and a lot have recently made it a requirement for riders of all ages to wear helmets. Make sure the helmet fits snug, but not too tight, and has a chin strap. Bike helmets are not usually considered riding helmets but a lot of places will allow riders to bring their own helmets. Make sure yours meet the requirements before bringing it. If you are an adult, who prefer or is required to wear a helmet and you don’t have your own, make sure you contact the barn ahead of time, to insure they have your size. When you get to the barnMake sure the horses are clean and healthy looking. Many trail ride outfits have a reputation to care more about quantity of the riders than quality of the horses. The horses needs to be well fed and have access to water between rides and should not have any raw spots from ill-fitting saddles rubbing on their backs. When mountingMake sure the guide checks that the cinch is tight and the stirrups are adjusted to your height. You should be able to bend slightly in the knee while pushing your heels down. For the smaller children, little stirrups can easily be added to the saddle to accommodate little legs and the barn should provide these. Experience levelThe wrangler/guide will ask for your experience level and for your own safety it is important that you are truthful. Going to a dude ranch for one week a year for five years does not make you an experienced rider. To the guide, an experienced rider is someone who rides several times a week and has done this for years. The wrangler wants you to enjoy your ride as that is how they make money. Ask questionsThere are no dumb questions when it comes to riding horses. It is you and your family’s safety that’s in question. Don’t hesitate to ask anything and everything.
The copyright of the article Safety Procedures Around Horses-Trail Riding in Horses is owned by Julie Refnov Mortensen. Permission to republish Safety Procedures Around Horses-Trail Riding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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