Equestrian Safety
Issues associated with safety and horses offers a wide range of challenges to many current competitors and owners. One of the most frequent areas of safety and insurance liability issues is in the rental of a horse for recreational riding. The key issue associated with these incidents is negligence on the part of the owner, renter, or lessee. Determination of negligence can be critical to influencing the outcome of legal matters.
Inherent Risks -
Working with horses poses a range of inherent risks, especially when one considers the size and weight of a horse. For example, a rider may average 135 pounds in control of a 1,200 pound horse. With the size and power of this horse, the rider/handler has the potential for extreme injury if the rider/handler is not properly trained to manage the horse. It is imperative to follow traditional safety guidelines, including the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Safety checks and maintenance of all horse equipment must be conducted on a regular basis to prevent accidents from occurring. Checking saddles, cinches/girths, stirrup leathers, and bridles for worn and fragile stitching are some examples of the items that must be checked.
In the arena where horses are ridden or driven requires proper footing to prevent and reduce hoof slippage and falls. Arenas with unsafe surfaces must be adjusted to permit horses to have safe footing.
Safety Equipment -
Approved equestrian safety helmets should be worn to prevent injuries to the head in the case of falls or incidents caused by interaction with a horse. In today’s western competitions, the use of approved riding safety helmets is recommended but not required. Yet, there are many different breeds shown in the English discipline, without the use of approved riding safety helmets and vests. Youth should always be encouraged and required to wear approved safety helmets.
Commercial Riding Businesses -
Camp and youth riding programs need to place a strong emphasis on teaching safety, both while horseback riding and while handling the horse on the ground. Safety needs to be the primary lesson when introducing the new rider/driver/handler to the horse. All horses used in rental/camp riding programs need to be test ridden to assess their abilities and rider suitability, with the elimination of all unfit horses.
Those participating in the sport of horseback riding and driving need to understand the limits of liability protection offered under their state’s legal statues, generally referred to as the Equine Liability Act.
