Horse Riding Safety Paramount For All Riders

The unfortunate accident that befell former Olympian and three day eventer Darren Chiacchia serves as a reminder that riding horses is a dangerous activity, no matter how experienced or talented you are–or how reliable your horse is.

This weekend, Darren was competing at the Red Hills Horse Trials three day event in northern Florida, when his young horse misstepped early in the preliminary cross country course, somersaulting himself and his rider. Darren suffered a severe head injury, fractured ribs, lung contusions, and a partially collapsed lunch. As of yesterday afternoon, he was in an intensive care unit and had yet to regain consciousness. An update from him family on his Event Rider website says that Darren is showing signs of improvement and the family is hopeful for his recovery.

Darren is an incredibly talented rider who has represented the U.S. at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, the 2002 World Equestrian Games, and the Pan American Games in which he won individual gold in 2003 riding Windfall. He also has top placings at the famous Rolex Kentucky three day event. He had no reason to doubt his young mount who had strong performances at home and in earlier competitions. He was wearing a helmet, protective vest, and other necessary safety gear.

And yet, he was still seriously injured.

This incident should remind us that we are dealing with large animals that have the potential to be dangerous. Accidents happen. It doesn’t matter if your horse is calm, careful, well-behaved, and experienced in its sport.  They can still stumble. Even the most down-to-earth horse can spook from time to time with the right stimulus. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been riding every day for your entire life and can stick with anything. Your horse can still trip and fall over. It doesn’t matter if you ride western pleasure. Your horse can still spook or trip or get in the way of another horse doing those things. You never know what can happen.

We can’t let accidents like Darren’s scare us away from riding altogether. But we should let them remind us that accidents happen. If you ride frequently, you are going to fall off occasionally. It happens to the best of us.

So be prepared.

1. ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding.
I don’t care that you ride western or that you think you are a great rider. You are not immune to accidents. And that hard head won’t protect you. Darren has a severe head injury and he did wear a helmet. Just think what would have happened if he wasn’t. So you just trail ride or don’t do jumping or any other “dangerous” activities? You’re still not immune. I know a woman who was trail riding (without a helmet), when her horse spooked into an oncoming truck. She was seriously injured. I don’t care that you think helmets are ugly. They may save your life. I don’t care that you think they’re uncomfortable. They come in a gazillion styles and sizes and features. I’m sure you can find something that will work. I do care that you stay smart and safe and live to ride horses to a ripe old age.

Also, wear boots with a heel, long pants, and clothing that is comfortable but won’t get in your way.

2. Be realistic.
Be realistic about your own abilities and your horse’s abilities. Take things slow. Know what you can and can’t handle, and don’t try things that might be above your ability level. Don’t push your horse to do things that are above his ability level. I recently read about a 15-year-old girl who was killed jumping her horse over a 4-5 foot fence. Not a jump with poles that give, but a solid fence. This talented young rider thought she and her talented horse were invincible, and went just a little too far.

Ride horses that match your ability. Don’t try to ride a green or more difficult horse just to show how good you are. It’s bad for both of you. Don’t try to jump your horse in footing that is too hard or too wet.

3. Know your surroundings.
Be familiar with the area and footing in which you are riding. Know where there may be holes or uneven, slippery, or hard spots. Know who or what may unexpectedly come up to your arena or field and where they may appear. Know who else is in the area. Know that the next door neighbor always mows his lawn at 2:00 on Tuesday afternoons.. Know where it’s shady or windy. Always be completely aware of what’s around you and what is likely to cause problems for your horse.

4. Never ride alone.
There should always be someone nearby who can come to your rescue if an accident should happen.

5. Be smart.
If it seems like it could be a bad idea, it probably is. Use common sense when working around horses–for your safety and theirs.

6. Use the proper equipment.
Use tack and accessories that fit your horse properly and are well taken care of. Clean your tack so that it stays in good condition and doesn’t get dry and crack. Don’t ever forget to tighten your girth. Use a halter and lead rope every time you lead a horse. Ill-fitting or ill-used equipment can hurt a horse and cause him to act up, resulting in accidents.

7. Get training.
Buying a horse and keeping him in your backyard may seem like fun, but isn’t good for you or the horse. Even if you’ve been around horses your entire life, you don’t know everything. Spending time with a trainer both in the barn and in the saddle can nip issues in the bud before you can get hurt. It will make you a better rider, a better caretaker, and a safer horseman. It’s always always helpful to have an outsider who can identify issues or bad habits that could cause unsafe conditions for you and your horse (besides helping you to become a more effective rider!).

8. Listen to your horse.
She’ll let you know if you are doing something that makes her uncomfortable, or if something else is bothering her. Instead of just automatically correcting her, take some time to figure out where the problem is stemming from and address it at the root.

Riding horses is so much fun. When done safely and correctly, it’s an incredibly  rewarding experience for horse and rider. Your life is invaluable. So be aware that there are always risks to working with horses, and do everything you can to protect yourself and your horse while enjoying the experience.