Don't Underestimate the Importance of Safety While Horse Riding

When it is a sunny day in the countryside, there is nothing better than saddling up a horse and heading out to enjoy some exercise. Horse riding is a sport enjoyed by thousands of people across the United Kingdom on a regular basis, and it is not hard to understand why. Owning any sort of animal is a big responsibility, but the benefits that come with being a horse owner make the costs and time commitment needed pale into insignificance.

As much fun as horse riding can be however, it is always important to remember that safety has to be your number one priority when you climb onto a horse. It's all too easy to lose concentration when you're having a good time, so you always need to be prepared just in case the worst happens and you come off your horse. This is where having the correct safety equipment comes in.

Even an experienced rider can get caught out, through no fault of their own. A dog can appear and start barking which might scare your horse, or an inconsiderate car driver may come speeding past while you're ridding on the road. If something scares your animal, then you need to be ready to react, and have suitable protection, just in case you are unseated.

If you do fall off an animal, then something as simple as a safety helmet can safe your life. And that is not an exaggeration. People who have been riding for years may go out without a helmet, but this is setting a bad example to new and young riders, and is simply dangerous. It takes a matter of moments to pull on a helmet, but the importance of it cannot be stressed enough.

It is also important to remember that a horse riding helmet is specially designed to protect a rider's head and so any old helmet will not be good enough. When you are buying safety equipment, make sure that you only purchase it from a reputable online dealer. The easiest way to do this is by going onto the internet and looking for a company that has years of experience in helping horse riders find the right equestrian products. When it comes to your safety, it makes absolutely no sense to take shortcuts. Make sure you enjoy horse riding in safety.

View the original article here

Rules of the Trail

(Nine common sense rules to insure a pleasant ride)

When I take a group out on a trail ride, upon our return people at the barn kindly inquire as to the success of the ride? My answer to them is always; "it was uneventful therefore it was quite pleasant."

I don't know about you but my definition of an enjoyable trail ride is one that is relaxing, void of drama and bringing everyone back in good shape without any close calls or near misses. Am I asking for too much? No doubt things out on the trail will happen but you will be far more prepared for what might come and will be able to avoid careless mistakes if you adhere to the 9 rules I've listed below!

1. Never go out alone! It's just not smart! Out on the trail there are just too many variables. You don't have the control you have over things in the arena. Not too long ago my student and me while out on the trail came across a neighbor whose horse had thrown him. He was laying there unable to move because later we found he had broken his back. I can't help but wonder how long he would have laid there if we hadn't found him?

2. Always wear a helmet! I can't believe how often people think just because they're out on a casual trail ride that they don't need a helmet. I had a dear friend go out with her adult daughter on well trained, well seasoned trail horses. They were both proficient riders and thought it unnecessary to wear a helmet. The daughter's horse slipped which sent them both crashing to the ground crushing her head onto some concrete and putting her into a coma for quite some time. She survived after months of agonizing therapy but her experience could have been very different had she worn a helmet.

3. Take a cell phone. In this day and age this advice is a "no brainer" and if you feel you don't have a need bring it along in case someone else does. You could end up being their hero and that's always a nice thing to be.

4. Find your order and keep it. Horses have a pecking order and if you can ride with horses you know well enough it doesn't take long before you know who's happiest leading and who'd rather follow. Don't rock the boat! You can work long and hard trying to change that but why not accept things the way they are? What do you have to prove, after all... this trail ride stuff is supposed to be for enjoyment. Don't turn it into a stressful battle that can seldom be won in one session if ever.

5. Never let your horse run back to the barn or up hills for that matter. Horses are creatures of habit and it's far too easy for them to be programmed to take off especially toward something they want. Think ahead before giving in to this common mistake because someday you won't want to run at top speed as soon as you turn a certain corner and then you'll have NO control. If you must gallop save it all for heading in a direction away from the barn. You'll thank me for this advice someday.

6. Communicate. Always inform others of your intentions. There's nothing worse than someone creating a scene by without warning tearing off into a blistering gallop sending everyone left behind in a thither. You can get someone severely injured by being so thoughtless and it's never fun or funny to see others loose control of their horse.

7. Know your horse. Is your horse spooky? Is he prone to bolt? Does he cross water? Does he insist on leading? Does he get anxious and jig? If you know your horse you are better able to be proactive regarding these and other trail issues. Some things you just can't avoid but if you're prepared you can better deal with challenging situations.

8. Try not to hold too much. Remember horses get anxious if they're held too tightly by the reins. For a horse to relax he needs to put his head down and stretch out his stride. This is hard for him to do if you hold on too tight both with the reins and with your legs. It can sometimes be a catch 22 but there are ways to override his reactive instincts.

9. Watch your space. Be cautious getting too close to the horses around you. All it takes is one mare in season to give your gelding a good swift kick because he got too close, setting off a predictable chain reaction with all the others in the group. Before you know it there'll be hooves and dust flying with strong possibilities of both horses and riders getting hurt all because someone wasn't paying attention and respecting the horse's space.

So these are just a few rules, not all of them but enough to give you the idea that you should be mindful of the things you do with horses if not for your safety and well being at least for that of your horse. Horses get very upset when their rider falls or is upset in any way. If you care anything about your horse and his sensitivity to you then you will consider some of the things listed above.

Happy trail riding and stay safe!

Millie Chalk (White Star Woman)

Professional horse trainer for 25yrs. and author of historical fiction. Part Cherokee Indian I'm passionate regarding the current struggle of all the first nations feeling most akin for several reasons to the Lakota.

If you'd like to learn more about horses check out my new website; http://backyardhorseman.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Millie_Chalk

View the original article here

Ways to Choose the Right Horse Saddle

Horse riding is one of the most popular recreational activities in the English countries. Earlier riding a horse or rather owning it was a sign of class and richness. Usually the upperclassmen used to ride their horses which were well groomed with all the necessary accessories. Horse saddle is one of the most important accessories especially for the rider as it gives him the required balance and support while riding the horse. It will be very difficult to ride without a horse saddle due to the comfort it provides. There are different types of saddles available in the market. You can choose the one according to your requirements and needs. If you have less knowledge about the subject then go online and check out the necessary websites which will give you the required information about horse accessories. You can also find some online stores which sell them at discounted prices.

Horse saddles are generally not cheap as you want the right kind of comfort for your horse and yourself. Thus, it is advised that you buy the right kind of horse saddle so that you do not face any problems later. Saddles are generally differentiated according to the riding styles and techniques. Different people have different riding styles. Two of the most popular ones are the English riding technique and the western riding technique. In the English riding technique the rider holds the reign in both the hands directing the horse with the reign in one hand which tells whether it has to stop, turn or go. This is the easiest riding style where the rider applies pressure on the mouth of the horse and is practiced by many people. Another style is the western style where the rider puts force on the side of the horse depending on which direction he wants to go.

It is very necessary that you buy the saddle according to your riding style as there is a vast difference between the two techniques. A saddle used for English riding cannot be used for western riding due to the different features. Thus, you have to judge your style and the accessory accordingly. There are various games like polo, jumping and racing which are very popular amongst people. The saddles used for these games are totally different and custom made as they can only be used while playing.

The accessory is available in different techniques also like the dressage saddle which allows the person to control the horse with the help of his legs. The hunt seat saddle was mainly used for the purpose of hunting as it allows the rider to jump easily while he is riding which makes the hunting activity easier. Thus, these were the various ways in which you can choose the appropriate horse saddle for yourself.

View the original article here

Seven Important Horse Safety Tips

(Little things you won't want to ignore)

1. Always leave your horse's halter on the stall! Living here in So. Cal. It is imperative that the halter and lead be left on each horse's stall because of the ever present threat of a fire where it's sometimes necessary for total strangers, (firefighters and volunteers) to evacuate your horse where minutes or perhaps even seconds count.

2. Never leave your lunge line out in the arena or anywhere the horse can reach. If you turn your horses out in your arena never leave the lunge line where the horse can get to it. I made the mistake of doing so more than twenty years ago when I came down to the arena to put a sweet Quarter horse away after a turnout only to find him literally hog tied with all four legs wrapped up together in a bunch. It was absolutely comical except for the disaster potential it possessed. Luckily he was a very calm horse that didn't panic as I methodically proceeded to unwind the line. Any other horse that didn't possess his calm attitude could have been tragic.

3. Be careful leaving a treat bucket in your horse's stall. We often leave a bucket of carrots or other supplements in the stall with the horse as we run off after a ride to our busy lives but it's really quite dangerous as the horse can easily get its hoof stuck between the metal handle and the plastic. Play it safe if you must leave something in there and opt for a rubber flat feeding bowl.

4. Be careful feeding your horse its treat by hand. Before you know it you can train your horse to not only be a biter but he can become a complete nuisance constantly probing you and other things searching for a treat. Such behavior can wreck havoc upon your grooming routine and cause a simple tack up to take forever.

5. NEVER tie to a stall door or anything that could pull out or break! I actually saw this happen once at a barn we stabled out. A horse after being tied to the sliding box stall door set back and in an instant pulled the door right off of its track and went flying all over the ranch with a steel door dangling from his head taking out everything in their path as well as banging up the poor horse's legs.

6. NEVER teach your horse he can open his own gate. We think it's really cute behavior to have the horse push a gate open for us while we're on them. I used to think it was adorable too until my very determined Appy mare went to push the gate open to leave the arena and finding it latched pushed so hard that before I could pull her up she flattened the whole side of the arena pushing every bit of it down flat to the ground. Boy did I feel stupid as she casually strolled across the mess to return to the barn.

7. Never leave the lead from the halter dangling in your horse's stall. Had this happen also where one of my students didn't properly tie the lead to the halter on the stall in a way to keep it out of the pony's reach. The result was a horrible rope burn across the back of the pony's fetlock because he had pulled it in and got it caught around his ankle causing a nasty infection and a hefty vet call and antibiotics.

Of course this is not a complete list of all the little things we do that can get us into trouble but it's a start with the point being that we just need to be more mindful of all the dangers out there no matter how trivial they may appear. Remember one hard and fast rule; if there's any possible way a horse can get hurt you can be sure he'll find it! Don't give him the chance!

Millie Chalk (White Star Woman)

Professional horse trainer for 25yrs. and author of historical fiction. Part Cherokee Indian I'm passionate regarding the current struggle of all the first nations feeling most akin for several reasons to the Lakota.

If you'd like to know more about anything regarding horses please check out my new website; http://backyardhorseman.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Millie_Chalk

View the original article here