Horse safety is factor in riding. Common problems to watch for that will help you determine unsafe horsemanship between you child, instructor and horse.
You love your child; you would do anything for your child, as long as he/she is safe and healthy. Many parents who encourage their child's dream of riding, might not know very much about horses. Common sense reminds us that horses are very large, and could potentially hurt a child, you, or any person. But, when your are watching your children work around horses, you might not know what is unsafe. Firstly, you should not be watching your child alone. A riding instructor or assistant should be there, teaching and reminding their student how to groom and tack up.
If the instructor is not around, please show some concern about this. This is a potentially dangerous situation; what happens is the horse pulls back on it's tie, flips itself on the ground, and is laying there? What if your child got hit in the process? You do not know what this horse's bad habits are. Some do not like to be tied for long periods of time. Someone who knows the horse should be around to monitor the horse's behavior and prevent any drastic situations.
You are watching your child, and no one is near by, or people are but are not minding your child's safety. What should you look for? First, when your child went to the barn, is she/he wearing a helmet? Is the chinstrap cinched so that you can only fit one finger in? Helmets prevent injuries! Horses do not know the strength of their own bodies. Many times, a horse will nudge you or bump against your head; these behaviors should be corrected, but also can bruise your head or push you against something sharp. A bruise to us might be a small fracture to a child. Have your child wear a helmet from the moment he/she steps in the barn!
When your child works around the horse, make sure he/she is approaching the horse to the shoulder and working around the body with one had contacting the animal. This allows the horse to see him/her, and lets it know where she is going. Also, having a hand on the body acts as a sensor for any sudden movements. The person can push away and not get caught with a horse on top of them. Make sure that you child has been taught this by the instructor. If she has not, consider reminding the instructor or finding a new one. These are essential elements for a riding student to learn about. Working a round a horse is a safety issue, and needs to be addressed as such.
When your child is picking the horses feet out, watch that she does not place her feet directly underneath where the hoof should go. This seems to be a common occurrence among many beginners. It is much better to stand to the side of the hoof path; even standing back slightly helps keep her feet from being stepped on. Also, notice that your child is giving the horse fair warning when going behind it. She should place her hand on its hindquarters and follow her hand around its backside. The closer your child is to the hind, the less momentum has been built up for a kick. If she gets struck about 2 to 3 feet away, the chances of getting seriously injured are far greater. This is because the horse has more momentum in its kick.
When your child leads a horse, watch that she leads the horse on her right side. Her hand should be 6 inches away from the jaw, relaxed and encouraging. The other hand should be holding the slack in an organized accordion fashion. She should not be holding big loops; if the horse decides to pull, her four fingers in the middle could get cinched in the middle of the loops. She needs to stay at the side of the horse, within one to two feet away, minding his feet at all times. If the horse is behind her, she can not see what it is doing. It could rear, landing or striking its hooves on her shoulders or head. She needs to see this animal at all times.
I suggest if your child is really ambitious about horses that you consider reading up on horsemanship. One of the best resources is the American Pony Club system, which would be a great angle for your child to take part in. It is a highly structured system, which brings children up to, levels that they are ready for. It encompasses riding, horsemanship, and safety. My other suggestion for literature is anything from the British Horse Society. This is the organization that Pony Club derived from. Even if your child is taking western pleasure lessons, horsemanship is a common thread between all horse sports.
Make sure your child is learning safely.
