Elizabeth Moyer - Horse Safety

Lesley Ward, Consulting Editor

The horses in this book are referred to as she and he in alternating chapters unless their sexes are apparent from the activities discussed.

Copyright 2008, 2009 by I-5 Press

Illustrations 2008 by Jean Abernethy

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Moyer, Elizabeth.

Horse safety / by Elizabeth Moyer ; illustrations by Jean Abernethy.

p. cm. (Horse illustrated simple solutions)

ISBN 978-1-933958-24-8

eISBN: 9781620080856

1. HorsemanshipSafety measures. 2. HorsesHandlingSafety measures. I. Abernethy, Jean. II. Title.

SF309.M69 2008

798.2dc22

2007044677

I-5 Press

A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs

Irvine, California 92618

Printed and bound in Singapore

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

CONTENTS

Safe Horsemanship

A s far as some people are concerned, one end of the horse kicks and the other end bites. But knowledgeable equestrians understand horse sensehow horses think and reactand they know how to work safely around both ends of a horse.

If you enjoy equestrian activities, it is important to learn and follow safe horse handling and management procedures. Even experienced horse people need to remember to be vigilant about maintaining safe habits. Few things are more heartbreaking than an accident that could have been avoided.

Because of their size and strength, all horses are capable of causing injury. Even the gentlest horse might accidentally stomp on your foot. There is inherent risk in all equine activities, but practicing safe horsemanship minimizes the risk of harm.

Despite their size and strength, horses startle easily and can be quite fragile and prone to injury. If there is a needle in that proverbial haystack, odds are a horse will find it and step on it, resulting in a puncture wound. Maintaining safe conditions provides an environment that minimizes the possibility of injury.

Equine Instincts

Like many prey animals, horses have a strong flight instinct; when they perceive danger, their first instinct is to run away from it. If running is not an option or the horse is startled, then she might resort to other defenses, such as kicking out.

Because horses prefer to outrun a threat, they need to be able to detect danger as early as possible. Thats why they maintain constant awareness of their surroundings, and they notice and react to changes. Loud noises, mysterious rustling sounds, sudden motion, and anything that looks different or unusual will get a horses attention and, quite likely, cause her to spook.

A horse can be desensitized to different objects, sounds, and situations if you gradually introduce the horse to these items until she no longer perceives them as scary or threatening. As horses gain experience and begin to trust their handlers to keep them safe, they can become less reactive to scary stimuli. Individual temperament also plays a role: some horses are naturally more timid or confident than others. However, there can be no guarantee that the most steady, or bombproof, horse wont be startled at some point. Never forget that a horse is a horse. No matter how puppy-dog-like a horse acts, it is not safe to treat a horse like a large dogor a human, for that matter.

To move safely around horses without startling them, it is important to be aware of their blind spots. Having large eyes situated on the sides of their heads enables horses to see all around themnearly 360 degrees. Although their eyesight is adapted to see danger on the horizon, horses have blind spots right in front of their noses and directly behind them.

Horses also have keen hearing. The position of a horses ears tells you a lot about where her attention is directed and also expresses her emotional state.

Reading Your Horses Mood

Here is a quick guide to detecting some basic equine emotions and states of mind:

Alert: ears pricked forward, head up, eyes wide, nostrils flared, tail raised, muscles tense

Attentive: ears flicking back and forth, or one ear forward and one ear back

Aggressive

Angry: ears pinned back flat against the head; snaky neck and head movement; bared teeth and open mouth; tight, pinched look around the mouth and nostrils; tail swishing; leg lifted, threatening to kick

Frightened: head up, whites of eyes visible, tail wringing or tensely clamped

Relaxed: head and neck lowered, ears to the side, eyes calm, mouth relaxed; may lick or chew; lower lip may droop

The more time you spend around horses, the more adept you will become at reading them.

Relaxed

Fearful

Safe Horse Handling

F ollow safe handling procedures when leading, grooming, and being around horses in general. From what you wear to how you approach your horse, safety on the ground is very important, yet some horse people get careless about it.

Being Properly Attired

Wear sturdy boots when working around horses. Sandals or flipflops are not appropriate barn footwear. And although sneakers are comfy, they wont give you much protection either.

Avoid dangling earrings and other jewelry that might catch on something. The same goes for loose, draping clothes.

Dont forget about sun protection. If you dont want your hide to look like old leather, slather on the SPF.

Its a good idea, too, to have work gloves handy to avoid splinters, blisters, and rope burn.

Approaching a Horse

When approaching a horse, avoid coming upon him abruptly in any of his blind spots. Approach from the side or at an angle so he can see you coming.

Talk to the horse first so he knows you are there. If the horse is in the back of his stall or pen, wait for him to turn around and acknowledge you, then approach him. Take note of his demeanor; if he seems irritable or fearful, approach with caution.

If all is well, continue talking to the horse, and as you go up to him, place your hand on his body so he can keep track of your whereabouts. Loud or shrill tones tend to make horses jumpy, so talk to your horse in a calm, friendly, and level tone to inspire confidence. Make your movements smooth and deliberate because horses are good at sensing uncertainty or fear in your demeanor. Even if you arent confident, you need to act like it to reassure your horse.

Leading the Way

Secure your horse with a halter so he can be led or tied. To catch and halter the horse, put your lead rope over his neck so you can grasp it in a loop to hold him if he moves away. Once the halter is buckled on, remove the lead rope from his neck. Most horses are accustomed to being handled primarily from the left side, a custom that dates back to cavalry tradition.