I'm so excited to share this post from our co-blogger and riding BFF, Laura! Learn more about Laura on the "About" page!- Michelle When I came back to riding as an adult, I think the two things I remembered about safety around horses was limited to wearing a helmet and always letting a horse know you were about to walk behind them. In the now nearly 13 years I have been riding, helping teach beginners, and volunteering with therapeutic riding programs as an adult, it has become clear it is not all that simple. There are MANY safety rules, and if they are consistently followed, it sets up people on the ground around horses, as well as those in the saddle, for the safest possible outcome. Statistically, most accidents involving horses happen on the ground. What is the first thing you do when you dismount off your horse? I instinctually run my stirrups up. This is because I was taught by someone with the experience and education to instill in me the fear of God should I not. She had seen the scene I am about to describe and wanted to ensure none of the riders she taught ever ended up in this horrific situation. At a show this last weekend, which I attended with my barn to support and cheer them on, I saw an accident take place. I was sitting to the left of my friend at the end of the bench near the ingate to an indoor arena. We were watching a rider from this barn do her round on her lovely horse when we heard noises behind us. We turned around to see a horse who had come out of the arena several minutes earlier spinning around on the concrete near other horses, spectators, tables, heat lamps, and benches. It was a cold day, and while horses waiting to do their rounds typically are outside at this venue, the garage door was closed and horses were waiting with their riders on the concrete area surrounding the benches. Back to the spinning horse. We could see it’s head was wrenched around at an odd angle and it was panicked. People had cleared the area as best they could, but it was close quarters. The horse then hit the ingate to the indoor arena with an echoing crack. At this point, we realized the horse had his stirrup iron stuck in his mouth and was careening towards us. We stood up, realizing we needed to get out of the way in case this horse came on top of the benches, when an opportunity to help arose. My friend caught this horse by his bridle and shouted instructions to someone I couldn’t see on the off side to get the saddle off. I grabbed the iron in his mouth as he started to go to the ground. I pulled as hard as I could, and the iron gave enough to pop up and over his bottom teeth. He was finally free, standing up dazed. We stood their petting him as the rider’s trainer tended to the saddle, the girth dangling, while I put up the stirrup on the near side. At that point, my friend said, “This is why you always run your stirrups up.” The trainer lost it. She yelled that the rider “just got off for a minute and was about to get back on.” To which I replied, “it doesn’t matter.” The point of this (somewhat) dramatic story should be a reminder to us all. It only takes a second or two for an “accident” to happen. Although, given the preventable nature of this, I would be loathe to call this an accident. I routinely see kids, adults, professionals even, walking their horses around with their stirrup irons dangling down from the saddle. Why??? They could get hung up on something you pass, hit your horse’s side (or your head) if they spook, or (and yes I agree it’s probably very rare) as in this case, the horse reaches around to bite at its side and gets the iron caught in its mouth. This horse could have flipped over or gone down, could have injured another horse or person, or any number of horrific endings that didn’t occur. For that I am grateful. I sent this trainer an apology text, because she was so incredibly upset, but I never got a response. I will only apologize for saying what we said at the time. It was not particularly helpful in the moment. But it was still 100% correct. It doesn’t matter how soon you need to get back on your horse, or if you are momentarily adjusting tack, run your stirrups up or cross them over the saddle. Every time. What are some other safety concerns you have seen at shows? How would you address them with the show organizer or individual?
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