Accidents happen. All the time. Especially with horses. We are dealing with prey animals that are over 1000 lbs. Sometimes it's a trip, a horse fly or bee sting, an unknown neurological disorder, a spook, a missed distance or a multitude of things beyond our control. Seeing anyone ride without a helmet is cringeworthy for sure. In recent years wearing helmets has definitely become more the norm. Much like most people wear a seat belt these days without even thinking about it. Safety vests have become much more prevalent also. They are required during the cross country phase in eventing but their popularity in the hunter/jumper discipline has increased tremendously. For good reason!

Earlier this spring a dear friend and client of mine had a terrible fall. It was during the show jump phase at Novice level. It was at a vertical that was not even 3’ high. She was having the best course of her life! All the distances were great and the ride was going very well. She had a wonderful safe honest horse and had been showing at this level for over a year. The horse just never picked up his feet and flipped over the jump. The rider went flying and landing on her face. The horse rolled over his neck and staggered up. When witnessing an accident or fall like this time slows down. We all watched in horror at what could have easily killed this rider. For the 30 seconds it took me to run out to her I truly thought she was dead. I could not see her breathing. I cleared her airway and she breathed. She remained unconscious for around 10 minutes. It took another 10 minutes for her to move her feet and hands. I truly thought she was paralyzed. She was very very lucky to come away with a pretty severe concussion and being very sore but nothing more major. She was wearing an approved helmet of course. She was not, however, wearing a vest. Would a vest have saved her some soreness? I’m sure some. Would it have decreased the force with which she hit the ground? I assume a little bit. Thankfully she now has a vest for show jump too. I can not describe the shock and horror of watching an accident like this.

Just this past week another client was on a trail ride with other boarders here. She trail rides a lot and her horse is very good. Presumably over horse flies, but really unknown, her horse started bucking out of nowhere and this rider fell. She has significant injuries with many broken bones and punctured lung. She is lucky that she will eventually heal from all these injuries. She was absolutely wearing her helmet. Would an air vest have helped save her from at least some of these injuries? Definitely.

Whether you are competing, jumping little jumps, riding at the top levels or taking a leisurely trail ride the unpredictability of a large prey animal can lead to anything happening at any time. Even Liz Haliday who just returned from riding in the Olympics fell and has a traumatic brain injury. Several other top riders have had career ending falls, sometimes at the little jumps. There was a top hunter rider that was walking on a horse that tripped and he fell and broke his pelvis. The point being anything can happen, it doesn’t matter how well you ride, how safe your horse is or what you are doing. Helmets and safety vests are such an easy thing to wear to save your life. This week is safety awareness week and many tack shops have 20% off helmets and vests!

Here are some safety tips to keep riding as safe as possible

Always wear a helmet
Wear an air vest or safety vest
Always have a cell phone on you when trail riding or leaving an arena or if not many people are around.

Don’t look at your phone while riding and not pay attention to your surroundings

Make sure someone knows you are riding and where you are going
Remember 10 minutes on a lunge is better than 10 months in a cast
Be aware of your surroundings. Know when something is coming that may spook your horse. Then gather up your reins so you are ready to help the horse remain calm and confident.
Do ground work and desensitizing work with your horse.
Only attempt things with your horse that match your riding level.
Get help from a professional for you and your horse to improve your riding level.
When riding relaxed on a loose rein still have your reins organized and short enough that you could stop or remain under control if your horse spooks.
Horses that are working and on task are less likely to spook than when walking on a loose rein or trail riding.
Get regular vet checkups to make sure your horse is sound and hooves are always in good condition.
Have correctly fitting tack.