Horse Safety
Horse Safety
No active sport can be completely safe and riding horses is no exception. Like most sports, the relative danger can vary enormously depending on how it is practiced. Steeple chasing and bronc riding have a very high accident rate. Normally dressage riding in an arena is quite safe. Trail riding in organized groups can also be a comparatively safe sport if care is taken to avoid the main causes of accidents.
Often riders do not realize what the biggest dangers are. No matter how much care is taken there are bound to be falls from time to time, but usually they are not very serious and only a small percentage result in broken bones or permanent injury. Even broken bones usually heal within a few months. Probably the most vulnerable part of the human body is the head and an injury there can cause long-term problems. Certainly wearing a hard hat can greatly reduce this danger and they are not onerous to wear though it does not fit well with the Marlboro image.
Bayard Fox, owner of Equitours Worldwide Riding Holidays, has ridden for 75 years and seen many accidents. He describes the most common causes for mishaps to horse and rider. Some of them may not be what you think. See his article on horse safety for more information on this important topic.
