BHS Borders

What do we mean when we talk about safety? Well here is a dictionary definition:- ‘The state of being safe from the risk of experiencing or causing injury, danger, or loss’.The word that will probably have the most impact on horse riders is the four letter word ‘risk’. Every time you ride or drive your horse there is an element of risk but you can be responsible for trying to minimise those risks. How do you do that? First of all make sure you are wearing the correct safety equipment. A hat is vital and the only correct hat is ‘one that fits your head’ and up to current standards. A body protector is designed to offer protection to a rider when falling off, being kicked or trodden on by a horse. No body protector can prevent serious injury in every situation, but they can increase the chances of staying alive and reduce the severity of injuries. You can follow this link from BHS Scotland to find out more about current standards for hats and body protectors. 

 

 

 

 

Footwear should be appropriate too; a smooth through sole and a small heel being preferable so there is nothing to catch on the stirrup in the event of a fall. Trainers and wellingtons are inappropriate. If wearing ‘yard’ boots please check you have the correct size stirrups as you may need a larger size for this type of footwear.

 

Hi–viz (fluorescent/reflective clothing) should always be worn when out riding, no matter what time of the day or time of the year it is. Wearing hi-viz when riding on the road can give vehicle drivers a valuable THREE seconds extra ‘reaction time’ that could save the life of both you and your horse! Research by the Ministry of Defence has also shown that helicopter pilots can see a rider in hi-viz gear up to half-a-mile sooner and thus avoid flying straight over the top of them. It also means that in the unfortunate event that you are thrown from your horse and left in open countryside you are likely to be spotted much more quickly.

 

It is entirely up to you to choose how much equipment to wear, however, the BHS would recommend a minimum of a hi-viz jacket or tabard for the rider and leg bands on the horse. A hat band or hat cover is also a useful addition. There are many hi-viz accessories available nowadays, an exercise sheet being very useful for a dark coloured horse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With new products coming onto the market all the time this means there is no excuse for riding without any hi-viz – especially if you value the life of yourself and your horse. Prices vary and items can be purchased for a few pounds from builders merchants but please make sure that whatever you buy reaches BSI approved standards. Also think about the colour of your hi-viz , the most common colours being yellow, orange and pink. Depending on the time of the year certain colours may blend in with your background so a combination of colours e.g. yellow and orange may be more suitable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are unfortunate enough to part company with your horse then it is important that both you and your horse have some form of identification on you. One of the most simple and effective ways is to use an Identification Survival Hack Pack which gives Rider and Horse Identity and Emergency Information. You can also put relevant phone numbers onto your mobile phone under ICE (in case of emergency).

 

However cautious you are when riding out accidents happen. Every year a huge number of equestrian incidents go unrecorded. In order to make riding safer for all it is vitally important that everything…even near misses with vehicles…is reported. Without hard evidence and statistics it is impossible to lobby those in power to make the required changes. Incidents should be recorded here 

 

 

Before riding on the road consider how safe you and your horse are. Have you done any training with your horse to get him/her used to various hazards that might be met on the road? To find out more about taking the new 'RideSafe Award' then contact the BHS. 

 

 

 

There are a number of leaflets available from the BHS which will help answer any questions you may have about safety. They are well worth looking at especially this one about transporting your horse 

 

 

 

For other leaflets check out 

 

 

 

(Leaflets, posters and car stickers are a good way to help educate others where the safety of horse and rider are concerned).