Horse Safety on the Ground

Reviewing the Basics of Leading, Tying, and Handling the Horse

Nov 19, 2008

Some very basic, but often forgotten rules of horsemanship will prevent injury to both you and your horse.

The old saying "horse sense" used to be interchangeable with the phrase "common sense." However, in this day and age, horse sense is not so common any more. Horses are large creatures with a strong flight or fight instinct. Even the oldest, quietest horses have their moments of spookiness or bad behavior. It is vital when working around horses to have a good grasp of basic horse safety. Following are some of the basics of horse ground safety.

Leading

When leading the horse, stand at its left side. Hold your right hand on the lead at least six inches below the horses chin. Hold the remainder of the lead neatly in your left hand. The rope should never be wrapped around the hand. This would be dangerous if the horse were to become frightened and take off. Watch out for the horse's feet, as the horse will not pay attention to them. The horse should always turn away from the person leading him in order to avoid stepping on feet. If the foot should get stepped on, the horse will move if pushed on the shoulder or hip.

Tying

Before tying or cross tying, be sure that the horse is trained to tie. The first instinct of an untrained horse is to try to escape danger, and it will pull back and try to free itself. The horse should always be tied with a quick release knot, which can easily be untied in an emergency. A horse should only be tied to a solid, immovable object. The quick release knot should be at or above the horse's nose level. The rope should be tied at about two feet of length. Too short and the horse could panic. Too long and the horse could get its legs caught in the ropes, and cause injury. Never leave a horse unattended while tied or cross tied.

Handling the Horse

Close attention must be paid to the horse's ears when moving around the horse. Ears pinned against the head are a sign of aggressiveness or discomfort. Swishing the tail, turning the head quickly toward the handler and baring teeth are also signs that the horse would rather be left alone. Proceed with caution if the horse shows these signs. The horse may have a sensitive spot that should be handled carefully. When working around the horse's legs, one should never sit on the ground, kneel, or be in a position where he could not move quickly in an emergency. The handler's head should never be lower than the horse's knees and hocks to avoid being kicked. When walking around the back of a horse, stand very close and keep one hand on the horse at all times.

Seek Professional Help

When first learning about horses, it is important to consult a professional. Taking some lessons to learn more about basic horse safety will increase confidence and prevent injury to both the human and the horse.

When riding, remember to make use of safety equipment, such as helmets, vests, and safety stirrups.

The copyright of the article Horse Safety on the Ground in Horse Training is owned by Kristin Davis. Permission to republish Horse Safety on the Ground in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.