Handling Horses

The horse has evolved to its present day form over period of over 50 million years. The early Eohippus (dawn horse) was a multi toed animal only 12 to 14 inches high which lived in swamps. As he began to adapt to prairies and forests, he became larger and the single toe developed. This gave him more speed. It is important to note that the horse can directly attribute its survival, over such a long period of time, to its ability to run from danger. It is a marked characteristic of the horse to run suddenly when frightened. Many of the safety rules are based on this.

An understanding of equine nature is a basic prerequisite for every owner and rider. Only if you constantly try to understand the nature of horses, will you be able to act appropriately when you are around them.

The responsibility of caring for horse and companionship that develops while riding a horse for recreation or work, are promoted as positive growth experiences for youth. The size, speed and unpredictable nature of horses require safety precautions to be practiced.

Horses monitor their surroundings and detect danger through their sense of vision, smell, hearing and touch.

Safety precautions for your safety:

1. If you approach a horse, always warn the horse of your presence with a soft voice. Especially when approaching from behind. Do not make any sudden moves or noise which the horse does not expect.

2. Work close to your horse. It's impossible to receive the full force of a kick. Close to the body is the safest area to be standing when working around the animal. Avoid working directly in front or behind the horse if possible.

3. Never wrap a lead rope around your hand.

4. Always be extra careful and respect stallions.

5. Be extra alert and cautious with your horse on windy days or when using him after one or two days of rest in the stable.

6. Avoid feeding horses from your hand. This encourages head butting and biting. Give treats in a bucket or his feed bin.

Safety precautions for your horse's safety:

1. Provide safe stabling facilities. To keep horses outside in a paddock, there should be at least a three walled shelter area 3.5m to 4.0 m square, double the size for 2 horses and even bigger for more horses. Avoid sharp corners, protruding nails or bolts or low overhang. Have fool proof gate locks, preferably chained to keep horses inside the paddock. It is very safe if you have a stable building with indoor boxes for each horse. But they have to be taken out every day for time in the paddock or exercise.

2.Keep gain securely locked away from horses. Given the opportunity, horses will easily overeat on grain. That can cause acute indigestion, colic or death. Also foundering (laminitis) causing a serious lameness can create a big problem.

3. Provide safe fencing. Barbed wire fences turn out to be the most expensive type of fence when they cause serious injury to an animal and you have to pay for the veterinarian! A good wooden fence is the most practical but requires frequent maintenance.

4.Always tie horses to very secure object. Weak posts, a gate or door are not safe. If frightened, they could pull up the post or unhinge the gate or door and get injured.

Have a special place for washing or saddling up your horse with a secure ring to tie it up. Approximately shoulder high. Do not leave the rope too long because the horse can easily get a foot tangled in it and get a rope burn.

5.Never tie your horse "cowboy - style" by the reins. It can cause horrible injuries to the mouth. Always carry a halter and lead rope with you to tie your animal.

6.Never tie a horse with a slip knot around his neck.