Horse and Rider Safety Is The Ultimate Prize – RES023 - a podcast by Van Hargis

In 43 years of riding I’ve won plenty of awards, trophies, and belt buckles. But my proudest accomplishment is the safety record I maintained in 42 of those years. This episode covers the two injuries I’ve sustained during that period and the lessons they taught me.

When I was nine I was kicked in the face by a horse. As an only child, my closest companions were the dogs and horses I was raised with. Crawling between their legs and climbing up bare horse backs was how I played with them. I learned a hard lesson in startling the horse that kicked me. The time it took to rebuild my cheek and jaw bones let me reflect on my relationship with these animals. It led to an awareness and understanding of my responsibility to keep both myself and the horses I ride safe. Actively evaluating every stride and behavior let me ride safely and confidently for the next 42 years. However, sometimes there is little or nothing that can be done to prevent an accident—which is a lesson I learned recently when a young horse rolled over on me and broke my pelvis. I don’t mean to dredge up any anxiety that might cause you to be afraid to ride these animals. I want to help you cultivate an awareness that will strengthen the bonds between you and the horses you ride.
Key Takeaways
The responsibility for getting hurt lies solely with you. Horses react. They are quick and fast moving. Nine times out of ten a mistake will result in the rider getting hurt, not the horse.
Every stride you take should be an evaluation. Stay mentally engaged and observant of your horse’s behavior. It’s the key that will help you sense dangerous situations as they arise.
You can get hurt no matter how much of an expert you are. Some accidents are clearly preventable, others are not. Consistently practicing safety and maintaining an awareness of the horse, and its strength, is the best path to keeping yourself out of harm’s way.
After recovering from an accident it’s okay to take things slow. You don’t have to jump straight into the saddle. Go spend time with the horse in its pasture. Work your way back to leading the animal to the tack room. Have a grooming session and throw a saddle pad on its back, but don’t be afraid to call it quits for the day at that point. Just keep working towards your goal and take things one step at a time.
Don’t let negative thoughts about what could happen give you anxiety. Horses are living, breathing creatures. Being tense and nervous around them can spread your worry to the animal. Focus on the things you can control. Build your confidence up little by little and reflect on it before pushing yourself and the horse further.
What do you think?
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Learn More About My Co-Host
My co-host, Laura McClellan, is a wife, mom to five, and attorney who also hosts The Productive Woman, a podcast about productivity for busy women. Check it out!
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