Safety Information

Personal Safety

Road Safety:

Safety Information/Courses

What to Wear when Riding

Tips For Drivers

Tips For Riders

It is very important that all horse related accidents are reported to the BHS who are collating accident information.  Call 01926 707700 for a form or fill it in online here:  http://www.bhs.org.uk/Accidentreport.htm.

 

DTLR, Tel: 020 7944 4687. For free leaflets call: 08701 226236

Yard Safety

Pyrosafe specialize in fire safety including a fire sprinkler system as a cost effective method of protecting stables etc. but more importantly they are excellent at increasing the chances of horses surviving a fire. They also supply Fire Extinguishers etc., and cover all of mainland UK.

Useful web sites:

Information on low flying by the military.

British Equestrian Tourism Qualifications

The BHS are running  a new equine-specific first aid course which can be used to supplement the First Aid at Work certificate for yard proprietors and other employers.  For details contact The BHS on tel: 08701 202244.

The following is a guide to what to wear when riding horses.

Under the Protective Head Gear for Young Riders Act 1992, children under 14 years of age must wear a properly secured safety helmet when riding on the road. Adults accompanying children can be fined for failing to ensure children wear the proper head gear.

A hat which meets standards BS EN 1384 or PAS 015, correctly fitted and fastened.

Fluorescent and reflective leg bands fitted on the right hand side (traffic side) of the horse. Make sure you keep these bands clean as they can soon get muddy.

Sensible clothing i.e. light coloured jodhpurs or breeches, riding boots, light coloured gloves and a fluorescent or reflective top. Body protectors can also provide a lot of protection.

Reflective, bright clothing can make it much easier for rescue services to find lost/injured riders.

A whip can be useful to keep traffic at a distance, again held in the right hand (traffic side).

Knee boots on the horse prevent serious injury.

Below are a few pointers for passing horse riders on the road safely:

Slow down and pass horses slowly and with a wide berth.

Avoid braking suddenly.  

Be ready to stop at any time.

Keep your distance.

Don’t make any loud or sudden noises (sounding the horn/revving the engine) as this can scare horses.

Be courteous to riders who pull over to let you pass.

Expect the unexpected.

Respect rider’s signals.

Below are a few pointers for riding safely on the roads:

Make sure you have personal liability insurance.  You could face a large bill if you are involved in an accident and are held liable.

Keep within the law i.e. it is illegal to ride, drive or lead a horse on the pavement or on a cycle track.

Be courteous to other road users.

Use signals to communicate.  

Remain calm, your horse can detect any nervousness from you.

Be visible with reflective or fluorescent clothing.  

Stay on the left hand side of the road and at junctions and roundabouts.

Don’t take risks:

Avoid riding in bad light/extreme weather conditions.

Plan your route.

Carry an SOS emergency card (or engraved dog tag) with your name, address and emergency contact information on it.  Do not carry this card in your hat as the decision to remove a hat should be left to a professional such as a paramedic or a doctor. An Equine Emergency SOS is also available.

Avoid main roads and peak traffic times.

Tell someone where you are going and how long you will be gone. Make sure that you then stick to this route.

Carry an emergency phone number.

Ride out in company, especially if a horse is young or nervous.

Wear a riding hat which shows the latest BSI Kitemark.