Practicalities and Safety

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Riding Holidays Practicalities and Safety 

The issue of safety is particularly relevant if riding outside the British Isles as attitudes to safety can be considerably laxer.

• Riding can be a dangerous sport and a hat offers vital protection. It is not standard practice to wear one outside Great Britain so it is important that everyone takes their own. (The best guarantee is conformity to standard PAS015 with a kite mark, slightly lesser EU1384, or the American ASTNS.)
  
  The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Stockeld Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 4AW (01937) 587 062 http://www.beta-uk.org works to improve safety awareness among suppliers and riders and lists member retail suppliers who should be able to fit a hat properly. If embarrassed to wear a standard riding hat, for example on a ranch, you can get covers from stetsons to fur with flaps to help feel less self-conscious.
  
  Also advised by some riding centres/operators is a back protector, though these protect the thorax and spine, sometimes down to the tail bone at the expense of some limit to movement, so may not suit some riders.



• A good centre should carry out an assessment on arrival but it is better to arrange to start on a steadier animal and then swap for something livelier than start out on a more difficult horse and have an accident.



• If possible go to your chosen yard in advance, watch a few lessons, and talk to the teacher to see if they have an approach which suits. Failing that, talk to people who have been there. The yard may be able to refer you to previous clients. If neither of these is possible, talk it through carefully before booking.



• If for any reason anyone is unhappy on a horse, say so before anything happens you regret - and do listen to the instructor who can help make it easier to handle a more demanding animal.



• Check tack before setting off, especially girth and bridle. If they are worn or cracked ask to have them changed.



• Comfortable clothes are vital. The basic rule of thumb is, avoid jeans. The heavy seams will rub. If seriously worried you could wear Lycra cycling shorts under your trousers but in summer these are liable to get rather sweaty. Possibly a better bet is a pair of leggings or of course riding trousers. Also useful, particularly in the UK, is a waterproof of some kind. Australian Driazabones are riding macs but you can get others.



• Also useful is a good pair of (broken in) boots with a heel. This helps prevent a foot slipping through a stirrup, resulting in the rider being dragged by the horse in the case of a fall. For more serious protection there is something called a flex ride stirrup with a toe cage.



• Learning to ride is best done in cooler weather - even the English winter. This is because the physical plus mental exertion is more physically demanding than it appears. However, if there is a possibility of bad weather it is best to go for somewhere with an indoor school for use when necessary.



• Though children are generally flexible enough to handle it, even they may ache if not both experienced and practised. Get fit beforehand. Better Riding through Exercise, Linda Pearce, Kenilworth Press is a book which can help with this.



• Do remember to take out appropriate insurance. Not all travel policies cover horse riding.