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All tack and riding equipment should be
well maintained, correctly fitted and
suitable for
the purpose. Saddlery should be cleaned and
inspected regularly for signs of damage,
particularly to straps, stitching, buckles
and fasteners.
The equipment should be equally safe and
suitable for the rider. In the event of an
accident, stirrup irons of an incorrect
width can allow a rider’s foot to slip
through the iron
becoming trapped. Special safety stirrup
irons are available to reduce this risk.
A rider should be appropriately dressed.
The security of the equipment should be
checked
before mounting and at intervals during a
ride. The girth should be comfortable for
the
horse and fitted securely – an over
tightened girth can be as harmful as a loose
one.
A rider should never ride any horse which
they are unable to control safely. Riding in
an
enclosed and familiar environment is
beneficial for schooling and to enable a new
horse
and rider to become accustomed to one
another.
On The Road
Riding on roads demands both common sense
and road sense. All road users have a
legal duty to care for other road users and
should be conversant with the Highway Code.
Riders should be appropriately attired and,
by law, children under 14 years of age must
wear a hat complying with the Horses
(Protective Headgear for Young Riders)
Regulations 1992.
Riders should be observant and
acknowledge careful drivers. Both hands
should be kept
on the reins, except when signaling changes
of direction. Riders should leave at the
yard
details of their planned route and the time
at which they expect to return.
It is advisable to wear fluorescent and
reflective gear at all times when riding on
roads – this
is essential in poor weather. Riding in poor
visibility (heavy rain, fog or at dawn and
dusk)
should be avoided. On a bright, sunny day a
horse and rider can be equally difficult to
spot,
owing to the contrast of light and shade,
and the glare and reflection from the sun.
Irrespective of conditions, it should never
be taken for granted that the driver of an
approaching vehicle has seen the horse and
rider.
A less experienced horse or rider will
benefit from being accompanied by an
experienced
rider on a sensible horse. A horse known to
be dangerous in traffic should not be ridden
on
the road until appropriately trained in safe
surroundings by an experienced trainer.
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