new yard rule means we have to wear a hat when catching in!!

[belly]

This is fair enough....but what about my hubby who has never ridden in his life and doesn't actually own a hat!!
More money I guess.....

 

[Llwyncwn]

Rules are getting so tight these days. Perhaps it has something to do with the YO insurance policy, H&S etc. Is it a large or professional yard ?

 

[Jemayni]

I suppose you wouldn't actually have to wear a hat; its probablly just in case you get kicked so they can say; well its in our rules therefore its not our fault you got hurt...

 

[maestro]

There was a case recently where a YO was sued for negligence when a client catching their own horse got damaged badly. Hence we all need to tighten our acts up. (And have eyes in the back of our heads!)

 

[TGM]

Can he not borrow a hat when he has to catch your horse?

 

[Llwyncwn]

This sounds like a full livery yard. DIY yards only need Public Liability, as long as there is a list of rules posted where users can see and read them. Full livery yards must have a policy which includes Care, Custody and Control which is quite costly. This stuff should also be covered in the yard contract re H&S.

 

[happyhack]

y dont u catch horse in then if he doesnt have a hat?

 

[charlie76]

You have to at the yard that I run. The insurance company has reccomened it after the recent liability case.
To be honest I think its a good thing. We insist that under 18s have to wear them but over 18s can sign a disclaimer not to wear one.

 

[Sooty]

Can he borrow yours? Someone on here posted a while back about a livery owner being trampled and suffering brain damage when leading a horse in, it does happen and it is sensible to take precautions.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Be interested to know just how many of us wear hats for handling, lunging etc. Its so easy to become complacent around horses you know well.

 

[JessPickle]

Our yard made the same rule about a month ago! after all that suing in the news. It was a bit strange at first but we got used to it. Could he not borrow a hat, or you could just buy a cheapish plasticy hat there are some cheap ones around

 

[_OC_]

Sorry agree 100%,better to be safe than sorry!

 

[filly190]

I belive it is sensible and could save lifes.

 

[Patchwork]

Seems a bit stupid to me really, except possibly for children - I mean, where do you draw the line? A body protector with shoulder pads and steel-capped boots would also improve safety but at some point you have to draw the line and allow intelligent adults to make their own decisions...

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
Seems a bit stupid to me really, except possibly for children - I mean, where do you draw the line? A body protector with shoulder pads and steel-capped boots would also improve safety but at some point you have to draw the line and allow intelligent adults to make their own decisions...

[/ QUOTE ]

They are letting you make your own decisions....all they're doing by saying you should wear a hard hat is covering themselves against potential claims from people who don't

It's just one more example of the litigation society we live in today i'm afraid

 

[tazet]

hi i both agree and disagree a hat would stop your head caving in if you were stamped on but you could still breack your neck all these rules are becoming a nightmare when i learnt to ride my instructor used to put my leg in the correct position god forbid trying to do that now you get sued for sexual harrasment i must admit i am one of the 'less safe' i never where a hat for anything appart from riding which is a must at all times and if i'm breaking a youngster, well most of the time. at our yard it is hell just to try to get liveries to do there chin straps up when riding or putting a hat on when riding up from the field they just won't listen and it doesn't help that the experienced odd person rides without a hat it annoys me imensly they are the ones who should be setting an examplle.

 

[lillie]

i can understand clients having to wear them but i wouldnt if it was my own, i know that its a risk i take when handling my horse.

i always wear one when riding but if it got to the point where i had to wear a hat and BP then i would probably just retire my 10 year old cob to the a field & not bother.

next we'll all be wearing them when we go to watch Badminton Horse trials or something!

 

[belly]

Thanks for your all your replies...especially the "why dont u catch in if he doesn't have a hat"....because I am at work Duhh!!!
Its actually my daughters pony and livery yard is about 10 miles away so on nights when she doesnt ride my hubby(her stepdad) will call in to feed and check her...hes a star!!
I would lend him a hat but it would roll around in the back of his car when not in use and prob be ruined....men!!!
It is a big yard and I suspect it is probably to do with the insurance...just strikes me that not everybody who looks after the horses should be assumed to be the rider/owner!!

 

[KateStartin]

Had to do this when i was at college, staff, students, DIY, the lot. It is all insurance but i do wonder whether we are producing a generation or people who are going to be scared of horses if in the back of their minds they believe bringing in a horse is dangerous enough to have to wear a hat!! After all i think horse sense and being able to read reactions is what truely keeps you safe..... maybe hats are a good idea after all!!

 

[henryhorn]

I would ask to sign a disclaimer I think, the yard are obviously protecting themselves from litigation and may agree he can forgo the hat if they have a signed note.
That reminds me I must chivvy our lady who rides hatless into giving me her note, we agreed at her age she could choose to do that so long as we are given a note saying that.
Unless the insurance demanded it I would never ask anyone to wear a hat when bringing a horse in of their own, too Big Brotherish for me..

 

[fizz-tally]

i am going to wear a hat from now on when leading/handling jay & fizz.
jay at 17.1hh is a big lad & is being a bolshy git atm,gave me a black eye from swinging his head around today

for me i would rather wear it,i have 2 kids who i dont want to be left without a mother if something happened while handling horses.
i risk enough from riding, dont want to be silly when on the ground.

re hubby wearing a hat,you can get skulls for like £20 or buy a hat bag so your hat is safe in the car

 

[belly]

Yes will do that...even though his skull is hard enough...sniggers!!
No seriously I would never forgive myself if anything happened and all the mares in the field are starting to feel a bit hungry now....they know its us arriving and stampede toward the gate!!

 

[merlinsquest]

[ QUOTE ]
(And have eyes in the back of our heads!)

[/ QUOTE ]

You never know you might end up with them there if you dont wear a hat!!!

BTW I dont wear a hat for anything cept hacking so I would be the first to moan!!!

 

[tiggersdad]

Disclaimers on not worth the paper they are written on because from experience the people making malicious claims are those that do obey the rules any way. A disclaimer would not stop them trying to claim. Common sense tells us horses are unpredictable and dangerous but the courts have found otherwise. Its the money grabbing malicious suers that have put so many riding schools out of business. There is no law which says a livery yard needs any insurance. If they employ someone they need employers liability. Most do not have any insurance.

 

[belly]

Just a quick update.
Have bought the hubby a hat shaped xmas pressie!!!

Insurance company apparently insisted on the new rule due to the incident where a girl was kicked to death when taking a bucket of feed into a field full of horse.

Something tells me a more sensible ruling should have been NOT to take buckets of food into fields with more than one horse in....!!!!
TREAT THE CAUSE ...NOT THE SYMPTOM.

However I will happily wear my hat now.....plus my petzel headlight fits on it better!!!

)

 

[FigJam]

Personally I always wear a hat from the time I get out of my car and change into my riding boots/chaps before getting the horse in from the field, to taking them off before driving home after putting her back in the field.

It's not a big hassle to wear it (and keeps my head nice and cosy at the moment!) and if it were to help prevent or lessen an injury from one occasion out of thousands, it's well worth it.

Being on the ground around horses is just as dangerous as riding. Just think how close you are to their hooves when picking out their feet for example? Very easy to get kicked, even by a horse you know well and trust, they're still unpredictable animals.

Having said all that, I am the only person on my yard who does this.

 

[merlinsquest]

Having seen the big warmblood at our stable being turned out today.... I am changing my mind about maybe wearing a hat for turning out.

I dont wear a hat for anything but hacking out, but after seeing how high this horse can get its heels and how hard they could get you..... well maybe i will be converted!!!