Safety mad??

Capriole said:
I know some threads get right on my nerves. I wear a hat, I wear hi viz, I take my own safety seriously. I wont ride with someone not wearing a hat. Apart from that, I really dont care who does or doesnt want to take care of themselves, as long as it doesnt impact on anyone else. Mainly me.
I agree with the 'hysterical' and 'crusades' comments, it gets tiresome.
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^^^ This
 
armchair_rider said:
- People are too risk aware to take advantage of all the things that have been done to improve safety. There seem to be a lot of people that don't take the view of I will protect myself as best I can and then I will go and do what I want.
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Thats a good point. Its actually a very good risk minimisation technique to have the experience and/or mindset to deal with things when they go wrong. To some extent, if you minimise risk so much that you have very limited experience, you will be unlikely to cope when something does go wrong. For instance, if you have never ridden a horse that bucks and learned to pull its head up, you won't be able to cope well with another horse that bucks (obviously some horses can't be stopped from bucking but lets not digress).

I don't actually think being overly timid and obsessed with all possible "safety" precautions is actually that good from a risk avoidance viewpoint. People pay lots of money in industry to go on courses to teach them how to deal with risks should the worst things happen after all.
 
This is a very interesting thread. I have rounded up wild horses in Namibia without a hat, ridden chest deep in sand down 300 meter sand dunes and then galloped up and down the dunes without a hat in Mozambique, swum rivers in Costa Rica without a hat - here in the UK I wear a hat (of course) and I also feel much much more nervous, almost a different rider. In fact I associate the UK with fear and accidents. I'm not saying its clever to not wear a hat and safety equipment, but I do think the whole atmosphere of worry and constant fretting about health and safety has personally made riding a much less enjoyable experience here.
 
I haven't read all the replies so apologise if I repeat anything already said. I have never worn Hi Viz, I would happily ride without a hat if it wasn't for setting a bad example to first my daughter and now the grandchildren who live with me. I have ridden out on fast narrow country roads and never worried because our horses were safe in traffic. I may be over reacting but, after reading the Ruby thread and the two fatalities described on there, I now doubt I will ever hack out on roads again - these two incidents have affected me in a way I cannot explain. I woke up this morning with the vision of a black throughbred horse laid in the road waiting for a vet to come and pts, the road is about 200 yards from where I live. I know that my grandchildren will never be allowed to hack my ponies out on the road, I could not bear having to risk them or my ponies going through that experience. I really don't believe it matters how much Hi Viz you wear, how safe your horses are and how experienced you are, you still haven't a chance when some stupid, impatient, arrogant car driver decides they are coming past whether it is safe or not. I now have my OH and daughter thinking I am being totally ridiculous because it means I am letting the car drivers win! I don't care, they can win and none of my ponies will be severed in two or laid on the road with 3 broken legs.
 
AprilBlossom said:
Interesting thread, I personally think the UK as a country has been hanging out with America for too long and has such developed a bit of a blame culture from them, the masters of suing for any old reason! Lol and interesting point made re standards of riding vs excessive safety wear...it's a bit of a catch 22 though isn't it because by doing the 'riskier' stuff ie bareback, jumping with no stirrups/reins, around the world etc one gains a much better seat and general ability, but this isn't allowed without a H&S minefield, or being bundled up to the eyeballs in protective gear which hinders the natural development of such ability IMO. I shall read the rest of this thread with interest.
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Agree 1000% riders can only be taught to sit on a horse these days, not to be able to actually ride, all because of this Health and Safety stuff, our instructors of to day have their hands tied, for risk of being sued or upset this 'child protection act', as one person has already experienced by catching a child's arm to PROTECT he/she from falling on the floor, its all so crazy
 
neelie OAP said:
:p well I'm 3 score years and 10, and can still do the scissors, ha ha !
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well jell :D I couldn't do it when I was 12 :( - I'm going to try it tomorrow! :D:D

That's of course after I have put on my hat, back protector, hi viz on in case I fall off and the air ambulance needs to find me (in the school) tags on my horse (in case he pi*** off) - oh and better check the small print of my insurance docs in case scissors are prohibited! :D
 
My horse is encased entirely in bubble wrap to prevent injury, and I ensure that I am attached to a kind of pulley device at all times when mounted. It is attached to the ceiling (I only ride indoors) and should the worst happen and I get unseated, it winches me quickly to the safety of the rafters away from my horses nasty hooves and teeth.

My horse is on an extendable lead to his stable but also wears tags incase said lead (and back up lead) should break.

I consult my insurance company before I ride and ALWAYS record everything my instructor says and does (with a witness) incase court action is ever needed in the future.

I wear 2 hats and carry a spare on my back. I always wear hi-viz to school so that other riders can see me and hopefully avoid collision - not everyone knows to pass left to left.

I also wear a full face shield as I once knee someone who fell off and grazed her cheek - I don't want to let the same happen to me.



....have I just seen the future? ;)
 
patterdale said:
My horse is encased entirely in bubble wrap to prevent injury, and I ensure that I am attached to a kind of pulley device at all times when mounted. It is attached to the ceiling (I only ride indoors) and should the worst happen and I get unseated, it winches me quickly to the safety of the rafters away from my horses nasty hooves and teeth.

My horse is on an extendable lead to his stable but also wears tags incase said lead (and back up lead) should break.

I consult my insurance company before I ride and ALWAYS record everything my instructor says and does (with a witness) incase court action is ever needed in the future.

I wear 2 hats and carry a spare on my back. I always wear hi-viz to school so that other riders can see me and hopefully avoid collision - not everyone knows to pass left to left.

I also wear a full face shield as I once knee someone who fell off and grazed her cheek - I don't want to let the same happen to me.



....have I just seen the future? ;)
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No body protector? What is the world coming to? :p
 
My body protector has a body protector. My horse only knows voice commands as I can't move enough to ride, but even if I could his ample covering of bubble wrap would shield him against my various kicks and tugs.

;)
 
I must be really lucky with my riding school, my 6 year old daughter gets to do around the world, scissors, riding without stirrups (including on the lunge) and a whole host of other fun things....I do however insist she always wears a body protector (and hat of course) whilst doing them though.

She has bounced off several times and has been scrapped along the school wall when her sneaky pony decided to canter rather than trot when they were working without stirrups......but it's all in the nature of her learning to ride in a secure environment and she is protected as well as she can be given the nature of the activity.
 
patterdale said:
My horse is encased entirely in bubble wrap to prevent injury, and I ensure that I am attached to a kind of pulley device at all times when mounted. It is attached to the ceiling (I only ride indoors) and should the worst happen and I get unseated, it winches me quickly to the safety of the rafters away from my horses nasty hooves and teeth.

My horse is on an extendable lead to his stable but also wears tags incase said lead (and back up lead) should break.

I consult my insurance company before I ride and ALWAYS record everything my instructor says and does (with a witness) incase court action is ever needed in the future.

I wear 2 hats and carry a spare on my back. I always wear hi-viz to school so that other riders can see me and hopefully avoid collision - not everyone knows to pass left to left.

I also wear a full face shield as I once knee someone who fell off and grazed her cheek - I don't want to let the same happen to me.



....have I just seen the future? ;)
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that really made me laugh :D

patterdale said:
My body protector has a body protector. My horse only knows voice commands as I can't move enough to ride, but even if I could his ample covering of bubble wrap would shield him against my various kicks and tugs.

;)
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You have actually both forgotten the soft padded sides of the school and the rubber floors

MrsJ said:
I must be really lucky with my riding school, my 6 year old daughter gets to do around the world, scissors, riding without stirrups (including on the lunge) and a whole host of other fun things....I do however insist she always wears a body protector (and hat of course) whilst doing them though.

She has bounced off several times and has been scrapped along the school wall when her sneaky pony decided to canter rather than trot when they were working without stirrups......but it's all in the nature of her learning to ride in a secure environment and she is protected as well as she can be given the nature of the activity.
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your daughter is very lucky - I've actually now resorted to the one thing I said I wasn't going to do and that was to find a pony for her to share and I'll teach her myself :eek:until she stops listening (so that will be next week) and then get an instructor in
 
People don't half talk some rubbish about 'health and safety legislation' and quote all sorts of things that have been 'banned'; only none of them actually have...

As safe as necessary folks, not as safe as possible ;) :D
 
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