Wearing a hat while hoofpicking

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giggles mum

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There's a new rule at our yard that all the "helpers" (under 16s, meaning me) have to wear hats when we pick out horses' feet (I think someone got kicked, but not in the head or I definitely would have heard about it). I'm not really too bothered but what do you think?

If you pick out feet in a safe way, it seems to me that it would be pretty difficult to be kicked in the head while doing it.
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Face I can just about imagine, but the part of the head that the hat protects isn't really in the firing line. I know horses are unpredictable, but it does seem really unlikely.

Do you think this rule is a good idea?
 
Well some people would call me stupid- I dont wear a hat when Im lunging, I have been known to ride Berth without a hat and Im generally not safety concious- when I was 2 I was booted in the head by one of the polo ponies, must have turned me slack.
I can see the logic in hard hats on a riding yard- perhaps due to insurance purposes, but its definately something I wouldnt think of.
 
To be honest, with the amount of money riding schools are having to pay for insurance, I'm sure they are wanting to cover themselves from every possible eventuality.
I don't think it is a bad idea at all
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I have never worn a hat whilst doing anything on the ground with my horses, including lunging/boxing or anything. Maybe as Rosiie said due to insurance? Still can imagine it will be a right pain in the ar*e for you, having to put your hat on and off every 5minutes.
 
I can understand that they wouldn't want getting injured or hurt, especially with the insurance and everything, I can see the logic in it. Personally I would never think of it though, I only wear a hat to ride.
 
At my old yard, one of the rules for us working on the school was to wear hats when catching and turning out the ponies, this was because of insurance. Most of us just ended up wearing them all the time anyway because we never had a moment to take them off, or a place to put them down...and they kept our heads warm lol!
But now I have my own horse, I only wear my hat when I ride.
 
I was kicked in the face by a stallion when I was picking out his feet. I don't think he could of reached my head though, not the bit a hat would cover.
I think its for insurance though. At college we had to turn out/catch everything with a hat on, including the dobbins that couldn't kick, rear etc.
However I was nearly kicked in the head by a livery horse that was in the field at college when we were poo picking so maybe that would be a more sensible rule to bring in.
 
Funny you should post this, as only the other day Troggy said she has started keeping her hat on after leading in while she does the feet. It does make sense, it costs nothing - what is the problem?
 
Probably can see their point esp if BHS approved yard(don't they advise hard hat etc at ALL times when handling horses) and probably covering themselves for insurance etc.I only used to wear hard hat when riding til my horse stood on my friends head(literally) and she nearly died(luckily her skull fractured released the pressure) and she has permenant brain damage so now use hat.Solicitor said if friend had been 14 legally would be liable no matter what the reason so presume your yard is erring on the side of caution with age of 16.
 
I don't really have a problem with it. It seems a little odd to me to insist on hats for hoofpicking but no other yard work, but I don't mind wearing my hat.
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Its pretty easy to get a kick to the front of the head whilst picking out the hinds especially. You only need a horse to sntah or strike out whilst you are down there and there is a good chance that you wont have the strength or speed to hold the foot.

If the rule is wear a hat then you should do.
 
I only wear a hat for riding, nothing else. I would strongly object to someone telling me I had to wear a hat all the time while handling my own horse. But if I was looking after others at a RS and that was their rules, there fair enough, I wouldn't know these horses well so probably better safe than sorry.
 
Yes I do think it's a good idea. I only wear my hat for riding with my own horse. However I think for under 16s on a business yard it is very good to take as much care as possible to prevent injuries. I mean, as Sooty has just said - wearing a hat is not hardship/trouble/expense is it?! (they obviously already own them if they are there riding etc)
 
my pony kicked me in the head when i was clipping her legs, not intentionally she just flicked it up at the wrong moment! so i can perhaps see why its a good idea to wear a hat when hoof picking. but i dont personally, my hat is too uncomfortable to wear all the time!
 
Our yard you have to wear hats to catch at take horses to the field. To take horses to the lessons for clients to go and get horses back from the lessons. On walk outs with little kids!

Its all because of that girl suiing for like 2.3 million insureres are making RS's be extra careful
 
I did get kicked in the head once while picking out a horses back feet! We were told to pick out feet into a bucket and the horse put his foot in to the bucket and panicked and kicked out just as I bent down to get it off. He kicked me in the middle of my fore head and made about a 2 inch cut! It really did bleed alot and I ended up with 6 stitches and still have a scar now and this happened about 12 years ago
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Sam x
 
As others have said, it's most likely to do with insurance reasons and the yard wanting to cover their backs.

When I arrive at the yard, I get out of the car, change into my riding boots and jam my hat on there and then. This saves me having to faff about and find it before riding, keeps my head warm in the winter and would hopefully help me out if their was something to spook my horse (who although I trust 100%, could still get spooked by something unexpectedly). My hat is only taken off when I get in the car to go home again.

It's not a great hassle really, I don't even notice it's on most of the time. Better safe than sorry I reckon. Don't see anyone else on my yard do it though, they only wear their's to ride.
 
I can understand this being a rule at a RS but it's not something I would consider when doing my own horses and I doubt the YO at the full livery yard I work at would bring in a rule like that.

I got kicked in the head once when changine a poultice on a hind foot. I just said it was my own stupid fault for putting my head in a place where my horse could kick it. The only problem was I had a very painful egg sized lump on my head and I was on the pc area gressage team so I had to ram my hat over the lump, now that was absolute agony!

My YO does like the younger childrent to wear hats in the field and she won't let them take feed scoops to catch anything difficult.
 
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