What are some useful pieces of tack/equipment that can reduce the risk of a serious injury?

[Iloveeverycat]

There are the obvious ones such as body protectors and safety stirrups that snap to reduce the risk of the rider being dragged if they fall , but I was wondering if there are any others that people might not have heard of?

 

[Sandstone1]

Rs tor strap. A old flash strap attached to front D rings of saddle, sticky saddle seat savers, sticky bum jods. All may help.

 

[Polos Mum]

steel toecap boots
Hat worn turning out / lunging / loading
Common sense / the presumption that the horse in front of you will do the most daft thing - so anticipate that.

I personally think I've seen some f the nastiest injuries dealing with them on the ground not riding

 

[HappyHollyDays]

[QUOTE="Polos Mum, post: 14841504, member: 99792] I personally think I've seen some f the nastiest injuries dealing with them on the ground not riding[/QUOTE]

Agree with this, l severed a finger and badly broke my hand after bringing my two in from the field last summer. They had an argument at the gate and made mincemeat of said hand after knocking me over. I still don’t have full range of movement or bend and never will.

 

[PeterNatt]

For my horse Jeffries Knee Boots incase he trips on the road.

 

[GinaGeo]

Neck strap. Very rarely ride without one.

 

[catkin]

Leather head collar rather than synthetic.

 

[Pippity]

Neck strap. Very rarely ride without one.

And with something attaching it to the D-rings to stop it sliding down the neck. (I use a loop of paracord and a cheap carabiner that will snap in an emergency.)

I also have an R-Stor, because I'm a coward and I want as many things as possible to cling on to. Also, Blue is hogged so I've already lost one grab-handle.

I personally think I've seen some f the nastiest injuries dealing with them on the ground not riding

Yep, I have a wonky finger from holding a horse that bogged off when she was bitten on the bum, and a wonky toe from where a horse saw a tempting patch of grass behind me and walked over me to get to it.

The biter and the walker-over are the same horse, and he doesn't even belong to me!

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

An ice hockey mask may have prevented my bringing in from the field injury! (Fractured eye socket)

 

[ycbm]

Love my air jacket, new tech at its best.

 

[Lois Lame]

Assume any horse can do anything, so take precautions against this. For instance, the quietest of horses might suddenly lift his head and bump whatever is in the way (one's face for example). I don't kiss horses, nor do I ever lean over their low necks.

 

[ThreeFurs]

Champion Ti22 body protector, helmet with MIPS tech, Effax grips stick on inside of boots, hi viz vest for hacking out, teaching 'park' and backup on the ground and hindquarter yield so you can get your horse's attention when things are going to shit. These then relay to under saddle. And I'm soon to get my Amanda Ross double neckstrap from Flexible Fit, who ship overseas to UK. Its a neckstrap with a shorter second loop coming up to meet your hands so it can sit further up the neck when jumping.

You might guess I have a huge, ginger warmblood who can be spooky. But that said, even though when I clean my bridle I check the stitching, last year had a billet hook give where my left rein attached to the bit, so was suddenly holding a useless bit of dangling leather in my left hand. Horse was a saint, since the only thing I had left was literally a one rein stop!

 

[GSD Woman]

I always liked my breast plate as a good handhold.

 

[rabatsa]

As on another thread a standing martingale, correctly fitted. Leather headcollars. Mainly that very rare commodity Common Sense.

 

[scruffyponies]

Eyes, ears, brain.
The number of times it is clear what is about to happen, and the person involved is oblivious!

 

[BatHorse]

Those little rubber rein stops used with a running martingale. I've seen a horse go over after the martingale ring got caught up with the bit

 

[Equi]

Just a note on the Steel toe caps - they’re generally not recommended for horses cause if they stand on your toe they can bend the Steel and take your toes off. Decent leather boots are preferable.

 

[NinjaPony]

Air jacket, and the ability to get out the way/get off if it’s clearly about to go badly wrong! Not always possible I know…
When I hacked solo on my very safe boy, I always had my air jacket, a lead rope clipped to the saddle and a neckstrap.

 

[Red-1]

A 9ft rope.

Normal lead ropes are too short. If the horse stands up, they just drag you underneath. 12ft ones are too long, get caught up. 9 or 10 ft is just right.

 

[Widgeon]

A 9ft rope.

That's true, I feel much safer with a slightly longer rope. Then if horse spooks I can hang on without being pulled under feet or dragged over.

 

[SEL]

Baling twine! I got so fed up at an old yard of cutting a pony out of its haynet. I rarely lose my rag with people but after the 3rd time of pointing out to the owner neither the net nor the metal loop were going to be the first to snap I tied her ****** net to twine myself.

More expensive quick release options are available ?

 

[windand rain]

Flashing light breast plate on the horse and led sash on the rider

 

[LEC]

Very boring but rider and horse fitness.