Safety As Defined By An Equestrian (And Factors to Consider When Making Safe Choices!)

Good morning,

Today we are sharing an excellent article from Dressage Today magazine entitled 'Safety: As Defined By An Equestrian.' The article talks about one author's opinion of what staying safe as an equestrian is all about. She states "Horses are inherently dangerous, but if we thought about how dangerous they can be every minute we were with them, we would all be driven crazy and would trade in horses for bicycles. That being said, there’s a balance and we still need to consider how to keep ourselves safe when participating in an equestrian sport.'

'The best answer to this I have found is excellent decision-making. I met a Grand Prix trainer who was an ER nurse in her former life and when I said that my definition of safety was “excellent decision-making,” she said she couldn’t agree more. She told me that in all of her years in the ER, what she learned was there was no such thing as an accident—just bad decisions with unfortunate results. How do we make excellent decisions? It is a combination of factors and, most importantly, a team effort. Obviously it varies for different people and situations, but there are a few nonnegotiables to always factor in (dressagetoday.com).'

So what are those factors she goes into detail about in the article?
1.) Your skill set/ability level
2.) Outcome: What is your goal? Is it worth the risks?
3.) Team: consider your horse and their skill set
4.) Clear thinking and breathe!

To read more in depth about each one of these points to help make excellent decisions when around and riding horses, visit the article link here. 

To fully prepare yourself in case of an emergency, always wear a Ride Safe medical ID bracelet!! Help first responders get to your complete medical information faster so they can make the best decisions for your care. Learn more at: www.teamridesafe.com!