Avoid sitting in the “kicking-zone” and stand more in front of the hind leg when brushing the horse.

Make sure you use safety knots like this one.

Leading the horse like this with no leadrope should always be avoided.

Never wrap the leadrope around your hand when walking the horse, keep it loose.

Hanging the tools this way is safer for humans and horses walking past.

Do not approach the horse directly from behind.

Wear sturdy shoes.

When leading a horse into the pasture, turn the horse around at the gate before loosening the rope.

Wear gloves when leading the horse.

Windows should be fitted with protective grilles or made of shatterproof glass.

The floor in the stable and in the washing area must be slip resistant.

Keep doors and gates of a yard closed.

You must be very careful to ensure that there are no sharp edges, protruding boards, screws or nails anywhere.

Horses must not be able to reach power cables, water pipes, light switches, window handles or similar.

After spreading and feeding, put hay strings in the rubbish bin.

Tie rings or beams must be securely fixed. Nothing should wobble or be loosely fastened. Do not tie the horse to the stall door or other movable objects.

On arrival, untie the horse and unhook the front stall bar. Only then does a second person open the ramp and rear bar from the side.

When the horse backs out of the trailer, the helper takes care that it does not step next to the ramp.

The trailer should be cleaned from wet spots and dirt, so the floor does not become slippery.

Leave the trailer through the front door, then close the tailgate.

Walk around the trailer again and carefully check that all lock bars are properly closed.

If transporting just one horse, make sure the horse is placed on the driver’s side of the trailer for optimal balance points.

Plan for time reserves during the drive.

Try to avoid driving alone.

Always drive prudently and with foresight, be careful around bends and remember the extended braking distances when towing a trailer.

The trailer must be in perfect technical condition. It must always be coupled to a car - even if you only want to practice loading without driving off.

Always start with pulling the handbrake in the car. Make sure that the coupling head is securely engaged in the coupling and fasten the safety rope. Fully raise the support wheel and release the handbrake on the trailer. Plug in the electrics and check the lights, brake lights and indicators.

The loading ramp should be non-slippery.

The loading ramp must lie flat and must not tilt.

Park the car so that there is enough space to the right and to the left.

Clear away any objects lying around that could be trip hazards.

Sturdy shoes and gloves are a basic requirement.

Consider if the horse should wear bell boots and travel boots.

When the horse is standing on the trailer, close the bar from the side. Never stand directly behind the horse to avoid the risk of the horse pushing backwards.

Always hook the bar first, then tie up the horse. Never the other way round.

For tying up, it is best to use a firm chain with PVC protection in the trailer. The advantage with this is that the length is preset and fits, and it is robust when the horse plays with it.

Horses must wear stable, fitted and sound halters.

Carabiners on lead ropes must work. Never wrap the rope around your hand.

Always lead by the rope and never only by the halter - otherwise fingers can easily get caught.

Tie horses correctly with safety knots and always at such a distance that they cannot come into direct contact with each other.

Do not kneel next to the horse when grooming.

Do not hold your head over the hoof when cleaning it.

Place the grooming box in such a distance that the horse cannot step into it.

Address the horse when approaching.

Pitchforks, brooms and shovels should be put away neatly. It is best to hang them on the wall and make sure that the tines of the pitchforks are turned backwards.

Other and larger objects such as wheelbarrows or feed carts have no place in walkways.

Handles and hinges of stalls and stable doors must not jam and must be easy to open and close.

Box and stable doors as well as pasture gates must open widely.

Aisles and passages must always be wide and high.

Safety during loading

One thing that is really beneficial to teach your horse is that it can be loaded relaxed and confidently. To achieve this, the horse must learn to walk onto the trailer without stress. A calm and sustained loading training helps to achieve this. If this works well, you can start to travel with your horse - however there are still some safety aspects to consider.

Safety when handling a horse

When dealing with a horse, it is important to always be calm, clear, respectful and patient. This is an important premise for building trust. And trust is the basis for giving the horse security.

Safety in the stable

We are often able to avoid the more serious consequences of accidents, by removing any sources of danger in the stable and in the yard through thoughtfulness and tidiness.

Even though our horses are our best friends, one fact cannot be denied: physically, there is a certain imbalance in the proportion of power. The horse is many times stronger than the human being, instinctively acts as a flight animal, and without any bad intention, accidents can easily happen. Therefore, it is essential that certain safety aspects are observed. This way, neither human nor horse comes to harm. 

By Kerstin Schmidt // Photo: Malgré Tout & Kamila Tworkowska

Remember these key safety points when you are handling horses

Safety First:  

Leave the trailer through the front door, then close the tailgate.

Walk around the trailer again and carefully check that all lock bars are properly closed.

If transporting just one horse, make sure the horse is placed on the driver’s side of the trailer for optimal balance points.

Plan for time reserves during the drive.

Try to avoid driving alone.

Always drive prudently and with foresight, be careful around bends and remember the extended braking distances when towing a trailer.

On arrival, untie the horse and unhook the front stall bar. Only then does a second person open the ramp and rear bar from the side.

When the horse backs out of the trailer, the helper takes care that it does not step next to the ramp.

The trailer should be cleaned from wet spots and dirt, so the floor does not become slippery.

The trailer must be in perfect technical condition. It must always be coupled to a car - even if you only want to practice loading without driving off.

Always start with pulling the handbrake in the car. Make sure that the coupling head is securely engaged in the coupling and fasten the safety rope. Fully raise the support wheel and release the handbrake on the trailer. Plug in the electrics and check the lights, brake lights and indicators.

The loading ramp should be non-slippery.

The loading ramp must lie flat and must not tilt.

Park the car so that there is enough space to the right and to the left.

Clear away any objects lying around that could be trip hazards.

Sturdy shoes and gloves are a basic requirement.

Consider if the horse should wear bell boots and travel boots.

When the horse is standing on the trailer, close the bar from the side. Never stand directly behind the horse to avoid the risk of the horse pushing backwards.

Always hook the bar first, then tie up the horse. Never the other way round.

For tying up, it is best to use a firm chain with PVC protection in the trailer. The advantage with this is that the length is preset and fits, and it is robust when the horse plays with it.

Safety during loading

One thing that is really beneficial to teach your horse is that it can be loaded relaxed and confidently. To achieve this, the horse must learn to walk onto the trailer without stress. A calm and sustained loading training helps to achieve this. If this works well, you can start to travel with your horse - however there are still some safety aspects to consider.

Make sure you use safety knots like this one.

Avoid sitting in the “kicking-zone” and stand more in front of the hind leg when brushing the horse.

Windows should be fitted with protective grilles or made of shatterproof glass.

The floor in the stable and in the washing area must be slip resistant.

Keep doors and gates of a yard closed.

Do not kneel next to the horse when grooming.

Do not hold your head over the hoof when cleaning it.

Place the grooming box in such a distance that the horse cannot step into it.

Address the horse when approaching.

Horses must wear stable, fitted and sound halters.

Carabiners on lead ropes must work. Never wrap the rope around your hand.

Always lead by the rope and never only by the halter - otherwise fingers can easily get caught.

Tie horses correctly with safety knots and always at such a distance that they cannot come into direct contact with each other.

Safety when handling a horse

When dealing with a horse, it is important to always be calm, clear, respectful and patient. This is an important premise for building trust. And trust is the basis for giving the horse security.

Do not approach the horse directly from behind.

Wear sturdy shoes.

When leading a horse into the pasture, turn the horse around at the gate before loosening the rope.

Wear gloves when leading the horse.

Never wrap the leadrope around your hand when walking the horse, keep it loose.

Leading the horse like this with no leadrope should always be avoided.

Hanging the tools this way is safer for humans and horses walking past.

You must be very careful to ensure that there are no sharp edges, protruding boards, screws or nails anywhere.

Horses must not be able to reach power cables, water pipes, light switches, window handles or similar.

After spreading and feeding, put hay strings in the rubbish bin.

Tie rings or beams must be securely fixed. Nothing should wobble or be loosely fastened. Do not tie the horse to the stall door or other movable objects.

Pitchforks, brooms and shovels should be put away neatly. It is best to hang them on the wall and make sure that the tines of the pitchforks are turned backwards.

Other and larger objects such as wheelbarrows or feed carts have no place in walkways.

Handles and hinges of stalls and stable doors must not jam and must be easy to open and close.

Box and stable doors as well as pasture gates must open widely.

Aisles and passages must always be wide and high.

Safety in the stable

We are often able to avoid the more serious consequences of accidents, by removing any sources of danger in the stable and in the yard through thoughtfulness and tidiness.

Even though our horses are our best friends, one fact cannot be denied: physically, there is a certain imbalance in the proportion of power. The horse is many times stronger than the human being, instinctively acts as a flight animal, and without any bad intention, accidents can easily happen. Therefore, it is essential that certain safety aspects are observed. This way, neither human nor horse comes to harm. 

By Kerstin Schmidt // Photo: Malgré Tout & Kamila Tworkowska

Remember these key safety points when you are handling horses

Safety First:  

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