Horse Riding and Injury Prevention: 7 Tips for Kids and Beginners
Horse riding for a young boy or an adult at the beginning is a fairly risky sport. It is therefore necessary to prepare them to avoid injuries, or at least to limit the damage. Here are some very useful tips from experts.
Taking care of your tools
A good rider takes care of his horse as well as his riding tools. It is necessary that each time before and after the sessions, the accessories are stored in their compartments or in the bags reserved for this purpose. Before this operation, there must be a thorough cleaning. For example, as soon as you have finished cleaning it, you must place it in a bomb cover like the one presented on La Sellerie Française . This will keep it away from dust.
Adopt the right clothing
Getting dressed is a source of motivation and discipline for the rider. Of course, it is an exercise in taste and refinement. However, it also includes safety. To avoid injuries, you should therefore avoid riding in shorts. Jeans made of a malleable and elastic material are more suitable. In addition, a vest and gloves should complete the look to perfect it. If you add boots, you will be completely comfortable on the horse's back or on foot.
Wear the helmet
Among the accessories to be used for safety, the helmet is the most important. It allows the rider to avoid fatal falls, causing brain damage. You have to choose a good quality helmet to really enjoy it. In the stores selling riding accessories, you can have a helmet of average quality at a reasonable price.
Know the protocol by heart
The protocol after an accident is well known to all riders. For a beginner, it is an important element to know by heart. Thus, in the event of accidents or incidents, he will take the right actions before the arrival of first aid. In fact, major damage will be narrowly avoided.
Stand up straight
A rider's behavior is scrutinized by his mount. If you are doing ground work or riding, it is wise to hold yourself well so that the horse quickly takes instructions and executes them to the letter. Avoiding injuries in particular involves maintaining a very upright posture on horseback. Above all, do not push your feet into the stirrup to the point of remaining stuck on the horse in the event of a fall.
Learn to fall
Falling is bound to happen one day or another. So you have to prepare for it. To do this, the rider must learn how to fall. He must adopt the right posture and expect to find himself on the ground at any time. Through a large number of exercises, he succeeds in internalizing reflexes for the right fall positions.
Being sensitive to your horse
You have to be sensitive to your horse to be sure not to get hurt. A priori, it is the horse's movements that constitute the real dangers for its rider. If you know how to detect the precursors of a rearing or any other misconduct, you will avoid all injuries in the future.