Riders must be aware of the highway rules and evade busy or main roads if possible. Horses are very impulsive and if your rein is loose, it may lead to a mishap.

Riding Lessons

Untrained riders must first get lessons from a professional trainer.  These lessons may be expensive, but are worth it for riding safely. Until you get the proper riding lessons do not come on the traffic road to ride.

Road Position

Riders must ride on the left side of the road, and must never ride more than two side by side. Riding two abreast is recommended particularly if you are riding an inexperienced or young horse, and the trained horse being almost in centre of the road. There must always be a space equal to a horse’s length between every horse being ridden after another. Riders must not ride on bridleway but can ride on grass porches if local state laws do not forbid it.

Hazards

Keep an eye on the traffic behind you and constantly listen and look for hazards that may panic the horse. Gratuitous hazards must be avoided by taking a diversion if feasible so as not to distress the horse.

Turning and Junctions

Riders must always be on the left side of the road even when reaching a junction and planning to turn towards right. Always look at the traffic and give signal before turning to any direction to specify your intention. When indicating your plan to turn right or left make sure that your belt is in the hand which remains on the reins and clutch your other arm out straight for 3 seconds so that adjoining traffic are able to see your the signal clearly. Always pay attention to the traffic and be ready to stop at a turn before turning if needed.

Additional Signals

You may require some additional signal at times, mainly if the rider is facing some problem with the horse. Hold out your right arm and wave it up and down slowly, this signifies an impending driver to slow down, while the arm out showing the palm of the hand with fingers pointing upwards indicates the car driver that the rider wants him to stop.

Always Wear a Helmet

Wearing a well-fitted and certified horse-riding helmet is a major aspect of riding safety.  Horse riding helmets are different from the bicycle helmets, as these are designed in such a manner to save the back of your head. The horse riding accidents mostly result in a back head injury.

Stirrup Safety

To protect your foot from tripping through the stirrups wear a boot with a good heel. If you cannot get your foot free during an accident, you may be dragged appallingly. You can use riding safety stirrups like the break away stirrup, toe stirrup or the peacock stirrup as some additional dragging precautions.

Horse Riding Safety

Mary King Horse riding safety tips

Horse Riding Safety is a post from: Horse Training Source