GENERAL:

• Plan your ride:  Is your horse young, fit, and energetic? Has he been worked recently?  Is he "fat and sassy"?  If so, get to the barn early and longe him.
• Pay attention to the weather conditions: horses feel especially frisky in cool, windy or rainy weather.
• Be especially alert during feeding times: horses are apt to misbehave when they see other horses eating.
• Know where the nearest telephone is and who to call in an emergency.
• Have an up-to-date first aid kit, and know how to use it.
• Attend to cuts or scrapes right away. Wash thoroughly with soap and a disinfectant.
• Use the buddy system at the barn – don’t handle horses or ride alone.
• Ride Healthy: Don't ride when you are sick, on medication, or impaired in any way.

ON A HALTER:

• Never tie a rope around a horse’s neck.
• Walk slightly ahead of the horse's shoulder and on his near (left) side.
• Walk well ahead of the horse when going through a gate.
• Never lead a horse by hanging onto his halter - use a lead rope.
• Never wrap a lead rope around your hand.
• Tie a lead rope only to solid objects. Use a quick release knot or snap.
• Learn the proper use of a chain shank.  Thread the chain through the lower near-side ring, up over the noseband, out the far-side lower ring, and then snap to the upper ring.  NEVER double a chain shank over and snap it back onto itself - a horse could put a foot through the loop.
• Don't allow your horse to "chat" with other horses - horses can strike, bite, or kick, and injure people or each other in the process.
• Don't try to lead two or more horses at once.
• NEVER sit on the ground next to a horse - If he spooks he could trample you.

IN THE CROSSTIES:

• Be calm and quiet in and around the crossties.  Loud noises or gestures can startle or spook the horses.
• Adjust the crossties to a proper length, not too tight or too loose.
• Crouch when working on the lower legs, don’t sit or kneel.
• Work to the side of the horse, not directly in front or behind him.
• When you approach a horse from behind speak quietly to him to let him know you are there.
• When saddling up, tighten the girth or cinch gradually in stages.
• Don’t clip crossties to a bridle or a bit.
• Buckle your halter around the horse’s neck before removing the bridle.
• Put your tack in a safe place where a horse cannot chew on it.
• Don’t let horses "chat".

MOUNTING & DISMOUNTING:

• Check your tack and equipment before every ride.
• If you have a fresh or excitable horse, longe him or turn him out for 15 minutes before mounting.
• Tighten the girth gently when you are tacking up, and then tighten it again right before you mount.
• Mount in an open area clear of objects you could fall on or the horse could get caught up in.
• Use a mounting block whenever possible.
• Train your horse to stand still while you are mounting.
• To dismount, take both feet out of the stirrups before lowering yourself to the ground.
• Run up your stirrups as soon as you dismount.
• Slip the reins over your horse’s head.

RIDING IN THE ARENA:

• Pay attention to what the other riders are doing.
• Check your girth and tighten it if necessary.
• Give inexperienced horses and riders special consideration.
• Pass oncoming horses left-to-left.
• Horses jumping have the right-of -way.
• If you feel you are losing control of your horse, ride in a small circle until you have regained control.

• Ride with a buddy.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
• Take a cell phone with you.
• On long rides, take water.
• Wear a helmet, boots, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and chaps.
• Longe or ride a fresh or inexperienced horse in an enclosed area before you hit the trail.
• Don't let your horse eat on the trail.
• At the walk, ride at least one horse's length apart.
• At faster gaits, ride several horse lengths apart.
• When riding along a road, ride in single file with the flow of traffic.
• When riding in mud or crossing a river, take your feet out of the stirrups, in case your horse falls or rolls.
• Cross roads together as a group. In single file, one horse could be separated and panic.

• Check your trailer floor, doors, latches, hitch, safety chains, wiring, lights, tires and brakes.
• Teach your horse to load and unload quietly.  Practice loading starting several weeks before a horse show.
• Use a breakable leather shipping halter.
• Drive with extra care, with no sudden starts or stops and slow around corners.
• When loading a horse into a trailer, fasten the butt bar first, before you tie the lead rope.  When unloading, untie the lead rope first, then unfasten the butt bar.
• Before driving off, ALWAYS walk around your trailer and double-check everything - tires, hitch, doors, horses, equipment, tack - one last time.

• Check corral or turnout area for safety.
• Always remove the horse's halter - it could catch on something and he could be injured.
• Turn a horse around to face you before unbuckling his halter to turn him loose.
• Make sure the gate is closed and latched when you leave.