LB: Rules and Reasons

Rules and Reasons

Here are 12 general horse rules and reasons for them.

1) Praise often, punish seldom- Firm yet gentle treatment will gain your horse's respect, while beating on it will make it fear you.

2) Stop, look, and listen. Use caution around horses- Horses are frightened easily by loud noises or sudden movements. They are very upredicatble and may react unexpectedly.

3) Never stand directly in front or behind a horse- They can't see you there, and may accidentally hurt you!

4) Horses should never be hand fed without proper guidance- Fingers are easily mistaken for carrots!!

5) Keep at least one horse length between you and the horse in front of you- Crowding when riding may cause kicking and biting, and you could be seriously injured!

6) Check equipment for a proper fit before you mount- Mistakes in your tack can easily cause injuries!

7) Always use a halter and leadrope to tie your horse- If you tie by the riens, they can break and seriously injure the horse's mouth!

8) Treat equipment with care and put it away correctly- It will be easier to use and last longer.

9) Never wrap or tie anything attached to the horse around yourself- Being attached to your horse may result in being dragged by him and hurt very bad!

10) Keep alert at all times- You may be hurt if you don't stay alert and aware of what is going on around you.

11) Dismount to adjust clothes or equipment- (especially if you don't know the horse you're riding and/or have not had much riding experience) Your horse may spook from strange movement on his back.

12) Always wear the correct shoes and a helmet when riding- Your feet are protected by hard shoes, and your body won't get dragged by your horse because your foot got caught in the stirrup. And a helmet will protect you from most head injuries.