This Fact Sheet has been collated by the Injury Prevention Research Centre, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Sponsored by the Health Funding Authority, Northern Division. There is no such thing as a safe or 'bomb-proof' horse. Even a quiet animal can be spooked starting a series of events that leads to injury. In fact, being overly confident with a seemingly quiet horse may increase the risk of injury, if this is interpreted that routine safety measures can be ignored.
Horses are unpredictable so interventions are difficult.
Wearing protective clothing is the best policy. Protective gear such as helmets, non-slip gloves, the correct footwear, and safety stirrups will decrease chances of injury. Legislation for mandatory wearing of helmets, such as for cyclists, will help decrease serious head injury. A suitable helmet, which meets the aesthetic criteria of riders as well as fulfilling safety standards, will need to be designed. Children in the vicinity of a horse should wear a helmet, whether they are mounted or not.