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Equestrians: Stay Safe This Winter
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1. Be safe, be seen
We all know the importance of hi-vis, but in the winter this is even more crucial. If your hi-vis is looking less than eye catching, consider updating your florescent wardrobe. We recommend that both rider and horse should have at least one item of hi-vis on and if riding in very dull conditions, there are now numerous helmet lights on the market to make sure you really stand out.
2. Layer up
Make sure both you are your horse are dressed appropriately for the conditions. Getting cold and numb fingers and toes may affect your reactions if something goes wrong and gloves are essential to ensure you have control of wet slippery reins. Pocket warmers can be a godsend in really chilly conditions…just don’t be tempted to ride along with your hands in your pockets – safety first!
3. Modify your behaviour
Give the conditions some serious thought. That nice long stretch where you normally have a good blowout, might be great in the Spring, but in Winter, rock-hard ground can be really jarring on your horse’s joints. Tarmac can get incredibly slippery in wet or cold conditions so make sure you adjust speed to take this into account and if in doubt, walk!
4. Give the time of day a thought
If it has been freezing overnight, an early morning hack overlooking frost covered fields can look very pretty, but it might be better to wait until the sun has done its job and defrosted those pesky puddles. Hitting frozen puddles and black ice can send you and your horse flying so take extra care in icy conditions. Low sun in the late afternoon can make visibility poor for drivers so try and hack when these hazards are less likely.
5. Be prepared
As always when hacking, make sure people know where you are going and what time you are likely to be back so they can raise the alarm if you don’t return when expected. Ideally hack with a friend so you have help if something goes wrong. Use technology to your advantage and make sure you have a charged mobile phone. Apps such as What Three Words can be used by emergency services to locate you in the event of an accident so make sure you have this downloaded.
6. Think before you hack
Lastly, consider whether you really do need to go out on the roads in poor conditions. We all get bored doing too much in the school so it’s great to get out and about, but if conditions aren’t right, maybe it’s worth staying in the school just one more day!