Safety for child horse riding?

[GreensAreGoodForYou]

I'm realising I'm a right scaredy cat when it comes to my kids and now both of them have started horse-riding. I'm terrified of a horrible accident. Stupid really since neither of them do anything else remotely physically risky (not even skates or cycling in a city!) so I know I should just chill. But I'm wondering if any of you have some kind of calming advice? Like 'Relax, they're more likely to get killed in a traffic accident' or something (although... that will probably just make me even more paranoid in cars!). I suppose I'd just like to hear about people who either learned to ride as kids themselves or have kids that did and are still alive and kicking...

They're 11 and 15.

Riding is very dangerous. But so is walking across a road , learning to drive etc

It's all part of growing you and learning

Yes, this is what is doing my head in... I keep reading how riding is more dangerous than skiing and blah blah sport. But I KNOW how dangerous cars/vehicles are in general and yet it's not like I don't avoid driving with the kids because of it. I think I just need to slap myself around the face and deal with it. They love it SO much, it's one of the few things my youngest is passionate about (that's not related to a screen).

The 11 year old fell of her horse last week. She was fine, not even bruised (no idea how she managed that). But it has me worrying that next time she won't be so lucky. She was galloping and the horse stopped suddenly and she said she just couldn't stay on as the movement threw her off to one side.

My 7 year old has started riding.

Tips I’ve received from other horse riding people are always buy a new helmet, a bit like a car seat, with new you know its history.

Always wear a body protector when riding. Ours was properly fitted when buying.

We're good on helmets but I hadn't even thought of a body protector. Totally getting them some! Thank you!

Apparently is good in case you fall off and the horse stamps on you, protects the inner organs. Probably not calming you here !!

Good quality helmet and body protector worth every penny. My DD has used her helmet and protector for a few years, still in good condition and saved her from multiple falls

Make sure they have a properly qualified instructor, properly fitted helmets and body protectors. The accidents happen when riding in traffic, or when doing stuff they won't do for ages- like cross country. I have had riding children for many years-we've had falls and bruises but no serious injuries. Happy to answer questions if you have any.

OP-where was she galloping?

I always wore a body protector as a child. I think probably because I was doing riskier stuff on ponies than I am now. I’m pregnant and still managing to get out a little stroll but it’s all about how well you know the horse, I trust mine with my life (and my baby’s)! A random horse, maybe not so much!

Yes riding is a dangerous sport overall, but all those stats you are seeing will include the full spectrum of riding activities which includes the much more dangerous things like cross country riding at speed on big horses and also the many people that are reckless and disregard sensible safety precautions like wearing a helmet or not walking behind their back ends. I'd venture to say the vast vast majority of serious accidents fall into one of the latter two categories. I assume your children are doing the very safest form of riding available, i.e. beginners lessons at a reputable BHS registered school with a qualified instructor, on quiet ponies and in an enclosed, well surfaced arena. I can't say it's impossible a serious accident could happen under these circumstances but it's so, so unlikely. I've had my own horses on livery at a large riding school for over 20 years now and know everything that goes on, thousands of children have been through their hands for lessons over the years and there hasn't been a single serious accident in all that time. Children do sometimes fall, it's part of learning but they're nearly always unfazed by it, or just need a hug from mum and they're right back on 99% of the time. There has been the odd broken limb or collarbone and a few concussions and windings I can think of but those were all much older children/teens doing much more high risk activities, and they all made a completely full recovery. I'm sure none of them would say they wished their mothers had stopped them from riding to prevent them from being in the very few that did have an accident. I know it's scary but you have to focus on their enjoyment over your fears...

Sorry didn't see this post. Are you sure she was really galloping, was this in an arena? If so I expect it was more of a fast canter as it's very difficult for a pony to get up to gallop speed unless it's an unusually huge arena. A rapid stop or sudden turn from canter is actually a fairly common fall for a child to take, if their balance/seat is not quite there yet they can come out the side door easily enough, I've seen it happen plenty of times and never ever seen the child really hurt from it. The arena surfaces are nice and absorbant and children are very bouncy 😀. I hope her teacher took the time to talk her through what happened and what she can do next time so as to not fall, e.g. sit tall when cantering and keep your centre of gravity up, keep a good contact on the reins and half halt if you feel the pony gain too much speed, look up and anticipate if there's a turn coming or obstacle which will make the pony stop or swerve. It's actually a very useful learning experience to have a minor fall and not hurt or frighten yourself as it shows where the limits of your balance and stickability are. That's why we say it takes 7 falls to make a horse (wo)man!

I'm not saying this to minimise your feelings or anything, I'm sure it was really frightening to witness esp if you are not horsey yourself and I know full well the horrible powerless feeling of an accident happening you can't prevent and how you can end up dwelling on it but I guess you need to try to reframe it from 'that was so terrifying, no harm done this time but she was so incredibly lucky, next time she could be badly hurt' to 'she had a common accident which was frightening to watch, but as usually happens, she wasn't hurt or particularly scared. Next time she will learn from her mistake and will be less likely to fall' does that make sense?

My dd has been riding for years now - started when she was 7, got more serious when she was 9 and now at 20 is riding full time at an event yard. She fell off many times when she was learning but so far has had one green stick fracture of her wrist (she actually did the same injury on the other wrist falling off a slide when she was 4 so my data would suggest that playground slides and horses are equally dangerous 😉). What will keep your daughters safe in the saddle - much more so than body protectors - is developing a really secure seat - dd says she’s confident that it doesn’t really matter what a horse does - buck, rear, spin, tank off - she’s staying put in the saddle. If you can, get your daughters some lunge lessons as they are the best thing for developing position and balance. I think in Germany beginners do everything on the lunge - usually for about a year - before they’re considered secure enough to do it themselves. And yes, try to relax - we do loads of things every day which technically could kill us but we don’t even think about it - there are so many benefits to your daughters riding and spending time around horses that it’s worth trying not to let your own fears get in the way.

If it makes you feel any better, my dd fell off last weekend and her horse fell on her. She was riding cross country and the horse pecked (tripped) on landing. She is sore and her pride was hurt but there was no lasting damage at all. She had a very expensive new hat (gutted as now have to replace it!) and a body protector.

I've ridden and been around horses for over 40 years and the only injuries I've had are a broken toe when a horse stepped on my foot and a broken arm when I got kicked bringing a horse in from the field. Nothing from actual riding.

Your child is galloping and you haven’t even thought about a body protector?

you need to reassess where your child is riding as no child newish to riding should be galloping!
also maybe do more research into riding, if you didn’t think about body protectors you not done much, that might alleviate your fears a bit more.

@Brendabigbaps agree.

100% body protector. Helps to protect against kicks to the chest, takes the impact from falls, getting crushed etc.

Also new, decent helmet but that goes without saying.

There is something about falling off until you’re an adult, you just bounce.

Cant count the number of times I fell off as a child / teenager, fell onto jumps, got trodden on etc etc was always just fine.

Again anecdata but I do feel this is most people’s experience.

I doubt the OPs child is galloping.

I doubt a novice child on a riding school pony was actually galloping….

But yes it’s a dangerous sport, I’ve ridden for as long as I can remember and have had some nasty accidents, however all the really gnarly stuff has happened with race fit racehorses or very very fit eventers.

Safety equipment is very important however I’m not a huge fan of body protectors for wobbly riders, unless they fit perfectly they can make falling off easier/more likely and can make you land funny, and it’s harder to “tuck” and fall
properly.
Footwear is so important, proper jodhpur or riding boots only. Make it so much less liekly
that their foot will get stuck.

Also make sure the riding school is a good one, BHS at an absolute bare minimum. If it’s not, go elsewhere!

I always insisted on short boots and chaps until mine were competition standard, easier to mobilise the ankle. I'm afraid mine were hunting at 8 or 9 with no body protector in sight. Yes they fell off but no harm done and some great photos 😃

Totally agree with @Lastqueenofscotland2 Dts are 11 and have been riding a couple of years (and haven't galloped yet!).

Helmet needs to be fitted properly, mine wear short boots and chaps and don't wear body protectors. DT1 got dumped off last week, but of a bruised elbow but nothing serious. DT2 came had a spectacular fall last year the biggest harm was to her confidence.

My 13-year-old competes in show jumping (BJSA juniors) and rides every day. She's had many, many falls over the years (started riding when she was about 6) and (touch wood) always just got back on again. She only wears a body protector for XC as she says it affects her position and makes her more unbalanced. Kids are super resilient and bouncy and a lot more fearless than us adults. 😅We have two ponies of our own now, but one is her old Pony Club saintly all-rounder and one is a totally mental jumper that she competes on. She much prefers the "spicy" crazy pony as she says that she taught her to have an amazing seat.

My 6 year old loves jumping. It terrifies me!

I'd also recommend a good hat and body protector. Decent boots and if it's your own pony, safety stirrups. Good lessons are vital to develop a good secure seat and my advice... don't watch 🙈

My daughter has been riding for years and I’ve always found watching her vaguely terrifying.

She’s made me promise, that if I’m filming her riding and she falls, I have to grit my teeth and keep filming and not panic as she wants the footage for Instagram. I’ve got quite hardcore now 😂

I’ve always insisted on a good hat, proper boots and jodhpurs/riding tights and safety stirrups on her own pony when she was younger.

She’s not a lover of body protectors as she finds them restrictive and feels unbalanced so she wears it for XC, but not schooling, hacking or jumping.

Unfortunately, it is dangerous so we’ve mitigated the risks where we can (hat, boots, etc) and I’ve just had to get my head around it.