Don’t buck the odds

By Bridget Brady
Sue Chandler, from Clyde’s Oakwood Riding School, said even the quietest of horses could react when they became worried or taken out of their comfort zone.
Two people were taken to hospital after they were thrown from their horses in Clyde and Lyndhurst on Monday last week and another rider suffered a dislocated shoulder while walking her horse when it bucked in Cranbourne South.
One of the riders was not wearing a helmet, paramedics said, and was lucky not to suffer head injuries.
Ms Chandler said riders should never ride a horse without a helmet.
“Even a fall at the walk can cause major head or brain injury,” she said. “With young horses, it is a good idea to wear helmets even when handling on the ground, as it easy to be knocked over,” she said.
Ms Chandler said if people were considering riding on the road, it was a good idea to choose a quiet road, take another, quiet horse as company and remember to regard a horse as a vehicle.
It was also important for riders to be mindful of their own ability and assess a horse’s mood before riding, Ms Chandler said.
“For example, if the horse had a longer than usual break between rides, then you may need to lunge the horse in a safe area before mounting,” she said.
“Overfeeding may cause problems. This season has been a very good one for grass. It has almost been like a continual spring, which can lead to unpredictable behaviour.”
Ms Chandler encouraged riders who continued to have issues to get assistance from a qualified and experienced rider or coach. They can be found on the Equestrian Australia website.