The 8 Most Common Ways You Can Be Hurt By a Horse

Many horse owners have never been seriously hurt by their horse. There's certainly no reason to be afraid of horses. However, when you are working with an animal that is large and reactive, you need to understand the common behaviors of this animal and learn how to safely work with and around it. If you take care and learn to understand horses, you can reduce the risk of injury greatly. The Canadian Hospitals Injuries Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) states that 49.6% of horse-related injuries required either 'advice or minor treatment'. Here's a list of common injuries that could occur as you work with or ride your horse.

Being Stepped On

Getting your toes crunched because you didn't move out of the way quickly enough is common. Even experienced horse owners occasionally don't move their feet as fast as their horses move theirs. This can lead to bruising, abrasions, and even fractured bones. It is possible to have your fingers stepped on, say when cleaning hooves, but far less likely. After a fall, it's possible that the horse might step on you, but often your horse will do what it can to avoid you. 

Kicks and Strikes

Horses can strike out with their front or rear hooves, and they can strike out backward and forwards with both. Sometimes, kicks are accidental, such as when a horse kicks at a fly and the handler gets in the way. Some kicks are intentional. Getting kicked by another horse while riding is also a risk, so be sure to keep a safe distance between horses when riding in a group.

Falls

According to the CHIRPP, 62% of reported horse-related injuries occurred due to falls. When you fall, almost any part of your body can be injured. Breaks or strains to arms, wrists and collar bones are common when riders try to break their fall by putting their arms out, as the rider in this photo is doing. The horse can also end up getting hurt.

Riders have been badly injured when a horse steps on or falls on them. And of course, the leading cause of death in riders is head injury. You can learn how to fall. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to avoid all harm. While a helmet won't guarantee 100% protection, statistics show that they do decrease the risk of traumatic brain injuries greatly. 

Bites

Horses bite to defend themselves or to express irritation and impatience. Some are sneaky and disrespectful. Horses that get pushy about being fed treats can become demanding and bite fingers and arms. Horses can bite hard enough to break fingers and can cause severe bruising and cuts.

Getting Knocked Over