Keeping ourselves safe around horses and equipment is very important. Accidents can always happen but often times they are preventable if only we would think before we act.

Driving to and from the ride

Before each road trip walk around your trailer, checking lights, tire pressure and making sure your rig is roadworthy. It is so important that you keep up on your trailer maintenance -- having the bearings packed regularly and making sure that your tires, hitch, wiring and also the trailer floor are in great shape.

When traveling with horses, you should never be in a hurry as it takes a lot more distance to stop your truck when it is fully loaded. Be extra cautious, give yourself plenty of room, using turn signals, mirrors and checking twice before changing lanes.

Before heading home after the ride, be sure that you have given yourself and your horse plenty of rest time.

Start and finish of the ride

We all know that being around horses, accidents can happen instantly but we can take measures to keep ourselves and others safer throughout the ride. Most accidents happen either at the beginning of the ride or at the end, often while just mounting or being bunched up at the start of a ride or while racing over the finish line.

If you have a fractious horse it may be best, once you have checked in with the timer, to hide out in the back of the ride camp until well after the start of the ride in order to avoid an accident that could hurt you or other riders.

It is important to stay focused on your horse and the situation around you. This is even more important if you have a horse that behaves poorly towards other horses. Riders who are on kickers should not be in the mix of other riders in tight areas like at the beginning of a ride. Placing a red ribbon on your horse's tail does not give you a free pass: you are responsible for your horse's behavior.

Riders who think they may be finishing up toward the front of the ride and may want to race across the finish line need to go out and check out the last mile or so of the ride a day ahead of time. Make sure that you will have ample time to pull up and stop before you get to anything that could be a hazard. If it is not possible to check out the finish line, riders should err on the side of caution.

Pulse area and vet checks

While in the pulse area, be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for your horse, who may be crowding another horse, rider or ride volunteer. Watch yourself as well to be sure you are not standing directly behind another horse. When horses get in tight areas with other horses, sometimes they feel threatened and may kick out. You need to be alert in these situations in order to prevent potential accidents.

Be sure to work with your horses at home and correct them anytime they are threatening other horses while in hand.

Let's all be careful out there. Whether we are on the road, in camp or on the trail, watch out for yourself as well as others.