Dear Editor:
When I saw the photo on the first pages of the Equine section in the April 25 edition of the Advertiser I thought it was a quiz 鈥�听 鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong with this picture?鈥�听
Then I realized just one picture shows so many of the dangers associated with horses.
Wear a helmet. It has been proven time and time again, that a helmet offers head and brain protection.
Use a saddle. Bareback riding relies solely on upper body balance. A saddle enables balance from the feet up. One twist or jump from either horse will end in disaster no matter how good a rider one might think they are. Horses are unpredictable.
Use a bitted bridle or hackamore. A halter is not designed as a mounted control method. It is for leading or tying. A knotted lead shank tied to the halter can come undone at any moment.听
Leading a horse while mounted. This practice is not a good idea but many do it. A bridle is preferred to halter for more control of the led horse, if you must do it.
Wear proper footwear. Boots with heels of at least 1/4鈥�. The horse feels no pain when it steps on your shoes, or in this case, it looks like sock clad feet. Protect your feet!
I have been involved with horses 鈥� many types, breeds, disciplines, competitions and many countries. Horses are big animals of prey with a brain the size of your fist, so please use all available means of safety.听
And most of all, think of the impact this photo has on new riders, beginners, those unfamiliar with horses and those unfamiliar with the proper ways of doing things for safety鈥檚 sake.听
They say that a photo is a just a moment in time but speaks a thousand words. Unfortunately, this photo is saying all the wrong things and in the worst possible ways.
Vivianne Macdonald,
Mapleton