| where you look there are horse crazy girls flocking | | | | they are allowed to handle. Small kids, should be |
| boarding stables and riding schools, eager to take any | | | | encouraged to wear a helmet whenever handling |
| chance they can to be around the horses. While it is | | | | horses. Older kids may be okay on their own without |
| wonderful to see their eager faces around the farm, | | | | a helmet, but should still be supervised whenever |
| it is important to consider their safety. | | | | handling the animals. |
| Kids believe that they are invincible and indestructible. | | | | When riding, there should always be a person on the |
| It does not matter how old or how young, it is | | | | ground, available to help in case of emergency. |
| impossible for a youngster to understand the | | | | No-one should be riding if there is not one person on |
| incredible amount of danger there is around a farm. | | | | the property available who is able to drive should a |
| If you take a good look around the average horse | | | | trip to the hospital be necessary. Riders should only |
| farm, you will be amazed at just how many dangers | | | | be allowed on horses that they know, unless they |
| there are to those who are not aware. | | | | are supervised by an adult the first few times. |
| One of the biggest lures for youngsters is heavy | | | | Any horses who are potentially dangerous to kids |
| equipment. From big tractors to small ATVs, the | | | | should be clearly pointed out. You should put signs on |
| equipment around the farm is like honey to a bee. | | | | their stalls, and try to avoid turning them out with |
| Kids will clamber over, under and through the | | | | horses that the kids are likely to have to bring in |
| equipment without considering that they could get | | | | from the fields. |
| hurt. If you have a farm that may have kids around, | | | | While you would not want to discourage kids from |
| be sure that all equipment is stored with the keys | | | | enjoying the horses and having fun around the farm, |
| removed, and any dangerous parts covered or put | | | | setting up some rules and safety measures is |
| away. A vehicle with keys attached is far too | | | | essential. An ounce of prevention can go a long way. |
| tempting to a little one, and unless the child is old | | | | Remember, even in the safest barns accidents can |
| enough to know how to drive, he should not be | | | | happen. Put together a plan for managing |
| using the equipment. | | | | emergencies, and make sure that all the kids know |
| Of course, kids are usually there for the horses. | | | | exactly what to do if something goes wrong. |
| Unfortunately, not all horses are as easygoing as we | | | | Never leave kids on the farm without at least one |
| would like to see. While some will stand in the | | | | adult nearby for supervision. Discourage parents from |
| crossties for hours with little girls brushing them, | | | | randomly dropping their kids off for the day, and be |
| others would just as soon bite or kick the hand that | | | | sure to have all emergency numbers on hand. |
| feeds them. | | | | Kids can be great help around the barn, but they |
| It should be made clear to the kids which horses | | | | need to be safe. |