You and your horse’s safety should always be paramount and here at Equiport we thought we’d pick out a few products which can help prevent injury to you and your horse. There is a huge importance of thinking, acting and being safe around horses as equestrians become more active as the season progresses and also as we head into the colder winter months. We all know how easy it is to cut corners when you’re in a rush or when you just want to head inside but we still need to remember to use vital safety products to make sure everyone remains protected.
The biggest safety advice is to always make sure you wear a riding hat and make sure it is fitted by a qualified hat fitter – all our Equiport staff are given the most up-to-date expert hat fitting training by Samshield themselves. We absolutely love this Navy Shadowmatt with Crystal Top and 255 Crystals by Samshield, from £718.33. Conforming to VG1 and ASTM 1163 SEI standard, the helmet is finished with a faux leather chin strap which gives extra security and rigidity, minimising frontal rotation of the helmet when landing over jumps. There is no contact with the rider's forehead, so internal airflow is maximised and the thick internal contact memory foam cushions mould to the rider's head. Not only that, this stunning hat looks fabulous with diamante show jackets and is perfect for riders who love a bit of sparkle but want the utmost protection.
Also in the case that your Samshield riding hat does suffer a significant impact, Samshield strongly recommends that you send it back to their workshop – this can be done by returning it back to Equiport if we were whom you purchased it from. Once they receive it back, the hat will be completely scanned and looked over to determine whether it has sustained any internal damage. Due to evolving helmet standards, technologies and the potential for unseen material deterioration, Samshield recommend that you replace your riding hat every five years.
Having the safety stirrups can also help to minimise injury in the result of a fall when out riding. The Freejump Soft'Up Pro Stirrups - Premium Edition Silver, £244.00, are designed to place your feet in the optimum position, they are also quick-release to avoid getting your foot trapped in a fall. The flexible outside branch of these stirrups is made from Elastollen and helps to ensure that the rider's foot is released if a fall occurs. The tempered spring steel single-branch offers extra high mechanical resistance (1200MPa). Meanwhile, the extra-wide non-slip removable tread made from Ixef® 1022 (fibreglass loaded polyarylamide) with an exclusive LOOK CYCLE® technology nonslip studded tread surface provides comfort and a stable foot position - we adore this trendy silver colour as well!
It is also very important to make sure you always wear appropriate footwear when dealing with and riding your horses. The Alberto Fasciani 33027 Riding Boots, £349.00, are just the right thing for the job! Combining classic styling and innovative new technologies, these horse riding boots provide the ultimate in comfort and style. The boots are made from black calfskin leather, with the inside of the leg in an elastic rubber fabric – providing premium comfort and grip when in the saddle. The heel is composed of 8mm of rubber together with a leather layer. This ensures that the boots are durable, resistant to wear and also making sure your foot doesn’t slip through the stirrup.
You also need to remember your horse’s safety, especially areas like their legs. The Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Tendon Boot, £150.30, has double ventilation to ensure the horse's legs are in optimum condition to reach his full potential The heat released from the horse's leg passes through the inner and neoprene layer and is then distributed in the 3D mesh ducted fabric. An adjustable quick closure system with elastic straps makes the Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Tendon Boot extremely practical – making sure there is no excuse to not protect your horse’s legs, even when putting boots on seems like a lot of effort.
The Waldhausen Davis Special Tie Rope, £24.99, is an innovative safety tie rope from the USA - winner of the Spoga Horse Innovation Award 2012 - stable category. This tie rope features a unique ‘turtle snap’ panic hook system to give you horse the required quick release when in an emergency situation. The carabiner is hung up by a simple sliding mechanism. Easy pulling at the cylinder sleeves releases the hook in an emergency situation. The other side can be tied with an ordinary steel carabiner. The tie rope is made from sturdy nylon material, 2.5cm wide, adjustable from 75cm to 1.2m. This tie rope should not be used in conjunction with another elastic tie rope as the safety function may not be fulfilled. Make sure your horse remains safe when tied up on the yard with this incredible design by Waldhausen.
Availability and prices correct at time of publishing
