Hazards – What are they and how can you control them?
Hazards are conditions that create or increase the risk (chance) of injury to people, the horse, and property. Controlling hazards reduces the likelihood of injury. Some hazards can easily be eliminated, while others are inherent and must be controlled with reasonable measures based on today’s knowledge and technology.
Physical hazards, such as frayed electrical wire, are easy to detect and correct (control). The hazards associated with horses, people, and places are much more difficult to identify and control. Rules and procedures work best when people understand the purpose behind the rule.
As a horse owner or someone who has responsibility for horses, we wanted to help familiarize you with the unique risks and exposures associated with them.
The Horse
- If you board horses with others or lease a horse to others, you have an obligation to inform them of known propensities of that specific horse. A propensity is a tendency to engage in a certain behavior.
- Inherent risks are different that propensities and are defined in Texas Equine Activity Liability Act. This act limits the horse owner/trainer’s liability for inherent risks if the warn according to the law.
- Be familiar with care, custody, and control insurance coverage. See if your coverage includes transit or not.
The People
- Develop a written training plan with your employees.
- Require certification and assess skills for contract instructors.
- Develop a written rider assessment method to be reviewed and signed by your students (riders). Use this method to match rider and horse in lessons. Riders must also learn tack inspection and fitting. All riders should be asked to wear head protection.
- Inform other professionals (trainers, grooms, farriers, and veterinarians) of a horse’s propensities and specific precautions to take around that specific horse.
- At events, you will have spectators, participants, sponsors, officials, and vendors. People may observe a horse or attempt to enter confined areas such as stalls or fenced pastures, so be sure to post warnings to try to minimize these risks.
The Location/Facility
- Anticipate hazards, identify them, and try to control them at your location or facility. Be sure to include transporting horses for clients to include loading, transporting, and unloading.
- Develop and post facility procedures and rules.
- Develop written emergency first aid procedures for people and horses, and make sure all employees are aware of these procedures.
- Develop a written inspection form and perform regular inspections of your facility to include shelters and fencing are properly maintained, minimize fire risks (ex. faulty wiring or chemical storage) to name a few.
Liability and Waivers of Liability
- Post Texas Equine Activity Liability Act signs.
- Have a lawyer review your contracts and release waivers. Be sure that when a minor is the student that the contract and waiver include the signature of the minor and both parents
Did you Know?
We offer a wide variety of insurance products to include Home, Auto, Life, Annuities, Motorcycle, RV, ATV, Boat, Small Business, Rental, Umbrella, and Equine Mortality/Major Medical coverage.
Galvin Agency is here to help you with insurance questions, needs, and claims. We are here to assist you and our job is to make sure you feel protected and knowledgeable. Thank you for your business and we look forward to talking with you soon!
No person associated with this news letter receives any form of compensation for any products mentioned, nor should any mention of a particular product be considered an endorsement of that product. This newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be considered authoritative on any topic. Please seek advice from an appropriate professional on any specific issue.
