One of the most terrifying accidents that can happen while you’re riding, handling or driving your horse is getting dragged. With some common sense and adherence to safe practices around horses, you can reduce your chances of getting dragged.
How It Happens
There are several ways you can be dragged by a horse. Loose clothing and things like belts and jewelry can get caught on equipment. Loose tack can get wrapped around arms, legs or bodies.
Limbs can get caught in vehicles. Feet can get stuck in stirrups. Belts can get caught on the hooks on safety stirrups or western saddle horns. Wrapping a lead rope or reins around your hand or any other body part can result in getting dragged. Even long hair can get caught. And, riders can get caught on things other than their horse or tack, like a tree branch or fence rail that can drag them off and put them beneath a horse’s hooves.
Why Is Getting Dragged So Dangerous
The actors in old movie westerns make getting dragged look fairly innocuous, but in reality, getting in the way of horses’ hooves and being bounced and pounded over the ground are more likely to cause serious injury. If your horse panics, you are likely to be thrown under the horse, where its hooves can do a lot of damage. Just hitting the ground repeatedly is obviously injurious. Helmets and other safety equipment can help protect you, but even with safety gear, getting dragged any distance is likely to result in injuries.
How To Avoid Getting Dragged
While handling your horse, don’t wrap any tack such as lead ropes, saddle strings, reins around any part of your body. Carry the loose end of your lead rope in a closed loop inside of your hand, rather than an open loop that goes around your hand. If you lose your footing, the horse can pull the loop tight. Don’t loop reins around your hands or over your head. I’ve seen kids do this. Not a good idea. Use a lead rope while leading your horse, and don’t hook your hand through a horse’s halter. Save loose, flowing clothing and dangling jewelry for occasions other than working with your horse.
In the saddle, wear appropriate clothing. Be aware that there have been incidents where bras and belts have gotten caught on the saddle horn. Injuries have occurred when belts caught in safety stirrups. Jump off clear of the saddle, or put the stirrup up over the horse's withers instead of sliding down when you dismount. Use safety stirrups that do not have any protruding parts as peacock and hinged stirrups have caused a numerous injuries.
Use safety stirrups and proper footwear. On English saddles, you can leave the hinge on the stirrup bar open, so that the leather slides off easier. On western saddles use stirrups with cages or tapadaros, so your feet can’t slide through the stirrup. And, make sure your boots are not so big and clunky that you can’t get out of the stirrup easily. Never use saddle strings or any other apparatus to secure yourself to the saddle. Make sure your girth or cinch is done up properly.
While driving, take steps not to become entangled in harness. Don’t put your hands. arms or feet through wheel spokes or other parts of the vehicle. Use good common sense.
If Someone Gets Dragged
The chances of someone being injured getting dragged are very likely. Call an ambulance immediately. If you’re riding in a group, all riders should dismount. The horse that caused the accident should be secured and quieted and the rider loosened from whatever caused them to become entangled. Then, all horses should be led a safe distance away or put in their stalls. The rider may be able to get up, but if there’s any question about fractures or other serious injuries they should stay where they are unless staying where they are presents a danger. A first-aider may treat for shock but otherwise, wait for emergency personnel to take over.