Do you go under the horse's head or behind to get to the other side?
My first riding experience was at a summer camp. Everyone there said to walk behind the horse's butt and pat the butt so the horse would know that you were there. They always said that as long as you walked close enough, the horse couldn't kick because it would only touch your feet or ankles and wouldn't do much harm.
After a couple summers at that camp I started taking riding lessons. There, the barn owner warned me not to walk behind a horse because it could kick and hurt you. He said to go under its neck instead.
Then, I went back to the camp and got a lecture about how a horse could kill you if you went under its neck if it reared or something.
I'll probably just continue to go under at the barn and around at the camp. I can see how both make sense. I'm just wondering how you all have been taught. Do you go around your horse's butt or under its neck?
Anonymous2010-04-05T19:29:24Z
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Wow, what mixed opinions!
I've taught English riding for 30 years, so can tell you what we do over here...
1) NEVER under any circumstances go under the belly, it is by far the most dangerous way to pass the horse as you can be easily stood on or trampled. Not only that, but a horse can be easily spooked that way making the risk worse.
2) We are taught that you can pass by the horse's rump, but if you can, you should walk at least three feet further than you think he can kick! Most people cannot be bothered walking that far everytime though, so in practice, you stand at the side of the rump, and pat the croup to let them know you are there and not get spooked. Do not pat too softly as it can irritate the horse, a bit like a fly landing on the skin. Only once you have patted should you cross behind. Do not brush against the horse, or he might whisk his tail around in irritation, and tail hair is not nice in the eye or mouth.
3) If you do pass by the rump, we are taught that you should be as close to the rump as you can be without brushing against them. The reason is that a kicking hoof will still be gaining speed that close and you might get a broken leg at worst. If you are further away, the hoof will have more speed and can hit you higher up. A shattered hip will be much worse than a broken leg.
4) Due to those risks, we are actually taught to pass in front of the horse. You stand at the shoulder and facing the front. You bend over a little and turn round to face the horse as you walk round. This way, if the horse throws his head, he cannot hit you too hard on the head or back as you are facing him. It is also very difficult for him to bite you and horses find it very difficult to kick forwards.
So unless you have him tied up very short for some reason, we are always taught to cross in the front, ducking under his head and facing into his chest as you do so.
If you walk under a horses neck that you do not know, you could get seriously injured. But, same goes for walking behind a horse you do not know. If you do have to walk behind a horse, either make sure you leave plenty of free space between you and the horses hind end so that if he did kick out, you would be far enough away that he couldn't strike you. Or be close enough that you are in physical contact with the horse and if he did kick out, you would be too close for him to cause much harm. To avoid walking under a horses neck, just walk around the horses front end of possible.
I've been ridding for many many years now and I've always done both! If I'm at the front when i want to pass over i go under the neck and if I'm at the back and want to got around i go around back. I've never had troubles with either!! The only thing that can be slightly painful is if you go under the neck and they put there head down to eat but i mean I've never actually been hurt! I don't think you run any risks with either I've been doing both for about 8 years and I've never had a problem and i do this with horses aged 1- 30.(not kidding on the ages). I think your safe either way!
It depends on the horse and how well I know him. For example, I've been riding a big, calm, bomb-proof lesson horse who is totally used to having children walk around her. When grooming, I'll just walk under her head but keep my hand on her neck the whole time so she knows where I am. When walking anywhere around her back end, I'll always talk quietly and put my hand on her butt when I walk behind her at around an arm's length away. Most of the lesson horses at our barn are used to this kind of stuff on a regular basis.
Whenever I groom a horse I've never handled before, I always give them much space and walk farther behind them and in front of them (enough distance so they can't kick easily). I always have a little conversation when I'm tacking up, hahaha. It seems to calm them down and also lets them know where I am.
My instructor or other 'barn people' haven't ever repremanded me for walking under a horse's neck or behind them because, for the most part, they know the horse's tempermant.
Honestly I taught my horse to let me do both. I stay close to my horse when I walk behind her so if she were to get scared and kick it would only push me away and not hurt me(or only hurt me a little.) And I pet her the only time to keep her calm. And when I go under her neck, my hand trails across and under her to remind her I am there. But when I have a horse that I am not too sure about or that is not gentled, I will only go under her neck because they seem to know I am there better and are less likely to get spooked. I also go under mine's belly and she doesn't care a bit.
I have learned from experience that a horse does not hurt you as bad if you stay as close to their rear as possible when walking behind them. I have been kicked before, and if I had not been so close behind my ol horse he probably would have broke my leg. But I barely even felt the kick instead.