RISK ASSESSMENT - GENERAL
1. Entrance drive – cars, pedestrians and horses use the same drive. Risk of accident in drive.
Risk High.
Car park is provided for exclusive use of school, no horses allowed on car park except under supervision of an Instructor (eg for loading into a horse box)
Signs erected pointing to car park and banning horses.
Sign in drive to reduce speed
Separate path provided in front of car park to minimise need for horses to use same drive as cars.
This path has a lifting barrier, operated by a push button on either side, with safety beam to prevent barrier lowering if anyone is in the way. Barrier helps separate stables from drive. Keep it lowered at all times except when using the path.
Warning notices erected:
Outside entrance to Priors Court
In drive speed limit 10 MPH
Beware Children + Horses sign
2. Leaving drive – horses join public road. Risk of accident.
Risk High.
Warning sign on lane and near stables
Avoid incidental distractions, such as pedestrians, or loose dogs
When dusk/dark, switch on lights set low in wall next to gate by pressing the switch on brick pier.
Lights switch off automatically.
Leader of School Group to lead exit from Drive, checking for traffic. If a large group, second person to wait at entrance until all have left.
3. Waiting in school – people and horses together in restricted space. Risk of being kicked.
Horses to be tethered while waiting in the waiting areas (most under roof, some uncovered adjacent to horse exerciser), hitched to rails, with water.
Horses not needed in near future to be put in stable or holding paddock
People waiting for lesson to be kept away from horses especially in the areas where a Sign says No Pedestrians, Push Chairs or Dogs - this is the whole of he area from end of hitching rail outside Stables Office, down the ramp, past Brick Block and past Green Block to the access path to the Indoor School.
New attendees to be explained to avoid horses rear legs, not to feed titbits, not to make sudden movements or loud noises that might startle horses
4. Handling horses in the School
Only owners or experienced people to enter stables with a horse
5. Riding in School property – risks of falling off as horses are unpredictable and riding can be dangerous.
General risks of riding to be explained to new riders (and to parents/guardians of children)
Notices erected: Riding is dangerous, horses are unpredictable etc.
Riders to be assessed by Instructor before moving to next stage of riding
Body protector recommended to reduce risk of injury – available for loan.
Hard hat must be worn. School hats available for loan if needed.
Instructor to suit horses to rider’s ability, and, while taking into account client’s desire to progress, not to be unduly influenced by client’s desire to ride bigger and faster horses
Before commencing lesson or hack, girth + stirrup to be checked. If Rider is a novice, to be re-checked by Instructor.
6. Riding on Public Roads – risk of accidents with other road users. Risk high.
Riders to be assessed before leaving school by an Instructor that they are capable of controlling and stopping a horse
Risks to be pointed out to riders before leaving school. This may be dispensed with in the case of regular riders where occasional reminders may be sufficient.
In a lesson with a school leader or instructor, instructor to be in suitable position to help guide group – usually in front, but may have to wait at road crossings etc
To summon help in an emergency, mobile phone always to be carried
Something Reflective to be worn or carried if visibility is poor, and preferably at all times.
Body protector recommended to reduce risk of injury.
Hard hat must be worn.
7. Risk of fire – danger to people and horses
Strict no-smoking rule in all areas of the school except in the car park
Fire alarm/ringer/bell available
Fire extinguishers supplied at all stable blocks
Axe in main area to allow any jammed doors to be opened
No stables to be locked
In case of fire, horses to be led to paddock if safe to do so.
Assembly point in car park
8. Delivery or service vehicles – risk of accident, especially if vehicles reverse.
While deliveries, farrier etc should be scheduled for less busy times, to minimise risks, it is accepted that some vehicle movement willtake place while people are in the yard area.
To reduce the risk, vehicles to move “dead slow” in yard area, and a person to be allocated to assist in reversing. Such person to be positioned where he/she can be seen by the driver (not directly behind the vehicle) and where other people can be seen.
9. Horse walker – risk of injury while leading horse into walker
Only people who have been shown how to safely lead a horse into the walker, and how to stop it in an emergency, and how to get horses out of the walker, are allowed to operate the walker.
Children are not allowed to play in the walker.
10. Illness/allergy – risk of problem arising while at the School
Get list of allergies, illnesses, medication on Rider Sign Up form before first lesson.
All riders should have put contact details on their Sign Up form.
11. General Health, Safety and Hygiene
To avoid risk of bales and/or children falling from height in barn, no unauthorised persons to be allowed to climb in barn or to play on bales.
To minimise risk of slipping, muck to be collected regularly from yard. But riders/visitors must realise there will always be horse droppings at times.
First Aid kit available
WCs and drinking/hot water available
Rooms available for shelter and eating
Note: Nut and other allergies. Despite the name, we do not believe “Horse & Pony Nuts” contain nuts. However, nuts may be brought by riders as part of their lunch/snacks.