• What law applies
• Safety information for riders
• Training and education
• Workplace environment
• Safety when riding
• General health and safety issues
  • Workplace amenities
  • Manual tasks
  • Insecticides and other harmful chemicals
  • Machinery and electrical safety
  • Injury, illness and dangerous events

The Horse Riding Industry Code of Practice 2002

• First aid
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Sun safety and heat stress
• Safety switches
• Risk management

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Training and education

Training for workers
Instructor qualifications
Instructions for riders and clients
Instructor to student ratio

Training for workers

Workers should have the appropriate skills and knowledge to perform their work without risk to the health and safety of themselves and others.

Training for workers should include:

• how to do the job safely
• how to use and maintain equipment
• any special safety precautions needed for a specific task for example restraining a horse for veterinary treatment.

The training needs of young workers and weekend or casual workers may need particular attention.

Instructor qualifications

• Instructors should be competent for the type of training they are giving.
• Any formal qualifications should be appropriate to the work activities.
• Instructors should hold a current first aid certificate.

A useful checklist on instructor qualifications is provided in appendix 1A of The Horse Riding Schools, Trail Riding Establishments and Horse Hiring Establishments Industry Code of Practice 2002.

More about first aid.

Instructions for riders and clients

Riders and clients may be at risk of injury if they have insufficient knowledge, skills or experience related to riding.

Riders and clients should be given advice about:

• characteristics and behaviour of horses
• risks of riding a horse
• helmets, riding boots and clothing
• selecting and using riding equipment
• safety procedures
• riding and stable rules
• the riding environment and how to deal with problems.

Instructor to student ratio

Employers should decide on an appropriate instructor to student ratio or guide to student ratio considering:

• the experience and qualifications of instructor or guide
• the experience and ability student or rider
• the temperament and experience of the horse
• the level of training the horse has received
• the type of riding or lesson being given.

Further information on training and education is provided in section 3 of The Horse Riding Schools, Trail Riding Establishments and Horse Hiring Establishments Industry Code of Practice 2002.