Fatal Horse Accident

I just posted a link on our Facebook page about a fatal horse accident? (http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20111005/NEWS/310050030/Owner-dies-after-horse-panics’odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage). it’s a reminder that a horse accident is always right around the corner, and often tHere’s little we can do about it. This link is about Debra Lusk, a woman in North Carolina who was recently killed by her horse in a trailer. It sounds like the horse panicked for some reason, started kicking and didn’t stop. She was trapped. ?It could happen to any of us, at any point, with any horse, whether a particular horse is silly or quiet. ?My deepest sympathy goes to her family and friends, especially her fellow horsewomen who were with her when the incident happened. I cannot even begin to imagine the horror. We all know we can get hurt riding. And, hopefully, We’ve all accepted that wearing a safety helmet and proper boots is the minimal effort we can make for our families and friends, as they’re the ones that are left behind to cope if we’re killed or seriously injured. But, although riding increases the chance of injury, it’s not the only place you can be injured. I’ve been injured more times than I care to admit because I did something stupid ? got on a strange horse without someone else riding it first, forgot to check my girth before mounting and jumping a course, handled a horse without giving my full attention to him ? and I always said to myself afterward, ?I knew better than that.?? I guess I’m lucky I was around to utter those words. Horse Journal prints safety reminders each month. they’re not just everyday safety stuff. We look for situations that not all of us might recognize as potentially dangerous, such as not running our stirrups up properly, a saddle rack sticking out in the barn aisle, unattached halter hooks and straps, a longe line or lead rope wrapped around our hand. If you’re like me, horses are as much a part of living as eating and sleeping. We accepted the risks as part of the sport long ago. ?I imagine Debra Lusk did, too. But freak accidents happen. When they do, all we can do is offer sympathy to the family and friends mourning her loss and work hard to always reduce our own risks. Take no chances.