Safety First

There's a series of posts going around, started by Deanna over at My Country Genes on safety around horses. Fern Valley and Ranch Riding blogs have contributed with very good tips and thoughts, and I have a little bit to add.
My number one concern is my safety. I'm getting old and brittle, and don't quite bounce as good as I used to. My tip, is to be aware. Not just of where your horse is, but of what she is thinking. Read your horse. They have very expressive bodies, so take the time to get to know what each nuance means.

 When I walk into my mare pen, I can tell what kind of morning I am going to have with them.They tell me by their actions and reactions.

 I lead the three mares and Rio all at the same time as I take them to pasture, and it requires having eyes in the back of my head. There is no crowding me, stepping on me, biting each other or lagging allowed. Also, I am very aware of what I am doing with the lead ropes; I don't let them get tangled or wrapped around my hands, and I always have it so that I can use a tail end of a rope to snap with if one of the horses gets unruly. They aren't allowed to be pushy as they go through the 4 ft. pasture gate; one at a time, and politely.

I'm not going to tell you how to create respect in your herd, you do what works for you. But being aware of what's going on around you is the ticket to staying safe. Put yourself out of harm's way. Listen to that little voice in your head that tells you when something is unsafe. Create safe situations by habitually doing things with safety in mind. Make safety a habit!
Another post at Own a Morgan