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Children and Horses: Safety Basics

Horses are powerful animals that react to the world through instinct. Children can enjoy them safely when adults supply supervision, good teaching and suitable equipment.

Why do horses need respect from children?

Horses are large prey animals. When startled, their first response is often to move away fast, and a person in the way can be knocked down or kicked. A child may not see what scared the horse.

Horses also sense mood and unfamiliarity. A calm, quiet person nearby helps. A loud, running child can alarm even a gentle horse.

Check extension and NIOSH material on working with animals for official guidance. A horse's instinct is to flee first, and that instinct is strongest in new places, around sudden noises and in the presence of unfamiliar people. Knowing this helps adults plan calm routines.

What should adults supervise?

A responsible adult who understands horses should be present whenever children are around them, including during feeding, grooming and leading. Younger children should stay outside stalls and paddocks.

Match the horse to the child's experience, and ask a qualified instructor or an experienced horse person to help you choose. A horse that suits an experienced adult may be wrong for a child.

Do not leave children alone with a horse, even a very quiet one. A good instructor will also teach children to read a horse's body language, such as ear position and tail movement, so they notice trouble before it happens.

• Adult with horse knowledge present
• Horse matched to child's skill
• Children kept outside stalls unless accompanied
• No unsupervised contact

What behavior should children learn?

Teach children to approach from the side where the horse can see them, to speak softly, and to avoid walking directly behind a horse. Explain that a horse may kick when startled, and that it cannot see directly behind itself.

Children should not run, shout or wave their arms near horses, and should not duck under the animal's neck or belly.

A qualified instructor can teach correct handling better than a written guide. Teach children to keep a hand on the horse when walking around it, so the animal knows where they are. A qualified instructor can show the right way to do this in person.

What about riding?

Riding carries its own risks, and lessons from a qualified instructor are the best foundation. Ask riding organizations and your extension office for recommendations on instruction near you.

Appropriate protective gear, including a helmet designed for riding and suitable footwear, is a topic for the instructor and the equipment manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's guidance on fit and replacement.

Keep children's rides in an enclosed, suitable space, and ask an instructor about safe setups. Insist that helmets and appropriate footwear are used according to the manufacturer's guidance and the instructor's advice. Gear that is outgrown, damaged or poorly fitted should be replaced.

How should tack and the stable area be managed?

Keep stalls, aisles and tack rooms organized so that nobody trips or gets cornered. Store feed securely, since horses that get loose into feed can become ill, and children can be hurt trying to stop them.

Check halters, lead ropes and tack for wear before use, following the manufacturer's guidance. Replace worn items.

Keep gates latched and ask visitors to follow the rules of the barn. Keep dogs, loud equipment and sudden activity away from the stable area when children are present, since these can unsettle horses.

What about hygiene and health?

Children should wash hands after handling horses, tack and feed, and avoid eating or drinking in the barn. Keep first aid supplies where adults can reach them.

Ask your doctor about tetanus and other vaccines for family members who work with animals, and check the CDC for official guidance.

Teach children to tell an adult about any bite, scrape or kick, however minor it seems. Keep a first aid kit in the barn and teach older children where it is. A kit is only helpful if people know where to find it and what is in it.

What if a child is hurt?

Call 911 for any serious injury, especially to the head, neck or back. Do not move the child unless the dispatcher tells you to. Keep the horse and other animals away and keep everyone calm.

Take a first aid and CPR course from the American Red Cross or the local fire department. Hands-on training is the place to learn what to do.

After a fall or kick, even if the child seems fine, ask a doctor about checking for injuries, since some do not show right away. Share your barn rules with visitors and neighbors' children before they arrive, so everyone can enjoy the horses with the same expectations.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.