Is My Horse Ride-Safe? A Pre-Ride Checklist That Could Save Your Life

Why Ride Safety Isn't Just for Green Horses

If you've been riding for any amount of time, you've probably heard the term "seasoned horse" tossed around. Maybe you've even been told, "Oh, this one's been ridden for years. Totally safe."

But here's the hard truth: any horse can have an off day. And the moment we assume a horse is ride-safe without checking, we put ourselves in danger.

Ride safety isn't about how many trail miles your horse has logged. It's about one thing: connection.

You may have a well-trained, responsive horse 99% of the time—but if that 1% of disconnection happens when you’re in the saddle, the consequences can be devastating. We’ve seen it happen even with horses who’ve been ridden for years. The question isn’t, “Has this horse been safe before?” The question is, “Is this horse safe right now?”

The Biblical Wisdom Behind Safety First

Every Barn Hour begins with a verse, and this one grounded our whole session:

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer the penalty." — Proverbs 27:12

It’s not fear. It’s prudence. Being mindful, discerning, and willing to pause. That mindset alone can prevent injury.

Too many riders interpret caution as cowardice. But real wisdom means slowing down long enough to assess: Is this a good idea right now? Is my horse truly with me?

In other words, are we in unity—not just in motion?

The 3 Critical Tests Before You Ride

Amy laid out three non-negotiable pre-ride tests that serve as connection checks. If your horse can’t pass these calmly and consistently, it’s not time to saddle up.

1. The Softness Test

A soft horse is a connected horse. Before you ride, ask:

🔘 Is your horse relaxed in their eyes and body?
🔘 Will they tip their nose with light pressure?
🔘 Can they back up softly on the ground and under saddle?

Softness shows up in subtle ways:

🔘 Licking and chewing
🔘 Lowered head and relaxed ears
🔘 A softened eye, loose cadence, slow blinking

These aren’t just signs of obedience—they’re signs your horse is tuned in and present.

You’re not looking for perfection. You’re looking for willingness. Willingness tells you the door to communication is open.

If your horse is rigid, braced, or ignoring cues, that’s a signal: they’re not ready, and you’re not safe. Pause, breathe, and go back to groundwork.

2. The Desensitizing Test

Can your horse stay calm in the face of pressure or surprise? Desensitizing doesn’t mean your horse becomes numb. It means they learn to regulate their response.

This test includes:

🔘 Comfort with tools like the halter, brush, flag, saddle
🔘 Ability to handle movement—like a tarp dragging, a flag waving, or a plastic bag fluttering—without overreacting
🔘 Staying mentally with you when startled

What you’re looking for isn’t just compliance. You’re looking for recovery.

Every horse will startle. But how fast can they return their attention to you? Can they settle and re-engage? That’s the real goal.

Important: You want to see at least three signs of softening (like lowered head, licking and chewing, focused ears) before releasing pressure.

Also remember, desensitizing must happen on both sides. Most horses are more reactive on one side. Don’t avoid it—work through it.

3. The Sending Test

Sending combines several leadership cues:

🔘 Backing up
🔘 Moving the front end over
🔘 Driving forward around you on a loose line

When done with clarity and softness, this exercise shows you how willing and responsive your horse is to direction and guidance.

You're watching for transitions:

🔘 Can your horse move from walk to trot to canter and back down without anxiety?
🔘 Can they stay mentally connected through the energy changes?

This tells you they’re both responsive and mentally with you. It’s not about wearing them out. It’s about tuning them in.

Supporting Exercises That Build Safety

Ground Driving

It might feel clunky at first, but ground driving reveals whether your horse understands rein cues and directional aids. You’re essentially riding from the ground.

This is especially helpful for teaching:

🔘 Rein softness
🔘 Turning and bending through the ribcage
🔘 Stopping on cue

It also builds your own confidence. You get to practice guiding your horse through pressure—and your horse gets to learn without the added challenge of your weight.

The Go-Forward and Stop Tests

🔘 Will my horse move out softly when asked?
🔘 Will they stop when I sit deep, breathe, or apply the reins?

These may seem basic, but they’re crucial. Many accidents happen because a horse doesn't want to stop—or doesn’t understand how.

Most horses want to move their feet. That’s survival. Standing still is trust.

So before you ride, ask yourself: Will my horse go forward willingly… and stop calmly?

What to Do If Your Horse Fails a Test

Don’t panic. And please—don’t push through it. This isn’t a sign that your horse is broken. It’s a sign they need help reconnecting.

Here’s what you can do:

🔘 Go back to groundwork. Pick one cue and work on it until it softens.
🔘 End on a win—even if it’s tiny. A small step back, a soft eye, a breath.
🔘 Try again tomorrow. Connection builds through repetition, not perfection.

Some of the best rides begin the day after you chose not to ride. Because you put connection above achievement.

The Emotional Cost of Skipping Groundwork

It’s easy to think, “I’ll just hop on real quick.” But that choice can lead to:

🔘 Injury
🔘 Broken trust
🔘 Setbacks in your horse’s progress

More than anything, it builds uncertainty in you. And uncertainty in a rider becomes confusion for the horse.

One of Amy’s closing reminders in Barn Hour was this: "Don’t feel defeated if today isn’t a riding day."

Choosing safety is not quitting. It’s leadership.

Slow Is Smooth. Smooth Is Fast.

Rushing riding puts your safety and your horse's trust at risk. Slow down. Pay attention. Look for softness, willingness, and a quiet mind.

Because every safe ride starts on the ground.

Noah often says: "I won’t get on a horse I can’t breathe down from a canter."

That’s not because he’s cautious. It’s because he’s wise.

So take your time. Ride when it’s right. And let your groundwork tell the truth.

Let This Checklist Be Your New Normal

Let’s recap the checklist:

✅ Softness Test — Look for signs your horse is relaxed and responsive
✅ Desensitizing Test — Can they handle pressure and reconnect?
✅ Sending Test — Are they willing and mentally with you through transitions?
✅ Go/Stop Test — Will they move forward calmly? Will they stop?
✅ Ground Driving — Can they follow directional cues softly?

And above all:

✅ Connection — Is your horse truly with you?

If the answer is yes to all of these, ride on. If not, spend a little more time on the ground. You’ll both be better for it.

📣 Ready to feel safer in the saddle? Watch the training and learn how to build connection before your boot ever hits the stirrup: steadyhorse.com