For centuries, skiing has been considered one of the most dangerous sports in the world. With a high risk for head injuries and broken bones, it’s no wonder that people are terrified to try out this winter sport. But what about horseback riding,
Is this more dangerous than skiing? After all, horses can be unpredictable animals with a mind of their own! In a study done by The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (NIH), there was an average of 10 fatalities per year from horse-related injuries.
This is much less than the many deaths caused by skiers each year. It seems that while both activities may have some danger involved, we should look at which activity is more likely to kill you before choosing your next adventure.
What Is Skiing?
Skiing is a winter activity that includes the use of skis to glide over snow and ice. This is usually done downhill, with a slower pace than cross country skiing.
While it may not be as fast as horseback riding, it takes a lot more skill to complete downhill runs in the mountains without hitting any trees or other obstacles on the side of the slope.
Skiers can easily find themselves in dangerous situations with low visibility, making horseback riding much safer to learn. Also, skiing often includes long hikes up a mountain for beginners and pros alike to get to the location of their descent.
This is not always the case with horseback riding; however, this shouldn’t stop you if horseback riding is your thing.
How Dangerous Is Skiing?
On average, ten people are killed in horse-related injuries every year. But how many deaths are caused by skiers? The same study done by NIH reveals about 100 fatalities per year from skiing and snowboarding accidents between 2003 to 2006.
It is also estimated that about 7 out of every 100,000 people are killed from horse-related injuries every year, while there is an average of 4.5 fatalities per 100,000 skiers every year. It looks like horseback riding may be the more dangerous activity in this scenario!
What Should You Not Do While Skiing?
One of the most dangerous things to do while skiing is to wear skis that are too long for you. This can prevent you from making sharp turns or even stopping in an emergency.
It takes a great deal of skill and balance to maneuver well on skis, so make sure your ski instructor has considered this before deciding on your equipment.
Another big mistake that skiers can make is not wearing any helmets! Just like horseback riding, this can lead to some serious head injuries.
While horseback riding is less dangerous in this case, it’s still important to wear a helmet for both activities for safety purposes.
You should also never try to ski in any location that isn’t allowed. You may find beautiful slopes hidden behind an unassuming fence, but people have been caught and fined for trespassing for this very reason!
Why Is Horseback Riding Better Than Skiing?
While horseback riding may be more dangerous than skiing, it offers many benefits that skiing does not.
I horseback riding, horse taming and horse grooming are all part of the experience.
Horseback riding also includes working with your horse to teach them new tricks or caring for their needs.
Horses have many feelings just like humans do, and it’s important to be aware of this when taking lessons from requested horse riding.
Skiing, on the other hand, involves little training preparation for beginners.
Horse owners may also find that horseback riding is not an only good exercise for their horses but great exercise for themselves as well!
Skiing requires a lot of time and energy to hike up hills and travel further from home; It can be done right on your horse property.
Conclusion
While horseback riding may be more dangerous than skiing, it still offers some unique benefits that make horseback riding horse care horse grooming much better activities for horse owners.
While horseback riding is a little bit more dangerous than skiing and snowboarding, that doesn’t mean you should stop doing what you love!