How to Survive a Horse Attack

We have a problem here that one of the horses has come out under the stalls, burst out from stall 10. And that one is formidable flame. And the horse is now loose. You're reaching out to pet a horse when it tries to chomp on your arm. Startle you step back and the horse rears up. If it comes down on you, you could be severely hurt. What did you do to spook it? Here's how to survive a horse attack. There are over 100,000 horse riding accidents in the U.S. every year. More than half of those accidents involve riders being thrown from the horses. But almost a quarter of them are horse kicks. And a small number are bike related. How could you avoid becoming a statistic? What is the proper way to approach a horse? And why would a horse lash out at you? Horses are vigilant animals, always on the lookout for threats. That means they can lash out or take flight at any moment. So how you approach them is very important. Unlike you, horses cannot see directly in front of them. So if you approach them from directly in front of them, they may not see you until you're close. That could startle them. If startled, a horse can lash out or rear up. The same goes for approaching an equine from behind. A horse can't see you when you're approaching from behind it. In this case, it'll likely kick out a back leg. And if it hits you, it can do some major damage. Approach a horse slowly from the side. If you're within its line of sight, don't make any sudden movements. Talk quietly to the horse and say its name. Making audible footsteps will also let the horse know that you're approaching and not a threat. Then stay close to the horse's shoulder, so it can't kick you with its hind legs. Never stand behind its hind legs, and keep eye contact with the animal if you can. Use a bucket or feed bag when feeding a horse. Feeding by hand could lead to you getting bitten. The horse may think your hand is food, too. If a horse lowers its head, pulls back its lips, or pins its ears back, step away. It could be about to bite or kick. Other signs it's about to be aggressive include stamping its feet, rapidly moving its tail, or pawing at the ground with its front legs. If you see any of these signs, back away slowly. Whether you've been thrown, bitten, or kicked, you need immediate medical help. Being thrown from a horse could cause contusions, broken bones, or a concussion. You could have internal injuries that you're not aware of. A horse's bite is about 3,447 kPa. That's more than double the power of a pit bull's bite. It can cause bruising, puncture wounds, and broken bones. But what if you get kicked by a horse? A horse's kick can deliver a force of over 10,000 newtons. If it hits you in your torso, it could severely damage your internal organs. It could even rupture some organs and kill you. If you get kicked in the face, it could sprain your neck, break your jaw, or damage your skull. You could also have a severe concussion. Most kicks hit people in the abdomen, upper body, or face. Horses were domesticated thousands of years ago, but they can still be dangerous when spooked or mistreated. So being careful is always a good idea around equines. You survived being attacked by a horse, but they're not the only domesticated animal that can attack you. Cats can also be skittish, and they won't hesitate to lash out if they feel threatened. What do you need to do if you get bitten by a cat? We'll find out on another episode of How to Survive.