What personal safety equipment should every rider wear and why?

Rider safety equipment protects against the injuries that are a genuine and ever-present risk of working with horses, and wearing appropriate safety equipment consistently — not only when conditions seem particularly risky, but as a routine part of every ride — is the standard that experienced horsemen and equestrian safety organizations consistently recommend. Falls and horse reactions that result in head contact with the ground happen to experienced riders in familiar environments as often as they happen to beginners in challenging ones. A correctly fitted riding helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment a rider can wear, and it should meet the safety standards of a recognized testing organization and be replaced after any significant impact — including a fall — regardless of whether visible damage is apparent. Helmets are designed to absorb impact energy in a controlled way, and a helmet that has absorbed significant impact may have done so in ways that are invisible externally but that compromise its ability to protect in a subsequent fall. Body protectors — padded vests designed to absorb and distribute the impact of falls and kicks — are standard safety equipment in eventing and cross-country competition and are increasingly used in other disciplines where falls are likely. They reduce bruising, rib fractures, and soft tissue injuries in falls, and while they cannot prevent all injuries, they reduce the severity of impacts they cover. Appropriate footwear with a heel that prevents the foot from sliding through the stirrup is a basic safety requirement. A foot caught in a stirrup during a fall creates a dragging situation that is among the most dangerous outcomes of any riding accident, and a boot or shoe with a defined heel prevents it.