1. Avoid the Playful Kick
Also be extremely attentive around your horse, particularly when there is more than one. Horses like to play, and one of their means of expressing playfulness is with a kick that is little to them, but no so little to you if you happen to be the target or in the way. If your horse is expressing signs of giddiness or playfulness or you happen to be in an area with multiple horses, always stay a kick away from the back and sides of the horses to prevent getting kicked. Additionally, horses will often apply these playful kicks as a means of telling you to wake up and that they are ready to play, so make sure that you are never caught daydreaming to prevent injury working with horses.
2. A Simple Yet Dangerous Spook
Horses have excellent lateral vision; however, they cannot see around their hind end, and can become easily spooked if you approach them from behind. To avoid horse kicks, approach your horse face-on as often as possible, so that they see you coming. If you must approach a horse from behind, stay a leg's distance away and whistle, talk calmly to your horse or use some other means of making a bit of calm noise as you approach so that they know where you are.
3. Grooming 101
To prevent being kicked by a horse while grooming, you must always be aware that kicking, even small kicks, are a natural response to uncomfortable touch or fright. When grooming the hind end or tail, try to work from the side of the horse, reaching around the back. Always pull the horses tail to the side when brushing, as a pull on the tail hairs can spur your horse to kick. While you should pass around the front of the animal's body as often as possible, you can avoid getting kicked by a horse when passing behind them by placing a hand on the upper back as you are standing at the side and gently pass your hand over the back as you step behind to the other side.
4. Safety First
Whenever you are cleaning the horses feet, polishing hooves or changing shoes, it is important that you stand at the horses side and face towards the hind end to keep yourself safe from a possible kick. If you have ever tried to pick up the feet of a cat or dog, you are aware of the instinctive shake in an attempt to release the foot. Horses may react the same way, only with a lot more strength. Even though it may be a bit uncomfortable for you to work at the side of the foot instead of directly in front of it, protect yourself and keep to the side.
