Horse accidents are much more common than you might think and there are not only falls. The horse is an unpredictable animal. He is easily frightened and can react in different ways and some horses are more dangerous than others.

Habits of dangerous horses

The horse is an animal that by its size and dangerous behavior can kill a person. Knowledge of the animal preserves people from many risks and knowledge of its language helps prevent the worst. In fact, like many other animals, the horse sends certain signals before attacking or before making an impropriety. Some specimens can be even more dangerous for several factors:

• Horse character
• mistreatment
• traumas
• Incorrect or too rich diet
• Lack of knowledge about a horse like horse names

Common horse accidents

There are countless accidents that can occur when approaching the horse:

Falls from horse

Horse falls are very common for those who practice this sport. One of the first rules taught in riding schools is that a good rider learns to fall off a horse.

Falls can occur in various circumstances, some related to the incorrectness of the animal:

• the saddle that is not tightened well
• the refusal of the horse that hangs perhaps in front of an obstacle
• the discarding of the horse
• the bucking
• the horse gets scared

In some cases it can be accidents that are not voluntary, in other cases, it could be a vice or an incorrectness of the animal that will have to be recovered.

The football of the horse

The horse kicks. Everybody knows it too. One of the first rules is to always keep a safe distance from the animal. The horse kicks with its hind legs and also manages to kick sideways. It does this with millimeter precision thanks to its binocular view.

There are several circumstances in which he can do it: out of the vice, out of fear, to ward off danger, a nuisance, a pain, or when he is ironed. Approaching the horse must take place in complete safety, calmly, and respecting the animal’s language.

The horse bites

Many horses have the habit of biting. The horse is not aggressive in nature. However, there are specimens that have developed aggression even going to charge people and bite them violently. It is necessary to understand the reasons for this behavior which can be traced back to trauma, mistreatment, dominance, territoriality, or the protection of the foal by a mare.

As a rule, a horse about to attack sends explicit signals: it lowers its ears backward. A clear sign of the animal’s nervousness.

For example, some horses do not like to be touched in some parts of the body or they bite because they do not like to feel the saddle girth tightened. It is important to always observe the animal and catch its signals.

Factors that make the horse dangerous

There are several factors that make the horse dangerous and under different circumstances.

• fear
• herd isolation
• discomfort
• an environment that causes nuisance

It is important to remember that the horse by nature is prey for which his instinct is organized for escape in the face of events that frighten him or that are potentially dangerous. To the wrong behavior of man, the horse will react accordingly.

What to do

In all circumstances, it is essential to reassure the animal, leading it to accept a given situation. The inappropriate reaction can worsen the horse’s behavior, increasing stress, and leading him to become dangerous, taking certain attitudes.

• avoid increasing the risk in certain dangerous situations: never move abruptly, behind the horse that does not see the person, raise your voice, hitting the horse or tug it on the mouth.
• when the horse shows signs of nervousness or fear in the face of a danger (ears forward, open froges, tense muscles, backward movements, discard) anticipate the behavior of the animal without further frightening it.
• stay focused on the animal trying to contain and mitigate its reactions
• maintain safety in all circumstances from the ground or in the saddle
• during the approach the horse feels people’s negative emotions (fear, anger, anxiety) and this leads to an increase in heart rate
• the horse is like a mirror: keep calm during the approach or management of the animal in the saddle to instill safety in the animal
• body language is also fundamental, so it is advisable to control your movements

When we got the required behavior we reward the horse. The best way is to do it with a scratch that recalls grooming, a behavior that reassures and calms the animal. It is a friendly gesture that horses use among themselves.

This will strengthen the sense of the pack, restoring harmony in the hierarchy. The important thing is to gain the horse’s trust, in the role of leadership without dominating but showing the horse to understand its language.

Prevention

Prevention is essential to avoid serious consequences. It is essential to preserve the safety of the rider and horse. Being afraid of the horse is a wake-up call that helps prevent any danger. Being an animal, there is always an unpredictability factor so you never have to take the horse underfoot and approach the animal with too much safety.

Knowledge of the horse

The horse has a language in which it communicates with the herd. It is a social animal that lives within a group in which there is a specific hierarchy. Being a prey, the horse is always on alert through its visual, olfactory and auditory senses, ready to pick up any danger signal that is movement, noise or sound or smell. The knowledge of the horse’s language, its nature, its character helps to prevent the animal’s reactions.

From an ethological point of view, it is possible to understand the animal. He can become nervous after a long period of inactivity, imprisoned in the box or for too rich a diet. Horses who work too hard may instead refuse to get out of the box and become aggressive.

Horses that have not been tamed well in contact with people may not respect the human.

Learn to handle the horse

Depending on the disciplines that are in riding or outside in the countryside or cross country riding there are dangers and factors that must be prevented. First of all it is necessary to learn the approach with the horse and its management from the ground. Subsequently, it is essential to learn how to ride a horse for riding and handling the animal in different circumstances.

Beware of children who approach the horse

• always ask for the owner’s consent
• do not enter the box if you don’t know the horse
• avoid abrupt movements
• contain the tone of voice, avoiding laughing or shouting
• talk to the horse in a calm and peaceful way
• do not approach the horse from behind
• always keep the safety distances
• avoid feeding the horse with your hands
• always use safety accessories such as the approved helmet

The post How to Recognize Dangerous Horses and Prevent Risks appeared first on Amazing Viral News.

The Insomnia Levels on the Rise in America

Express Scripts has recently reported that the use of anti-anxiety, anti-insomnia, and anti-depressant medications has increased. The prescriptions have increased by 21% between February and March 2020. It was the same week when the WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic and America declared a national emergency.

Researchers at Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health have been studying the symptoms of insomnia during the pandemic. The social and health impacts of the pandemic are influencing the way we sleep. The results indicate that some people are getting poor sleep than usual whereas others are sleeping more because they don’t have to get up at a fixed time. For most people, their sleep is suffering because of highlighted anxiety emerging from the concern about the health of the loved ones and finances.

How is Coronavirus Causing Insomnia?

Let’s consider the causes of insomnia presenting nowadays due to public health requirements of social distance, guaranteeing, and sheltering in a single place.

No Schedule Anchors

We are not working as we did before. Some of our jobs have been temporarily suspended. Others are working from home. Whether it’s mortgage recruiters, IT experts, social media managers,  accountants, employees in various industries are WFH. Schools and universities have been closed, which means there’s no commute.

Our body needs anchored wake up time for reinforcing the circadian rhythm. Irregularity leads to sleep disturbance. Since we have started to sleep in more, take naps, and sleep early, the sleep signals have diminished.

To get back on track, we need to return to set an alarm to wake up at a consistent time throughout the week. Similarly, we must go back to bed at the same time each night.

Escalated Stress

Stress levels have increased and so has anxiety and depression. Many have filed for unemployment. Loss of work has brought financial and emotional loss. Self-isolation has disturbed our routine matters and stopped social connections and activities that reduce stress. On top of it all, the stream of distressing news is contributing to anxiety.

All these feelings are conducive to sleep. To keep your stress levels at the check, limit the consumption of news about the pandemic. Avoid this topic later in the day. Practice stress management techniques like muscle relaxation and breathing.

Excessive Sedentary Time

It has been more than two months since we are sheltered in our homes. Most of us have excessive time to rest, read, lounge, and watch TV.  Not many are taking the time to exercise. Instead, we are dozing and napping. Excessive sedentary has made us lazy and reduced the quality of sleep.

The solution to this is being active during the day. Set up a home gym and do some sort of workout – jumping jacks, squats, lunges, or yoga. If possible, take a stroll. When you feel drowsing in the afternoon, avoid napping, and do something active.

Coffee and Alcohol Overuse

How much alcohol are you consuming lately? Probably more than usual, right? And what about caffeine consumption? Too much of both alcohol and coffee could be messing up with your sleep.

Coffee blocks adenosine. It takes up to 6 hours to come out of the system. It’s not recommended to consume caffeine later in the day. One cup in the morning is ideal. Alcohol has opposite effects. It spikes the adenosine and makes you sleepy. It metabolizes quickly. So when the adenosine levels fall, your sleep is negatively affected. The last alcohol intake must be at least 1 hour before bedtime.

Disconnection from Nature

We are staying indoors for too long. Some of us are disconnected from the natural patterns of light and darkness. Without external time cues like the sun or the moon, gradually, our tendency to stay up later increases.

Before it gets too late, get back on track. Make 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure mandatory upon yourself as soon as you wake up. Step outside or watch the view from your windows. When the sun is about to set, minimize your exposure to blue light. Switch your devices to night mode.

Space Constraints

People aren’t just sharing tight quarters with their family but roommates as well. This has affected privacy greatly. Our bedrooms are being used as a workspace. This can hurt the conditioning of the body.

If you are using your bedroom to work, stop right now. A bedroom must be associated with sleep and intimacy. To ensure proper sleep, set the right conditions such as low light, noise-free environment, and cool temperature.

Conclusion

Working as a recruiter for 5 years, I used to say that nothing is sweeter than a streamlined employee onboarding process, however, a well-scheduled sleep and exercise routine matter just as much. If your sleep has been affected, bring these changes into your lifestyle immediately.  Reach out for help in case your sleep problems persist.  

The post How Has COVID-19 Disrupted Our Sleep and Caused Insomnia? appeared first on Amazing Viral News.