Harness racing services

The service provider, meaning the company or party providing the service, is responsible for the safety of harness racing services.

Documents in order!

Harness racing schools must draw up a safety document on their activities. Include accident records in the document, in which even the most minor accidents are included. Notify Tukes about serious accidents.

Harness racing tracks must draw up a safety document. You can draw up the safety document in connection with the rescue plan. In the safety document for harness racing events, pay special attention to the fencing of the areas used by the public and the horses as well as preparedness for emergencies. Take the services offered to the public into account, such as tandem sulky rides and horseback rides with a lead.

Training stables for harness racing only need a safety document drawn up if the stables offer services clearly directed at customers, in which the customers participate in person. Such services include tandem sulky rides and other carriage rides.

Identify the risks!

You can use Tukes’ instructions and tools to identify risks.

Also take the following into account in identifying risks:

Pony harness racing school:

• Situations, in which accidents occur at the harness racing school
• Tacking up the horses. Are there personnel present at the stable?
• The customers’ skill level and experience
• The suitability of the horses
• Special groups
• Driving on the harness racing track and other users of the track
• Competence of the personnel in case of emergencies.

Harness racing tracks:

• The situations and conditions that cause the most hazards at harness racing events.
• The movement of the public and the horses in different areas, fences and signs
• The signs and rules at the stable area. Can the public access the stable area?
• Tandem sulky rides
• Participation of the public in the ceremony in the winner’s circle
• Horseback rides with a lead
• Services offered to children, such as bouncy castles.

Good safety practices

Horseback rides with a lead at harness racing events

In horseback rides with a lead, make sure that the horses are suitable for the task. In large public events, also take the placement of the area, in which the rides take place, and the rest of the event into account.

In horseback rides with a lead, the riders’ feet must not be placed between the stirrup leathers, because in case of a fall, the rider would be dragged along with the horse.

Tukes monitors the safety of riding and harness racing services. The monitoring visits are free of charge.

Providing information to customers

At harness racing events, instruct the audience and customers in advance on how to act at the event, and in which areas they are allowed to stay. Tukes recommends separate instructions for the stable area, so that inexperienced people familiarising themselves with the sport could learn about the dangerous places.

 

 

Consumer Safety Act 920/2011

Notifications on accidents

‘Ohjeet talutusratsastuksen järjestäjälle’ (in Finnish), instructions for parties organising horseback rides with a lead

Safety document

‘Ratsastuspalveluiden turvallisuuden edistäminen’ (in Finnish), Tukes Guide 5/2015 on promoting the safety of riding services