ICEBANDS HELPING TO MAKE RIDING SAFER No one likes it, but it happens. Anyone can fall from a horse or pony, anytime, anywhere. At best, a fall leaves the rider still holding the horse or able to catch him quickly. Or the rider is fine but has lost their horse. At worse, riders are injured or unconscious and the horse has run away, often scared and confused. The scenario can worsen as when help does arrive in the form of a kindly passer-by, the only call they can make on behalf of the rider is to the ambulance service, great for the rider but still leaving a horse loose. And when a loose horse is found, what are the chances of it being identified and safely returned to the stables? ICEBands are highly visible bands which carry contact numbers for use in case of an emergency. They are worn by both horse and rider and will help make riding safer by enabling help to be quickly called when a rider or horse is found after a fall. A fast response can often result in a loose horse being safely caught and cared for as well as speedy attention for the rider. ICEBands have been conceived, created and launched by Jigsaw Equine, a company committed to the enjoyment, pleasure and safety of people and their horses and ponies. Debbie Percy one of the founders of Jigsaw Equine comments “In December of 2004 I was thrown from my horse onto a main road while out riding. I was knocked unconscious and my horse ran down the main road loose and frightened amongst the Sunday traffic.  Our story had a happy ending - we were re-united and my bruises healed.  Afterwards all I could think of was the ‘what ifs’. ICEBands were conceived so that the ‘what ifs’ never become a reality, for anyone. Today, I never ride out without both myself and my horse wearing an ICEBand.  It is a very reassuring feeling knowing that emergency contact numbers are easily visible and the right help can be raised quickly”. ICEBands are available in a selection of colours and sizes and cost from £5.00 (plus postage and packaging) and can be ordered at www.icebands.org Every rider falls off at some point; however, by ensuring that both horse and rider are wearing ICEBands every time they leave the stables means that the right help can be called quickly, making riding safer all round.