How do you get help if you get hurt while horseback riding alone?
If you get hurt horseback riding alone, call 911 first for any fall where you hit your head, have neck or back pain, or can't get up. A rider falls from well above head height, which is reason enough to treat a head knock seriously. Tell the dispatcher the trail or farm, the nearest road access and whether your horse is loose. Then tap SOS or call your Guardian or barn. Keep your phone on your body, not the saddle, so it stays with you if the horse leaves.
What to do after a fall or kick
01Stay down and check your neck first
Falls from a horse often land you on your shoulder, back or head. Before sitting up, move your fingers and toes and notice any neck pain, tingling or numbness. If anything feels wrong in your neck or back, stay still and leave your helmet on. The NHS lists a fall from more than 1 metre with a head injury as a reason to call for an ambulance, and a horse's back is higher than that.
02Let the horse go if you need to
Don't hang onto the reins of a horse that's pulling away while you're hurt. A loose horse usually heads back toward the barn or trailer. If the horse stays and you can do it safely, tie it to a tree or fence, but your injury comes first.
03Call 911 and describe the access
Horse trails wind through state forests, ranches and private land, so tell the dispatcher how a vehicle can get close. Try: "I came off my horse on the blue-marked loop at Cedar Ridge State Forest, about a mile from the equestrian lot on Route 9. I hit my head and my horse is loose." Say whether the horse is still near you, since responders will plan for it.
04Call the barn or send SOS to a Guardian
After 911, tap SOS in Holler so your Guardians get your location by email and push. Make your barn manager or riding partner a Guardian: they know the trails, can meet the ambulance at the right gate and can catch and trailer your horse. Holler never contacts 911 itself.
05Set up for the ride where you can't call
A fall that knocks you out is the scenario to plan for. Start a live link at the barn, set a return time and consider the optional stationary alert, which asks "Are you OK?" if you stop moving for the time you choose. Carry the phone in a zipped jacket pocket or a secure body holster so it doesn't leave with the horse.
Related questions
What if my horse comes back to the barn without me?
That's an emergency sign for whoever finds it. Tell your barn in advance what route you're riding, so if your horse turns up riderless they know where to look and can open your live link. Our answer on when to worry if someone is late back from horseback riding is written for them.
Should I get back on after a fall if I feel fine?
Not if you hit your head. Concussion symptoms can appear later, and the CDC lists a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, slurred speech and confusion as danger signs that need emergency care. Replace your riding helmet after a fall where it took a hit, even if it looks fine.
What does a good solo trail ride setup look like?
Say you ride a two-hour loop from a friend's farm. You tell them the loop, start a live link with them as your Guardian and set a return time for 30 minutes after you expect to untack. You wear the phone in a chest pocket. If you're thrown and can't reach it, the overdue alert and your last known location send them straight to you.
What should I carry on a solo ride?
Your phone on your body, an ID or Medical ID on the lock screen, a small first aid kit, a hoof pick and a lead rope, and water. Our list of what to carry when horseback riding alone covers the rest.
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Sources, checked September 2026: NHS: Head injury and concussion, CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.