When I first began riding, the barn required that we all wear helmets. So for the first few years of my riding career, that's what I did. However, once I switched to riding saddleseat, suddenly it was "uncool" to wear a helmet. My trainer never did, nor did any of the other junior (or adult) riders at this particular show barn. I never thought anything of it. I went off to college and again, during lessons a helmet was a must. This was fine with me, but once I returned home, off the helmet would go. Hell, I even rode T-Bone as a 3-YEAR-OLD around the farm, trail riding, at all gaits WITH NO HELMET. (see photo. This was me and T-Bone during my stage of being totally class-less wearing a skimpy tank top, ratty half chaps, friggin sneakers, and no helmet. Geeez. Not that I'm a total class act these days, but man.) I probably jumped him without a helmet, too. At shows, I would wear what most people call a "hunt cap." Purely for looks, the "cool thing" was to take off the chin strap, which I did. I would guess just about any type of fall or jarring movement would knock one of those off your head, and if not they don't provide any protection. (see photo, T-Bone again)
I'm sure not of the exact moment when I stopped being so apathetic about the whole helmet deal. Perhaps it's just getting older and losing self-preservation, perhaps it was when one of my friends fell off a young horse. She hit quite hard, and her helmet was basically crushed. She ended up ok, but in a neck brace for a week or two. I kept looking at the crushed helmet thinking "that would have been her head." For perhaps the past 2 or 3 years, I have been wearing a helmet every time. Even when I ride the old therapy horses out at the farm. And obviously, when I ride Hampton. (My chin strap was a tad loose in this photo - our first ride ever - but I fixed that).
Wearing a helmet is a personal decision. I don't think any less of people who choose not to wear one, but I have this inner voice in me that says I really should be wearing one. So I do. I'm probably due to purchase a new one - although I love my current one (I think it's an International), it's kinda old. I've had it since college. It's never suffered a fall, but it probably needs updated. Any suggestions?
Well ... I just found you cause I was clicking that "Next Blog" link up above ... and the thing about the helmets is everywhere- my girls play soccer and ride as well ... they wear helmets in lacrosse ... and there are some folks that think they should in soccer as well- IDK cause I really don't know enough about this yet ... my gut feeling is it might look weird, but come on- if it keeps the brain injury at bay then, well, wear the darn thing! I'm just sayin' ... Happy weekend to you!
ReplyDeleteTroxel for the schooling and an IRH black for show. Top hat for when I'm feeling immortal.
ReplyDeleteI never wore a helmet until about 3 years ago. I had suffered my 5th concussion (not from horses!) and the doctors said another crack to the head like that would probably kill me for sure. So I started using a helmet when training horses as I knew the risk of getting thrown and landing on my head might be a possibility.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have been pretty bad that when riding my own, I don't wear a helmet.
I'm a couple months off, but oh well. I'm a total rebel at the Morgan shows. I refuse to wear a hunt cap and am oftern the ONLY one in an actual certified helmet in my amateur classes. GO ME! Ironically, as a jr. exhibitor, I wore a cap with those hideous clear straps. I was never DQ'd because of it.
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