Do You Wear a Helmet When You Ride?
Friday July 20, 2007
I learned the hard way about the importance of wearing a riding helmet. A long time ago it was our habit to bring the horses in for their meals by riding the lead horse in. We'd catch the 'boss' horse and the rest would follow as we rode it bareback back to the barn. One morning something spooked the horses and I came off. I have never been able to remember what happened, or much of anything other than I spent two days in the hospital. But it was enough to convince me to always wear a helmet. Over the years, I've had other close calls that have made me glad to be wearing my lid.
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What’s your helmet habit? Do you, or would you wear a helmet while horseback riding?
Comments
I only wear a helmet at competitions that require one. I also think since my instructor taught me the correct way to roll if I come off a horse – roll to distribute the force of the impact away from one spot on your body – the momentum will do this – and dont hit the ground like a ton of bricks you away – much like the drop and roll principle used if you ever catch on fire. By rolling and protecting your head, this will help.
And of course, most traumas from falls off a horse are neck related and it doesn’t seem pratical to wear a neck brace.
I ALWAYS wear a helmet. Last summer I was bucked across an arena and thrown nearly 10 ft. by a horse that is ALWAYS pretty calm….just a freak thing. I spent 4 days in the local Trauma Center with a severe concussion, a smashed collar bone, 4+ ribs broken in multiple places. The doctors said if I hadn’t had the helmet on, I most likely wouldn’t be alive today. And yes, I am still riding the same horse…and never without my helmet.
I never wore a helmet before. I use to ride with a trainer (on streets/riverbeds of Norco,CA)and he never wears one. I had a HORRIBLE wreck. The drop and roll would NOT have helped me as I was also taught that! I landed on the street..on my back but the back of my head hit 1st, then the rest of my body. I lose all feeling for about 20mins. I had a severe head injury, but due to the flu epidemic that year, there were no beds for me, the hospital sent me home. I have a bald spot on the back of my head, trouble with words when I am tired, and recovery took me about 6months! I wear a helmet ALL the time now! I met one of the firemen by chance in a store, he remembered me…said, “we didnt think you were going to make it!” He also said most of the riders they get called out to help…either are disabled the rest of their lives….or do NOT make it! He was VERY glad to hear I now wear a helmet! JUST DO IT!!
I nerver used to wear a helmut but know I do. I figured I was a good enough rider that I didn’t need one. I also have an olymipic Grand Prix Dressage trainer. In December I was in an accident. All I remember is looking at the mounting block before I got onthe horse.(the horse fell on me)I was pretty lucky that I had a friend with me that day. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital the next day. The broken ribs healed but I’m still dealing with the brain injury. I lost my short term memory and my long term memory. I have gotten back alot of my long term memory but not alot of my short term. It’s been a real struggle for me in my day to day life. I wouldn’t want ANYONE to go through this so do the smart thing and wear a HELMUT when you ride.
I always wear a helmet. Besides saving your head from splatting on the ground in a fall, they are valuable to keep your head from being whacked by low branches on trail rides. I’m reminded of this often as I ride my 16.3 Tennessee Walker through the woods!
This is not exactly horse related, but definitely helmet related. Dropping and rolling are a great defense, but won’t always help, especially if your head hits a fence post or tree on the way down. I knew a kid about ten years ago who would never wear a helmet, on horses or four wheelers, both of which he loved to ride. They just weren’t cool, and he was to “good” to need one. I lost touch with him over the years, but two months ago I found out he was in an accident on a four wheeler without a helmet on. The head trauma was severe and he is still in a coma. His brain activity is very low. Now his family has to live with his mistake. I don’t know yet how this one turns out, but I know I don’t want it to happen to me or anyone I care about. Please wear a helmet, if not for yourself, then for your friends and family.
Ohh how I hate the age old helmet argument, while I agree in theory that helmets should always be worn, and enforce it in my students, I tend to only wear one if someone is watching or am not on one of my own horses, why? Because the hats give me crashing migraines, so I go out of my way to avoid wearing one including not riding.
Always safety first but I get really fed up with people trying to make me feel guilty about not wearing one. My head, my choice.
I turned 50 last November, and never wore a helmet. However, 3 separate incidents, with people I was riding with, prompted me to change my mind about helmets. I bought one, and have worn it every time I’ve ridden since then. I had to try on different styles until I found a real comfortable one. I know it won’t help the rest of the body, but the head traumas are the most difficult to recover from, so why not do what I can. It just makes sense. The horse and rider don’t always agree, and even the best horse in the world can have a ‘moment’.
I have had two concussions that would have been fatel had I not been wearing a helmet. I also understand about migrains, I hope that when your students see you ride it is with a helmet otherwise riding with a severe migraine is just as dangerous as driving with one so safety being number one it is best not to cause a migraine. Over all If you won’t drive without a seatbelt or play football with a pro defense tackle without pads then why would you get on a 1000 lb animal without a helmet?
You know what bugs me. Pat Parelli. This man focuses on the completely inexperienced rider breaking his training techniques down to a remedial level to teach people. Don’t get me wrong — he’s a great trainer and I have used his ideas with my horses. BUT why on earth does neither he nor his wife nor his students ever wear a helmet! You would think he’d be a little more aware since he’s such a big role model. I understand the helmet dilemma and about 95% of the time I wear one. They are a pain but I have way too much education invested in my head to risk it.
I agree, those in positions to be role models should be–and really we are all role models to someone.
Sadly I received an email from a woman who’s husband was killed in a riding accident–a death that could have been prevented had he been wearing a helmet. If you thing only you are taking the risk when you choose not to wear a helmet, think again.
Yeah people who think that they are to good for helmets really bug me because even the best fall off and i have had many friends that have either died or gotten seriously injured because they either got kicked or fall off on their head. ok so you care what you look like i use to care but when i noticed how cool and comfortable of helmets there are out there i didn’t care any more!! now i am always trying to have the coolest helmet but they always have to be ASTM approved because i can only trust ASTM!!! So if you don’t wear a helmet please do you’ll be happy when your out grooming your horse some day and your horse spooks and kicks at you and you have your helmet on!!
When I was younger – I used to ride and always hated wearing a helmet. I never wore them on trail rides at all. Now an adult – I started taking lessons again and wore my helmet as a good example for my children. About 5 lessons in, my horse started to canter and made a sharp turn. I fell. Very hard. My head hit the ground and bounced. I am positive that without my helmet, I would have at the bare minimum, had a concussion and likely have been knocked out. I was incredibly thankful for that helmet and will always, ALWAYS wear one if I am planning to be on a horse.
After being bucked off without a helmet, and requiring 9 staples in my head from hitting a fence, I wear my helmet all the time. I’m very lucky I didn’t receive a closed head injury. Two years ago at the local county fair, a girl’s horse went down during pole weaving. I will never forget the sound of her head smacking the sand. She had a helmet on and was unconscious for 20 minutes. She would have died without her helmet. Thinking you will never have a riding accident is like thinking you will never be in a car accident. It does not matter how experienced you are.
I am in a 4-h club that has a requirement to wear helmets when we are on/around horses. I have never personally been in an accident but I have heard way too many stories about calm, normally quiet horses that have spooked and caused death and serious injury. Since I started riding with my club I always wear my helmet!
i dont wear a helmet
I always wear a helmet! A few months ago i was cantering in an arena when the horse lost her footing and we both fell sideways to the ground. Without the helmet i would have suffered a lot more than just a concussion.
I personally never wear a helmet. Although I am considering making my daughter wear one. She is 9 years old and competes in rodeo’s. She is a very good rider and all hats hurt her head. I personally like the look of the cowboy hat over the helmet. I know safety first but she could just as well get hurt riding her bike or roller skating she i put a helmet on her head everytime she walks out the door?
I always wear a helmet when I ride my horses. I think it is a smart choice.
I’m glad to hear you’re wearing a helmet. I think it is a smart choice too.
I don’t ride. But I had a friend who did, competitively. And fell during a cross-country trial. The head injury was such that she didn’t wake up, though she did linger long enough for family to reach her bedside.
All the teen parents at our barn have recently adopted the helmet rule that says they have to wear them only when trotting, cantering or jumping. The kids hit the trails with the helmets hanging from their saddles. I ride also, my daughter is the only teen who wears her helmet all the time, but it is a struggle for me to get her to keep it on since now all her friends don’t have to. I don’t feel I can persuade the other parents because they have all given in, also most of the adult riders at this predominately wesytern barn don’t wear helmets either, including the owner and riding instructor. They do make the lesson kids wear helmets but as soon as they are teenagers they think they are good enough to go without. So sad!
It’s not just sad, but potentially dangerous. I hope that you stand your ground, especially with your daughter. We can’t tell other people what to do, but we can try to be a good example. Hopefully if someone takes the lead, the others will follow.
i always where my helmet because its much more saff, i ride some crazy horses and when i fell of one that bolted on sunday i was gland to be wearing a helmet
I don’t understand the discussion. It feels weird when I forget to buckle up in the car and it’s no different if I forget my helmet for riding (horses and bikes!) It’s absolutely out of the question to ride without a helmet – and yes, it HAS saved me from disasterous injuries – roll or no roll