Do You Wear a Helmet When You Ride?
Friday March 14, 2008
I'm reposting this poll and a link back to the comments that readers made the first time I posted it. Like myself, they've learned the hard way about the importance of wearing an ASTM approved (this link downloads a PDF) riding helmet. While a helmet won't make you impervious to injury, it does protect the one part of you that is very difficult to fix--your brain. View Poll Results
There are lots of reasons why some choose not to wear a helmet. Some think they're uncomfortable, won't match their outfits or they have the skills to avoid a fall. But helmets come in all fits and styles and knowing how to fall safely or do an emergency dismount won't work if you land head first. Anyone, of any riding discipline, who rides or works with horses is at risk of injury no matter how old or experienced. Read these comments on the original blog post by readers who are convinced a helmet saved their life. Then take the poll. And let's aim for 100% on the first question.
Comments
After a bad fall where I ended up with a smashed helmet, I’ll never go without one again – that could have been my brain smashed instead of the helmet!
You don’t have one for the western show rider – I ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding for fun, lessons, trail riding etc. However, when I compete at the Paint and Quarter Horse breed shows I wear the standard western show hat, not a helmet, for my amateur and open riding classes.
2 yrs. ago my calm gelding took off bucking as I was mounting him. I remember the first 2 bucks but he bucked across the arena before throwing me about 10 ft. 4 days in the Trauma Center, a severe concussion, badly broken collar bone, multiple ribs broken in 2+ places each, bruised spleen..the doctors said that my helmet saved my life. Fully recovered, I still wear my new helmet and ride that horse…I will NOT ride without one.
While a fall from a horse in a certain position can cause a spinal injury, most of the injuries I see in my ICU are direct trauma to the head. A horse’s kick will sometimes do more damage than a fall. A helmet is a simple thing to wear, but can prevent a lifetime of heartache. My girls never ride without one, and neither will I.