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Riding Without A Helmet?

20K views 45 replies 26 participants last post by  Tazmanian Devil 
#1 ·
I know its not the smartest thing to do but is there a law against a minor riding without a helmet? I'm 16 and have my own horse and ride on my own property but my friend swears that its illegal. I left my helmet one day and didn't feel like driving 45 minutes back to my grandparents house to get my helmet. I rode without my helmet and she freaked out on me because of it.
 
#3 ·
I tried looking it up but there was nothing that said there is a law if its on my own property and my own horse. It was mainly stating if I rode at a stable or rode someone elses horse.
 
#4 ·
I'm 14 and I never wear a helmet unless I have to aka at a comp or some other event where it is a rule.

I ride around the streets and through town etc and the cops have pulled over to talk to me about it before and threaten me with fines etc but I just say whatever and keep doing my thing so they don't bother anymore.

So I'm guessing it's not necesserily legal but if it isn't no punishment is being enforced on me.
 
#5 ·
Every area is different, but I don't believe that any helmet laws reach onto your personal property. The best source of local information is your county clerk's office. As far as riding on the roads, your state department of transportation is the place to call.
 
#12 ·
If you are having lesson you are required to wear one at all times no matter how old you are. I dont know if it is the same in the US
My instructor doesn't care if you're 92, no helmet = no lesson.

I bought myself and both of my girls backpacks from the sporting goods store that were intended for softball gear. They have a section for a helmet and tons of other storage areas which are great for snacks, hoof picks, spare lead rope, gloves, sweatshirt and so forth. They have clips on them for hanging, so we can hang them on the fence for easy access.

Makes traveling between lessons, the barn and so forth very easy. Just grab the backpack and you're out the door and have everything you need.
 
#8 ·
In Ireland you HAVE to wear it until your 16 and if your doing cross country you HAVE to wear your body protector too.
I think its stupid when people don't wear there hat. It shows how much people value their life if they don't wear it.
 
#9 ·
When I was younger I thought I was indestructible, too.

A couple of bad falls and a few nasty concussions later, I figured out that wearing a helmet is a smart thing to do.

I'm a helmet Nazi when it comes to myself. Every ride, every time. No excuses!

Boarding stables and other riding venues are required by their insurance carriers to require helmets on all riders under the age of 16. My trainer goes further, and says on her property it's 18 and under.

If you don't want to wear a helmet, that's your business. I think it's foolish and asking for trouble, but I'm not going to hound people about it. Unless you're under the age of majority, and then I'm going to ask your parents why they don't love you enough to make sure your brain is protected.
 
#14 ·
I do wear a helmet just left it like I stated and my grandparents house was 45 minutes away and I already tacked up my horse and everything when I realized. I have a horse bag with everything I need but I had a lesson the day before and left it in my room.
 
#17 ·
You're from Ohio?

Then no, it is NOT against the law. You do have to in shows though if you are under 18 (At least in most shows..) but not pleasure riding.

And if it is? Almost every barn I have gone to (From pretty professional to just small boarding barns) is breaking the law! lol.
 
#18 ·
You're from Ohio?

Then no, it is NOT against the law. You do have to in shows though if you are under 18 (At least in most shows..) but not pleasure riding.

And if it is? Almost every barn I have gone to (From pretty professional to just small boarding barns) is breaking the law! lol.
Yes I live in Ohio.
All the lesson barns I've been to requires it if you're under 18 but when I was boarding they didn't require it. I think that its only if you ride someone elses horse then they make you and you have to sign a waiver so they won't get sued if you fall. On your own private property I didn't think it was required. I just want to make sure I am not a criminal (haha jokes) and if I go out riding on a trail or else where I won't get fined.
 
#21 ·
I didn't find any thing about it on the internet! Thanks though!

And Jump4Heaven: I didn't know that about trail riding. I only went on a trail ride at a state park here.
I don't make people sign waivers but I don't let them ride without me leading them on a line no matter how experienced and if they are under age I make their parents watch. I should print out some waivers just to be on the safe side.
 
#22 ·
you have to be over 18 to not wear one where i am. and trust me, you want to wear a helmet.

im over 18 and i used to skip wearing one sometimes, and then one day on my very reliable horse, we took a fall, completely unexpected. my horse and i both fell down a ditch and i broke some of my teeth and cut my face open to a point where my face was bleeding very heavily.
If i wasnt wearing a helmet I would be dead right now.

You really should always wear a helmet.
your doing a dis-survice to yourself by not wearing one that can cost you your life
 
#23 ·
you have to be over 18 to not wear one where i am. and trust me, you want to wear a helmet.

im over 18 and i used to skip wearing one sometimes, and then one day on my very reliable horse, we took a fall, completely unexpected. my horse and i both fell down a ditch and i broke some of my teeth and cut my face open to a point where my face was bleeding very heavily.
If i wasnt wearing a helmet I would be dead right now.

You really should always wear a helmet.
your doing a dis-survice to yourself by not wearing one that can cost you your life
That was the first time I rode without a helmet in about 5-6 years. I know all about falling believe me. I was riding (with a helmet) and my horse tumbled and I fell over her head and landed on my face, almost breaking my nose and my horse almost crushed me.
 
#26 ·
to answer your question,.. it is probably not illegal on your personal property.

to state my opinion on wearing a helmet... all those who Don't wear one have absolutely no concern for themselves or the people who care about them. It only takes one fall to kill you. and you're only kidding yourself if you think it'll never happen to you.
 
#27 ·
to answer your question,.. it is probably not illegal on your personal property.

to state my opinion on wearing a helmet... all those who Don't wear one have absolutely no concern for themselves or the people who care about them. It only takes one fall to kill you. and you're only kidding yourself if you think it'll never happen to you.
I do wear a helmet just the one time I didn't because like I stated :)P) I left it in my room and my grandparent's house is 45 minutes away.
 
#28 ·
I have not hit my head riding a horse yet, so I don't wear one riding.

However I fell out of bed one night and hit my head on the night stand so I always wear one when sleeping.:lol:

I feel a little old for it, but I never heard of wearing a helmet when I first rode a horse. The good Ol' days when if a car had seat belts they were decorations, and the box of a pickup was just a roomy back seat.


I make my daughter wear one, but like many things it is a case of do as I say and not as I do. When she gets more experience I will let her have the option though.

Life is dangerous and unpredictable, and a helmet does not guarantee safety. You can still get hurt or killed while wearing one. IMHO too many people get a false sense of security from helmets and seat belts.
 
#42 ·
Exactly. My appraoch to it as well. The times I've come off my horse my cowboy hat protected my head. For me it is the whole image and lifestyle thing. Something ingrained in me from childhood. Like some golfers who wear the whichamacallit short pants.

But like you, I would have young children wear a helmet, and respect anyone who chooses to wear one. There's no sense in pushing someone beyond their comfort zone. And then there are some horse shows and sports events wear a helmet is not only for protection, but it seems to be apart of the image as well. But part of the activity I'm not into. I started over again a little too late for all that. :lol:

One time as a kid I went for a butt over tea kettle roll on pavement with our race horse and we both just came up with a few scrapes. Helmets were never an issue back then.
 
#29 ·
Yes you can still get hurt wearing one but they save a hell of a lot of lives and I'm speaking as a possible one of those lives. Spent years riding, never had a fall that would have hurt my head then I came off onto the top of my head coming out of a bolt. I would have smashed my skull if it wasn't for my hat. I also wear a body protector because I've been on both sides, I was kicked while wearing one and only had a bruise on my ribs instead of having them broken but on the flip side I was an idiot and didn't wear one when I was on a jumping lesson and riding a known bucker, I came off and broke my shoulder which I wouldn't have if I'd wore the body protector. It takes one time for something bad to happen and having something like helmet increases your odds of surviving without a terrible head injury or indeed just dying. My mum is a special needs teacher and she once taught a little girl who had been a rider and who was severely handicapped but hadn't been like that all her life. One accident without a helmet reduced a bright and capable little girl to someone who could barely understand what they were trying to teach her and would need care for the rest of her life.
 
#30 ·
Yeah, same question for me, too. Why not just wear it?
Honestly, I know it seems silly, there's always the whole, "Well, I could die walking across the street," controversy.. But don't you value your life? Seriously, why not just wear it?
I know this doesn't have much to add to the argument, because it's not riding, haha.. but there's a snowboarder that I used to fallow, and he recently fell WHILE HIS HELMET WAS ON, and got a pretty serious brain injury. He spent four months learning to walk and talk again, trying to regain his sight, and he is still regaining his short-term memory. If he wasn't wearing his helmet, his doctors are sure he'd be dead. And if he wasn't, I don't even want to know what sort of state he would be in. :|
 
#31 ·
Then again it could have been the helmet that threw him off balanced and caused the whole thing. Maybe there would not have been an accident if he had not been wearing a helmet. Or maybe if he did crash with out a helmet and his head was lighter he wouldn't have hit his head because he could lift his head out of danger faster.

Hypothetical the helmet saved my life is nonsense, there is no way to know for sure what would happen if the helmet was not on.

Air bags, seat belts, and helmets are no guarantee to safety but even worse they can and have caused injuries.
 
#36 ·
personally, i would be dead if it were not for my helmet. my old horse reared & flipped over on me on tightly packed ground. the helmet spilt in half. i had a very serious head injury, it was not fun. i could hardly see, much less walk afterwards. my doctors kept my helmet to show people that helmets do save lives & how it is important to always wear one. that experience is enough for me to know how irresponcible it is to not wear a helmet.
 
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