do you wear a helmet?

Hi everyone

I've just been reading some research papers on helmet use in horse riders. I have been getting soooo many different figures as to how many riders wear helmets ranging from 100% to 81% to 0%. LOL don't ask me how they managed to get such a wide range of results. Anyway, I though it would be fun to see how many of us wear helmets... can you do the poll for me? I'm not going to be telling people off for not wearing helmets hehe I just want to know how many of us do.

I wear one all the time while schooling, and NEVER get on a young horse (clients' horses) without a helmet. And I just got a safety vest as well, I will wear that while schooling as well. However, I will jump on Maia in the field and ride her to the gate bareback.. does that count?

I wear a helmet when riding like 90% of the time. If its just bareback around the yard, then no, but schooling, always. I'm not sure about the states but in Canada I think you have to wear one until you're 18. We have a sign up at our barn for that.

.... Actually though, I LOVE the feeling of the wind blowing through my loose hair when I ride ....

I wear one most of the time. ESPECIALLY if I'm around a horse I don't really know. ;) Always when riding.

I never do (but probably should) and my wife always does.

Back in September I got kicked in the head by a young spooky horse (of course I didn't see it coming, and it was just a freak accident).. it was in an area that a helmet wasn't going to do much regardless, but now I'm more cautious.

Sometimes I don't, sometimes I do. If I'm just doing flatwork, especially in the summer, I won't. I have a problem with fainting or puking when my head gets really hot. If I'm jumping, always. Bareback, hardly ever. If I'm not doing any hard work, not normally.

I didn't for long time, but after 2 people I know fall pretty badly (one is very experienced dressage rider, horse tripped before the jump, other one was riding mustang, he bolted and she hit the bench on run) I did get one to ride my youngsters. It was very tough to find though. I guess I have a weird head shape but I tried out 15 different helmets (both - cheap and expensive) before finding the only one which fit me. :roll:

It's awful. I hope you are doing all right!!

I wear it ALWAYS unless I'm showing western... but even at home in a western saddle at home I wear one...I actually school western always, I only use my english saddle on show days and once in a while on a lesson day...