Riding without a helmet? your views on this...

I personally see nothin wrong with not wearin a helmet, just aslong as you don't complain when get a concusion from your head bouncin off the ground.

Thanks,
Brandon

Can I ask what reasons make people decide to not wear a helmet, other than perhaps not thinking it's necessary? I'm just curious. The friend who had the concussion said she's never seen a rider without a helmet in the UK (she has in Portugal) and she's spent a LOT more time around horses than I have.

Amen!!

I will never get on any horse without one! I don't care whether it's my horse (who I trust completely) or someone elses horse, I am not prepared to take that risk of serious injury to one of the most important parts of my body. Ok, if you may trust your horse with your life, but what if that horse tripped? You can never be too careful around horses, after all, they are still unpredictable prey animals! I'm not going to bash anyone for not wearing one, but as I see it, you only get one head, and I am going to protect mine!

There is no good reason not to wear one.

....laziness.....

I always wear a helmet, just as I always wear a seatbelt when I get in a car. I can think of two instances when my helmet saved me from worse injuries than I got, so I think its well worthwhile. Frankly, I think its foolish not to, but I don't judge people who don't. Its their head to risk, not mine.

But laziness isn't a good reason ;)

Haha, this is SO true... I don't have a good reason... I just don't wear a helmet all of the time...

But if any avid helmet fans want to buy me one, then I might just change my mind

I usually ride with a helmet....and have only ridden twice without it. Once was a REALLLLLLY hot day and my stupid helmet has material on the inside so it makes it REALLLY hot...and the other time I thought I had it on.
If I ride by myself, I'll wear a helmet, if I ride a lesson horse or a horse I'm not familiar with, I'll wear a helmet....the only time I won't wear one is if I'm the only one in the arena, but there are people IN the stables and I'm riding Sonny.

But 99% of the time I ride with a helmet

I've never even thought about it. Where I learnt you were told to wear a hat and I did, still do. You have to have a hat for showing so you may aswell have it on all the time :)