head injuries

Thanks everyone for the replies :)

I didn't start wearing one until a month before we were going to ride in an endurance ride that crossed busy roads at the Bush International Airport in Humble, Texas right outside of Houston. It was a requirement to ride in the Airport Express Ride. I had rode all over without one but got used to it an ride in it now. I wouldn't presume to tell anyone to wear one - it is not my place.

I am excited about riding up at Ebenezer tomorrow - that is what it is all about - riding!!! Biscuit is shedding like a little polar bear and is about that color right now!! Sarge was certain there was something for him in the tack bag if he could just dig far enough. He was trying to pick it up with his teeth until I fussed at him.

My girl is shedding just like that lol there is so much hair I'm surprised she isn't bald lol
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Where I come from seatbelts are mandatory. You get a ticket if you don't wear one. (Click it or Ticket) campaign is big here.
I think this was made into law because it could easily reduce the severity of injuries and deaths in accidents. That saved a lot of money for the insurance industry, so they would be big supporters of such.


I think this thread is to share head injuries resulting from horse riding, or other things . Isn't it?

Another helmet thread....

I wear one. I don't give a rat's posterior if people respect me or not because I wear a helmet. As an adult, it's my choice. It's their choice also. I gave up worrying about what people think about me a long time ago. Try it, it's delightful!

I read all the posts, didn't see much mention about the type of riding.

For English riding of any kind, which I believe the OP does, I can see where a helmet should be considered standard equipment. Nothing to hold onto when the horse is acting up.

I can see some sense in wearing a helmet for competitive western riding, such as broncs, bulldogging, barrels, poles, etc.

For trail riding (this is the trail riding forum, right?) in a western saddle, I'm more concerned about rain down my neck and skin cancer on my neck, face, and ears, than getting my head cracked. In 45 years of handling horses I've gone down a number of times and only got a concussion once. In that instance a horse fell on a road with me and I landed smack on my face. Broke my nose and got a bit of road rash on my cheek. Helmet wouldn't have done a thing.

For western trail riding, I consider good leather western boots, with a riding heel, to be of greater importance than a helmet. Try getting one of these new lace-up, lug-sole, tennis shoe-type "riding shoes" out of a stirrup in a hurry!

But that's just me. I only make the rules for myself.

Thought I'd post those thoughts, because in my mind different styles of riding require different safety equipment.

Worst accident I ever witnessed was a friend who was taking a lap around the arena after having just returned from a trail ride in her western saddle on her dead-broke QH who took a bad step at a walk and went down on his knees, catapulting her off and onto her head. Result was multiple skull fractures and several days in a medically-induced coma. By the grace off all things good, she was very lucky to recover with only some speech impediments after months of physical therapy.

I hope you go another 45 years with no issues. But an accident is an accident by definition of its unexpectedness.

I wear a helmet. I also wear a seatbelt. Wonder what the correlation, if any, between the two is? Do you wear a seatbelt?

In the end, an adult can and should make the choice for him or herself.


Oh, and on a fun note, bet I can get my sneaker-clad foot out of my stirrup just as quick as you can get your booted one.. Maybe faster cause my knees still work!

Quote: Oh, and on a fun note, bet I can get my sneaker-clad foot out of my stirrup just as quick as you can get your booted one.. Maybe faster cause my knees still work!

You may think that's a fun note, but when you get my age it becomes a serious issue! Judging by your statement, I'd venture a guess that you've never had to get off a horse as fast as I have!

If you're taking a poll, yes, I wear a seatbelt, and I hope I don't live another 45 years!

Have you thought about a hockey goalie's outfit? Probably overkill for trail riding.

I use the caged stirrups which eliminates the danger of getting your foot trapped in the stirrup. I think that is even a bigger safety thing than wearing proper riding boots.

I actually am happy to say I have to make quick exits a lot less frequently now than I used to.. don't break youngsters and ride barely-broke racehorses for a living anymore. Nowadays, Dream has me very spoiled and I am more likely to be napping than I am needing an emergency dismount!


Hockey goalie outfit would work if you landed on your front, but I don't think those pads go all the way around, do they? Maybe one of those rental sumo-wrestler costumes would be a better choice?