[Rideordie112]

I'm primarily an English rider. And I jump, so pretty much everybody I know wears one.

But when me and my friends throw western saddles on for a trail ride or something we don't normally wear them
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[Cherrij]

I wear my helmet 99.9% of the time. Why not 100%? Cuz I am honest. When I ride, when I plan to ride, I have my helmet, riding boots, chaps, everything. I plan the ride and the helmet doesn't bother me at all. Of course I whine that I have to take my hair down, braid it so that I can get the helmet on (I have a looooot of hair), but I put it on every single time. Yesterday we went for a trail ride at my aunt's, and after riding we went to pick some stuff from the car, but forgot to take the helmets off We were the only people with helmets there... tho..
I got asked by my aunt once - why do I need a helmet on her horses.. I was like.. well, I always wear one.. doesn't matter where, which horse or so on..
The kid I train always has her helmet.. no matter what she does on her horse.. Her mother wears a helmet..

I have a friend who only wears a helmet when jumping..

I remember when I was going for a trail ride from home, I was on the horse, closing to the forest entrance, and realised something is missing, like I forgot something.. Touched my head, turned the horse around, went back in the house, grabbed my helmet, walked back out, got on the horse and rode. That day he decided he wants to canter some more, and jumped a few fallen branches instead of just stepping over. I was glad I had the helmet, cuz I am not the safest jumper.

 

[Cielo Notturno]

I wear my helmet every time I get on horseback. No matter what. I also expect that anyone riding my horse wear it, even if it's just for a walk in the round pen.

If you can't relax in the saddle because your helmet is hot and itchy, you should buy a new helmet that's more comfortable.

 

[aussiemum]

I wear one every single time I get on a horse.

I cant understand those that say they only wear one on a 'green' horse or one they don't know.

My riding instructor, a very experienced rider and coach who shows dressage with her two 'competition' horses, just a week ago was riding one of her two competition horses, who is nearly 20, and pushed him forward when he was being difficult. He gave a huge buck (had never bucked before, only threatened), she went forward on his neck, accidentally grabbed his mouth, he reared and flipped over on top of her.

Now, I'm not saying her helmet saved her life in this instance, as mostly her chest, pelvis and leg took the impact, but she gave her head a good whack and had a headache for a while I'm sure.

I figure if she can come off a horse that she's been riding for years, doing the same things she's been doing on him for years, on the flat, well then a 'beginner' such as me has no business being on a horse without a helmet.

And as someone else said, think of your family and friends etc who will be left to pick up the pieces if you do die or are seriously brain injured from not wearing a helmet.

To me, just not worth the risk.

 

[aussiemum]

. Riding without one would feel very strange.

Yeah, like driving/riding in your car without a seatbelt. It's just automatic

 

[Cat by the Sea]

Every time. My head is precious to me; without it I wouldn't be able to enjoy my horse. I also agree with Cielo Notturno that anybody who wants a pony ride on my well-broke mare is gonna be wearing head protection. But I will say that when I was a little kid, I sat on that same mare with my mom standing next to us all the time with no helmet, and my first (unexpected) trotting experience was one of those times while the gelding I was sitting on decided to abandon his dinner in favor of trotting out into the field. I had no helmet and was maybe four years old. I was fine, having a lovely time trotting around with him, but my parents just about had heart attacks. I always had a helmet handed to me for sitting on the horses after that, because things can happen fast in any situation.
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[Paintedponies1992]

Before this year I wore it whenever I got on a horse, mostly because I was taking lessons and had to, and the fact that I was under 18. Last year was when I purchased my first horse in a few years and he was green so I was told I had to wear my helmet and I had no problem with that, I even had to wear a protective vest (something I had just recently learned about at the time). But now on my older mare or a horse I really know I don't, but on a green horse and horses I don't know I wear it and I'll be adding my vest again when it comes time to starting my younger girls.

 

[HagonNag]

There are two times I haven't worn my helmet. Once I was half way through a trail ride when I realized I had forgotten to put it on. Once a friend came over and wanted to see me on my new mare....in the round pen....for 3 minutes. Other than that? Every. Single. Time.

I worked with a University Professor who taught various methods of accounting. He had an accident on his bicycle and seemed fine...but he couldn't work afterwards. His concussion had left him with a brain injury that made it impossible for him to fill out a bank deposit form, add figures, do anything mathematical. To talk to him, you would never know anything was wrong. This is from a neighborhood bike ride!! Brains are fragile. I like mine working.

Mine is very lightweight and I often forget I'm wearing it. Even in the heat of SC!

 

[RaiRaiNY]

I wear my helmet every single time I ride. When I was showing my last horse, I would ride with a hat instead of my helmet when practicing for shows, but even that was rare. I suppose I'll do that again when Mica is ready to show - but for now, helmet every time, no exceptions.

 

[Hang on Fi]

99.8% of the time when on the back of a horse... I think I rode, well swam with my horse, last week and didn't wear a helmet for the first time in years. Sorry, wasn't getting my new helmet wet

I rarely put my helmet on before I get on though.

I've cracked too many helmets in my younger days not to wear one.

Just my .02 for people arguing "It's my head. My choice."

Absolutely. However, if you acquire an injury that leaves you comatose or seriously injured/paralyzed/dependent on others that could have been prevented by a helmet. Who gets to take care of you? How about thinking about your family instead of yourself. Granted a helmet can't prevent a broken back or neck, so it isn't a total life saver, but still.

Whilst I wear a helmet when I ride, I don't think about falling nor do I feel like Superwoman because I wear one. It's a preventive measure, just like a seat-belt. If my helmet can prevent my loved ones from having to take care of me, you dang well better believe I wear it for them more than me.

 

[beau159]

If you wear a helmet when you ride, how often do you truly wear it? Every single time, religiously?

Every. Single. Time.

 

[SEAmom]

I only wore one for horse shows when required. Otherwise, I wore a show cap (hunter under saddle). I did that for my entire life until I was urged by my husband, daughter, and trainer (and after having a rough fall off my guy) to wear one when I ride now. I resisted until 14 months ago. I made a deal with my daughter that I would ride one for her since she's required and I want to be a good example. I also made a deal with my trainer as we progressed into more intense sessions to wear one. Since then I've worn one every time I ride, except for maybe a handful of times that I've simply forgotten to put it on.
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[ChitChatChet]

Never had or wore one till we got horses. Now I and my dd's wear one while riding.

All the years (20) I rode donkeys I never even considered one.

 

[jaydee]

I learnt the hard way in my early 30's that a sweaty head and not looking 'cool' is way preferable to a fractured skull and a scar around the side of your face/head
Just a quiet hack out on familiar territory on a well behaved horse I'd had from a foal.
I never get on a horse without one now.

 

[HorseMom1025]

My 11 year old DD, 99.9% of the time (the only times she hasn't is when sitting on her stationary horse for pictures). Even when showing in Western classes, she has a beautiful tooled black leather covered helmet. Her head is too precious to me to take the risk.

I rarely ride, but I always wear a helmet when I do. Even when we went to Puerto Rico and rode horses on the beach, my daughter and I were wearing our helmets (we brought them with us).
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[karliejaye]

About 98% of the time. I forget now and then. There was a period of time I didn't wear my helmet much, it was old and got uncomfortable. I was riding and my cinh connector (between front and rear cinch) broke. My horse went nuts, threw me and I landed perfectly between 2 rocks. Our land is VERY rocky. The next weekend I went to a tack store to try on new helmets and found 1 that is comfortable and light.
For me, it is a no brainer. 1 of my horses bucks from time to time, we are on rocky ground, and I have a medical condition where I pass out easily (hasn't happened on a horse, but you never know). Helmet wearing is a personal choice, just like religion. I don't care what others do as long as it doesn't hurt me!

 

[BadWolf]

I've never ridden without one and would feel very uncomfortable if I didn't have mine. That's just how I grew up riding - saddle, bridle, helmet.

My husband grew up without helmets, but he wears one now.
The way I explained to him why I wear one is "Olympians wear helmets. Who am I to say I don't need one?"

The rule at our farm is No Helmet, No Riding.
That goes for adults and kids, even if they're riding their own horses.
(We don't get many visitors, but the rule stands.)

 

[BreezylBeezyl]

Honestly, ever darned time.

I particularly hate it because I have a bob haircut with bangs and it gives me HORRIBLE helmet hair. Just awful. I actually dread putting my helmet on.

But I never underestimate horses. Something could always go horribly wrong and I don't want to end up in the hospital with a fracture or worse, so I always wear my helmet.

 

[Cielo Notturno]

Reading some comments reminded me that when my horse reared and caught me totally unprepared, I'm sure that the rigid "front part" of the helmet saved me from having broken glasses and possibly a broken nose. Then it saved the rest of my head when I fell.

Would I have died? No, it wasn't that bad of a fall. But I could get up and walk and get back on, instead of heading for the hospital.

 

[egrogan]

Every single time.

I have also dealt first hand, as a therapeutic riding instructor, with people who had suffered traumatic brain injuries from various causes. It's eye opening, to say the least.

x2 - I have had the same experience.

I went to school for 23 of my 35 years- without sounding obnoxious, my brain is my livelihood, and putting that at risk would mean there were no horses, no hobbies, no supporting my family, nothing. There is absolutely no justifiable reason to me to risk a brain injury.