@SoCal: I think this got moved from a previous post.

ONLY GUESSING: Maybe habit (not the nun type) or tradition for the variances in types of chapeaux.

 

@SoCal: I think this got moved from a previous post.

Yes, the administrators broke out four of my questions from my posts in the introduction thread and put them in the appropriate locations so others might comment.

ONLY GUESSING: Maybe habit (not the nun type) or tradition for the variances in types of chapeaux.

 

For those who compete in English disciplines, namely things like eventing, hunter jumpers, dressage, etc. helmets (and protective vests in some things, like XC) are required across the board to compete. That does not exist in many, if not all, of the western disciplines, especially for those 18+.

 

@ClearDonkey: You are right, but since I don't compete that wasn't even in my tiny brain. I still wore a helmet 100% of the time when I rode.

 

It’s tradition and habit I guess. As an English rider originally, I would of sworn blind that I ALWAYS rode with a helmet, though I have seen pics of me jumping without one as a kid, still surprises me when I see the,

As an adult, always choose to wear one, when I had my big accident the ER docs reckoned I would be dead or brain damaged if I hadn’t of been wearing it. After my accident, made me doubly aware of wearing my new helmet every time. For a few years I also wore a safety vest, because 12 distinct breaks or fractures in your ribs is extremely uncomfortable. Now I no longer wear the vest, it in itself was uncomfortable, and I hated it, and loved it at the same time.

The helmet though, well I guess every time I buy a new phone or tablet I also purchase a good quality case, because electronics are fragile. So’s my own CPU, that’s where my data bank is, my programming code, all my stored files, why would I not protect it?

 

@Horse & Dog Mom I was strict about wearing a helmet up until going to college and being in a barn where very few people wore helmets, as most riding was done on the trails. I continued being lax about it, moved my horses to an all-around barn where even fewer people wore helmets, until my horse fell while cantering. I've taken all of the first-aid clases, I know and have seen TBI's, but figured my horses were safe and I didn't "need" a helmet all of the time (plus, my winter hat was way warmer than my helmet!). Accidents happen, any horse can trip and fall, or get stung by a wasp, or have an ill-fitting or broken piece of tack, or, or, or... I wear a helmet every single time again, and when I'm doing groundwork too.

I walked away from my accident when my horse fell, but it could have very well been very bad. It shook me to my core knowing what would've happened if my mare couldn't stop before falling into the wall, into the row of metal chairs, coming over onto me, whiplashing my head into the ground... A helmet won't always save a life, but the harm-reduction one provides is a no-brainer. Yes, they don't always prevent concussions or TBI's, but do lessen the severity, and we must protect our most valuable organ - our brain.

 

The western riders I know are out for long hours in a variety of weather. Western style hats are functional.

Personally it depends on how long I'm going to be out and what the weather is.

 

@ClearDonkey: I hear ya'... Your accident description gave me goosebumps... I've told the story a couple times on the Forum about losing 2 hours of my life (from a concussion) after falling off our horse & hitting my head AND I had a helmet on.

 

A friend has a sheep ranch. In 5 generations, no one on the ranch has had a head injury while riding horses. His sheepherders don't know how to ride when he hires them. Over the last 40 years, none of them has injured his head while riding. And...when riding for long times exposed to weather and sun, cowboy hats work. Perhaps the question should be, "Why do so many English riders feel the need?" Because most did NOT feel that need prior to the 1990s.

 

After further reading, besides tradition which I think is also a factor, you and Boots bring up the practical reasons. Protection from the sun and rain would be a more immediate problems than the rare fall that causes a head injury. On the other hand while your friends sheep ranchers have had a no injuries, the rider's descriptions of their accidents above make the case that they can definitely help. Regarding your question about English riders not wearing helmets, maybe it's because sheep ranchers and cowboys are that much more skilled than everyone else?? It's too bad that no one has come up with a lightweight cowboy hat that offers a little more head protection that doesn't look like a helmet.

And you're right about this being a relatively new trend. When I was growing up no one wore bicycle helmets, of course there were probably a lot more head injuries back then. And at one time people used to drive cars without safety glass, seatbelts and airbags.

 

Because most did NOT feel that need prior to the 1990s.

Where did you pluck that date from?

There are many arguments I could use as to why English riders, you know from England wear hard hats…but it would probably get very political and get me into trouble. Let’s stick with riding on roads, over fences, hunting, being on hard top, jumping, polo, lots of high speed sports where falling onto something hard is quite likely, makes a person think it’s a good idea to protect the head.

 

Here’s a good,short, interesting read Cantering Through Helmet History

 

Here’s a good,short, interesting read Cantering Through Helmet History

Great read.
I found this amazing, that it wasn't the players that had a problem with wearing helmets, "...Hard-sided protective helmets subsequently appeared on Hockey League players’ drenched heads in 1928 but were unpopular with fans and media..." I would wage that however long it takes it's only a matter of time before horse associations make helmets mandatory for all rodeos and other riding events. And probably the last holdouts will be driven by the fans and media.

 

Perhaps the question should be, "Why do so many English riders feel the need?" Because most did NOT feel that need prior to the 1990s.

My parents started their riding lesson business in the early 60s and no one ever got on a horse without a helmet. It was quite typical in my area that equestrians wore helmets. Helmets were required by many associations and coaches and trainers and parents long before the 90s. US Horse Shows required harnesses in helmets for juniors in the mid-80s. You shouldn’t speak for most English riders.
Safety is the reason riders wear helmets and for every reason @Golden Horse gave.

 

I would wage that however long it takes it's only a matter of time before horse associations make helmets mandatory for all rodeos and other riding events.

You don’t get more macho than bull riders, and more and more of them are choosing helmets and vests these days. I have no idea of the rules but I’m guessing it’s free choice if they do or not.

 

I have a helmet and will wear it. I get lazy and don't alot of the time but I think it doesn't' have anything to do with macho. For show you wear a cowboy hat so you get used to not wearing one. It used to be a huge deal to not wear a cowboy hat in the show ring but now rules have changed and no one will fault anyone for wearing a helmet. In fact, they make helmets under cowboy hats now.

Why doesn't everyone wear a helmet when they ride a bike? Why not when you ride a skate board? How come no one wears a helmet when they are rollerskating? Skiing? etc.

 

It appears top hats were still allowed in some dressage conditions until Jan 1st, 2021.

https://dressage-news.com/2021/09/29/fei-comes-out-against-moves-to-allow-top-hats-again-in-dressage-top-sport/#:~:text=Top%20hats%20were%20outlawed%20and,hats%20in%20some%20senior%20competitions

.

And some competitors are wanting that option again.

 

When I was growing up no one wore bicycle helmets, of course there were probably a lot more head injuries back then.

Not that I recall. I rode thousands of miles on my bike without a helmet as did all my friends and...no one had a significant head injury.

You shouldn’t speak for most English riders.

I didn't TRY to speak for most or all English riders. I picked 1990 as a ballpark guess. But, from the article GH linked:

"At the 1978 equestrian World Championships, a Team USA three-day event rider sustained a serious head injury when her velvet-covered hunt cap came off during a fall. This spurred the requirement for Pony Clubbers, event riders, and show jumpers to wear safety helmets and most do today when schooling or competing. In 2001, Ontario passed the Horse Riding Safety Act which stipulates that anyone under 18 has to wear a certified horseback-riding helmet. In 2012, competitive Canadian dressage riders were mandated to wear helmets in competition but today many still train in baseball caps."

So it wasn't terribly widespread, it seems, prior to 1978 and it became more a requirement (outside the USA at least) by 2001. So I wasn't grossly off in dates. It was not by any means a universal requirement of English riders.

Bull riding? Yeah, if I wanted to do that I'd wear a helmet. I do sometimes when trail riding with Bandit. But certainly not always and I don't feel weird riding in a Tilley hat instead.

Risk/Reward. It is a balance. If one worries enough about the risk of riding, one stops riding unless it is a requirement. The perception of risk is...variable. And not always connected to reality. For example, if you go online, you'll find out how important it is to ALWAYS cook hamburgers to an internal temp over 160 deg F. As in GREY. As best I can tell, that first became a recommendation around 2010 - after I had about 50 years experience eating medium rare hamburgers, all without ill effect. By 2015, it was appearing as a law for serving the public. I still cook mine medium rare. I have yet to get ill from it. My experience doesn't match the risk the USDA claims to make me give up the reward of eating hamburgers that taste good.

Same with riding. I ride a horse I've ridden for 8 years. Sensible, sure-footed. On trails we know. In cool weather, I might grab a helmet. In Arizona's summer sun? Usually not. There really isn't much of a downside to a helmet on an hour ride in the winter here. There is in the summer. And I rate the risk of a head injury very low. So...in the winter, I often wear a helmet and in the summer I don't.

BTW, the statistics I've seen indicate one is far more likely to have a head injury handling a horse from the ground than trail riding. That matches my experience. So, how many wear a helmet BEFORE getting within 20 feet of a horse? I don't. But if I wanted to reduce my risk of head injury, that would probably do more to protect me than wearing it when I trail ride!

 

A thread I posted a few years back giving some statistics from a variety of studies on the risk on injury when riding:

A collection of horse riding injury statistics

The following statistics show a lot of variation. I'm not trying to push any particular view. Just want to present a variety of accident statistics for folks to wade through, if so inclined: ---------------------------------- Researchers report conflicting evidence as to whether experience or...

www.horseforum.com

From one of the few that would involve western riders riding outside an arena:

"...In a study done by Sorli (2000) to determine the demographics of hospital admissions and mortality associated with equestrian activities in the 33,000 riders in British Columbia, he found that the mean number of yearly admissions was 390, with head injury the most common cause of hospital admission (20%). [Note: thus the injuries/year that might have been helped by a helmet work out to 78 out of 33,000. or 0.24%]..."

 

When I first started taking formal lesson, back in the early 1960's, nobody wore a helmet of any kind unless we were actually jumping. During the flat portion of the lesson, which is when we actually fell off, we were bare headed and then when we were ready to jump, we all went to the rail and picked up our 'brain buckets'. I'm not sure how much good they would have done, no harnesses, and they were all the old, worn out show helmets we no longer used used for showing. Most of them were pretty soft by the time they made it to being our schooling skid lids. At the shows we wore our helmets in the actual show ring, I don't remember anyone wearing them in the warm up unless they were schooling over the warm up fences. There was no age requirements for helmets, it was just if you were in the show ring, it was part of the kit and you were properly attired. If it was too hot (105-110 F or better, the judge could, at their discretion, allow you to remove your hunt coat and show in your ratcatcher). That was pretty much it. I remember my little sister having an absolute walleyed FIT when they made under 18 start wearing the bubble head helmets with the harness, those things were just shocking when you were used to the older, fitted style helmets. Now they're better protection and not quite such awful looking helmets but in the 80's and 90's they were pretty bad.

Western riders, or stock seat as it was called back then, wore their western hats, no helmets required at any age. I don't remember dressage riders wearing helmets back then either. I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to them, I was too busy with other stuff to really care.

I didn't actually start wearing a helmet religiously until I got trampled in my trailer a few years ago and got a pretty good TBI because of it. I can't really afford anymore trauma to my head, so have started wearing a helmet regardless of where I'm going or how long I'm riding. I also wear it when collecting or breeding. I don't expect anyone whould deliberately hurt me, but feet get to flailing and you never know. I think it's an individual choice. I will wear mine. If you choose to wear one great, if not, your choice.

 

it's definitely tradition. Tradition all the way. But, traditions change, and they are changing.

I rode two long distance trail rides with western riders. did this 5 years apart. first ride I was one of the 5% that wore helmets. Five years later? about 30% wore helmets.

The riding population is getting older, overall, and more likely to fall off, or at least they fear a fall more than when they were younger. So, helmets are becoming more common.

 

It was fashion and uniform that mophed into a riding 'uniform' and more importantly a way to save lives.

Here, it's the law for children under 14 to wear a hat, encouraged for adults, but most associations, livery yards, schools etc expect a certain standard of hat. What you do on your own land is up to you.

I think showing is one of the few who allow Silk Hats and safety Bowlers in certain classes.


When I started in 1973 they were a requirement at my local riding schools and I remember everyone wearing them at shows. That said, I doubt that they would've offered a great deal of protection compared to modern helmets.

When I was eight or nine, I was bucked off a pony called Suzette and went head first into the wooden kicking boards of the indoor arena; I had to straighten my hat because it used to move around thanks to a single chin strap. I got back on and kept going.

In my twenties I was riding four and five hours every day at work then coming home to ride my own. While I wore a three-point Hunting Cap, for jumping and fast work, there were times when I rode my own horse without tack and no hat. I was very lucky not to get hurt. Ah youth. It caused so many arguments.

Now, I wear a four star eventing skull cap and body protector. If I could cover myself in bubble wrap I would.

 

I'm glad culturally it is becoming more acceptable in areas that are dominated by western riding to wear a helmet if you want to. Perceived risk is part of it, but also there is actual risk when you consider those who have already had some concussions and ride in situations where having another is more likely than just possible.

With the first mare I started, my risk of concussion was probably at least 10x higher than the average rider, since she was an explosive fear bucker with some stylish rodeo moves. In those days I didn't wear a helmet (because of the culture), and added a couple of concussions to the history of concussions I already had. Another friend I ride with has had a serious TBI and suffers from memory loss.

For both of us, even if our risk of a concussion in daily riding is quite low, our risk of serious problems from a new concussion is quite high. So it can be quite important for some to wear a helmet.

It is getting better in my western riding dominated area, but there is still a bias against helmets. The perception is that those who wear them either are incompetent riders, timid and fearful (there is a bit of a macho culture, and it is the same if someone puts a helmet on whenever they get on their quad), or else they don't know how to train a horse to be "safe" enough to not need to wear a helmet. Even if you mention that horses stumble and fall, and that some famous riders with TBIs were walking in an arena, the perception is still that you are overly cautious, fearful or a wimp.

Some people have difficulty getting over the looks or comments they get from other riders because of wearing a helmet. But that attitude is not as common anymore.

 

I have a 16 yr old that grow up riding English always wore a helmet. She came off OTTBs way too many times for me to count so she knows why she should wear a helmet. Now she only rides Western and competes in regional barrel racing events with her helmet on even though she is usually one of the few that do. No one has ever questioned her over it. The only time she goes without a helmet is when she’s practicing alone at home on our older horse.

 

The helmet though, well I guess every time I buy a new phone or tablet I also purchase a good quality case, because electronics are fragile. So’s my own CPU, that’s where my data bank is, my programming code, all my stored files, why would I not protect it?

Love this! Nothing truer.

 

This is a very good question. I can only speak to what I know locally. Here, Western equestrian sports attract more men than English. In fact, it's pretty rare to see a guy riding English around here. I have no idea why, it's just one of those things. So that may be part of it.

But also, we have difficulty attracting Western riders to sanctioned shows because many do not vaccinate their horses. I realize this is tangential to the helmet issue, but I feel it is related, or at least representative of a different point of view. In fact, our province just had its first EVER case of EEE and it was in a yearling QH that was unvaccinated. The breed tells me it is probably a Western horse. Why Western riders do not believe in vaccinations or helmets baffles me, but there seems to be more of a country, let nature take its course kind of attitude. As in, if I'm meant to die of chicken pox or a hit to the head, then so be it. Bravado? Macho culture? Partly for sure. Luckily it isn't across the board, and I'm seeing more Western riders wear helmets, or at least put them on their kids, which is something. I have to say that I just cringe when I see people posting videos of their 5 year old barrel racing without a helmet.

As to functionality, there are all kinds of helmets now. Some with wider brims, some that look like cowboy hats, and I put a winter helmet cover on mine so it is nice and cozy (I ride in -15C weather and my ears never get cold because it has flaps that wrap around my neck or face if it's really cold - way warmer than just wearing a tuque). Therefore it isn't really about functionality is it? Seems to me that the come-back from Western folks when I raise these facts is that those helmets look silly. Fine, but then just say it. They don't want to look silly even if it means risking brain damage. At least be honest about it.

I've never fallen off Rusty in 100s of rides, but I still wear a helmet. I did fall off my supposedly safe QH mare and got a concussion which caused me to black out and lose memory of the event. Luckily I was wearing my helmet. I use my brain to make a living and kind of want to keep it as intact as possible.

Is there risk around riding and being around horses? Of course. Does it make sense to throw all caution to the wind just because we've chosen this activity? Not to me. It isn't about eliminating risk, but about managing it. I choose to drive even though the risk of death or injury from car accidents is very high, but I do wear a seat belt because statistically, it puts the odds in my favor. Life is like that - we take calculated risks all the time which does not make us reckless.

Incidentally, the QH yearling with EEE who is the first ever in our province to contract the disease was euthanized.

 

I think like many things, being "different" takes a bit of guts to stand-out in the crowd.
Western hats, well some are beautiful to look at compared to what the riding helmet is.
Today though I notice more and more western riders do wear riding helmet protection.
With the hell-hat invention to dress up and make it your own if you wish also giving sun-protection I see many, many trail riders wearing helmets.
I don't know about other states but here there are laws that under 16 must be helmeted if on any trail system, or public facility. Most private venues enforce helmets worn for any rider astride as its a insurance thing no negotiating it... Astride you wear or get off and leave the premise. I know NYS was similar but no idea of other states.

I see not much difference in sports, the degree of injury when you look at barrel racers and horses who slip on footing, riders who do fall off going around a barrel, pole riders who indeed fall off and even trail classes a horse freaks and refuses a obstacle and off the rider goes...
Tell me where any of these not have risk involved and some a far greater risk of injury faced...

• Horsemanship
• Western Pleasure
• Reining
• Cutting
• Roping
• Working Cow Horse
• Western Riding
• Trail
• Gymkhana
• Team Penning
• Rodeo

I ride and have always used a riding helmet to lessen the degree of injury to my brain should I hit the head against something...anything from the ground coming up and biting me to 12' high, yes to that height. Yes, I rode in arenas where it was not clear-span and indeed hit my head on a roof post when the horse tossed me as a kid....

Today with so many choices in helmet appearances and indeed western appearing helmets I see no excuses for not proactively looking to protect your brain better.
As a child, no choice and I would have no problem raising the age to 18 mandated.
As a adult, its your choice....
However, your choices should not impact me and when serious TBI involved you quickly end up on Medicaid when you go through your private insurance amounts and still need extensive care, forever....
So indeed, your choices could impact me, would impact your family who is now caregivers to a less or greater degree depending upon how injured your brain is....and you, then can also fall on being financially funded by the general public and their care institutions.
So although many not want to hear about it and think they are invincible....you're not!
Think about what impact you being injured would have on you, your loved ones and how it can and would change all the things in your life you love...and quite possibly the lives of your family.
Helmets don't stop all injuries taking place, but they can lessen them and that gives you and your body a better chance to resume a life you lead currently or things you wish to do and pursue in future years...
All for the starting price of around $30....your life can have a very different permanent outcome desired or hated.
Now that thought is something to really and truly think about....
🐴.... those are my thoughts on the matter!

 

Tell me where any of these not have risk involved and some a far greater risk of injury faced...

ALL riding has SOME risk. But some riding has vastly MORE risk.

To point out something that apparently is controversial: A huge number of head injuries involve jumping. I used to search for any study involving jumping and risk of head injury, and the numbers are shocking. About the lowest increase of risk any study showed was 20 times greater, with most more like 40 times greater and some as high as 70 times greater. Not "40%" but 40 TIMES greater! A study done in the sport that combines scores from dressage and one of jumping - I forget the name - showed 88% of head injuries took place in the act of jumping. 11% took place handling horses from the ground. Only 1% took place during the dressage phase.

In another study, the researcher was asked why he positioned his data collectors at the jumps. He replied, "That is where the injuries happen!" A study in South Africa found 2/3rds of all head injuries occurred during the act of jumping, with all other riding in SA providing the other third - although the amount of time SAs spent actually in a jump was tiny.

You couldn't pay me to try jumping on a horse without a helmet - now. In the 80s, my last riding before buying a horse 30 years later, I took some seriously bad "jumping lessons" at a place that had zero business teaching it. No helmet and in the early 80s, I didn't care. Didn't know any better. But...

Based on every study I can find anywhere, one is much safer riding the flats without a helmet than jumping WITH a helmet. That is reality. So while I often wear a helmet riding western - it depends mostly on how hot it is and how intense the southern Arizona sun is that day - I don't panic if I ride in my Tilley hat instead. I'm safer trail riding in it than I would be jumping while wearing a helmet. And lots of people choose to jump. Which is their right, but they shouldn't assume their risk is the same as everyone else's.