Like most i am 100% a pusher for helmets while riding. I know it can same lives and always have it to people wear them while riding horses. I don't care how long you have been riding or how good you think you are. I have been riding for over 20 years and yesterday (6/12/12) I was riding a new horse and the horse spooked and bolted, bucked and had a whole rodeo on my hands I was thrown from my horse and slid 3 feet in the gravel into a pick up truck. THANK GOD for my helmet. I hit my head on the ground and into the side of the truck. I have some bad road rash on my left side and polled a muscle in my right leg. I have also rotation of c1 and c2 in my neck. The ER doc said the only thing that saved me from braking my neck was my helmet. It spread the impact over the whole head and not just head to my neck. I am in a cervical collar for 2 weeks and out of the 4 weeks. This all depends on the follow up appointment in 3 weeks.
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I have always ween my self as a experienced rider and thought I would never really need a helmet but I always wear one. And thank god I did. My little not to everyone is not matter how good you think you are sometime the basics can save our lives.
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Horse Sense for People
ALWAYS wear a helmet while riding.
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I also wanted to add when picking out a helmet get one that is ASTM Approved and SEI Certified and meant for horse back riding.
I agree, I also wear a helmet.
Hey Christena - so pleased to hear you weren't hurt even more seriously and hope your recovery is speedy and uneventful. I know of a case some years ago of someone getting their horse from the paddock and just jumping on bareback - the horse tripped while walking up to the stables and the girl fell off and head first into a rock and was killed instantly - a very tragic accident.
Hi Christena
Wow - how lucky are you? It could have been so much worse, and proves just how important wearing a helmet is. I would never even contemplate getting onto a horse without one, not even for one second. Safety first, always, no matter whether you are are getting on a horse for the first time or a world champion! Hope you recover soon.
Hi Christina
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Thanks for sharing your story, and I really hope you recover fully with no complications or set backs.
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I agree with you about helmets. I always wear one and I often get 'teased' by my friends who don't wear one. I have had concussion one too many times from falls - a couple of times I got concussion with my helmet on. But those times could have been much worse if I wasn't wearing it.
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Best wishes,
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Gen
Hey Christena,
So sorry to hear of your accident, I'm glad you weren't more seriously hurt.
Get well soon,
Kleinne
Thank you all so much. This will be a slow recovery but I do plan on getting back in the saddle once my doctor says I can. I never realized how many grammar mistakes I made in my post but I a little groggy from meds.
On our clinics and courses everybody wear their helmet, it does not matter if we are in the saddle or on the ground. Ofcourse safety is paramount, also, the horse will know your slightest move and register it, remember 50/50 is a constant vibrant communication! Good Luck to All of you, Warmest Ann Sweden
One thing we should all note is that if you have a fall and your helmet gets knocked, even if it looks OK you should replace it staight away. It could have been weakened or have tiny cracks that you can't see, and it won't protect you properly. Better be safe than sorry and buy a new one.
Oh Christina! - what an awful accident - I am so pleased you had your helmet on and thanks for sharing this with us. It is a big warning for us all. Do take care and all the best over the next few weeks as I know they will be tough. Thinking of you - MaggieF
I stopped wearing a helmet a few years back when I started doing mostly western. Last week my mare decided to take off rodeo bucking. I fell off and was knocked unconscious. I learned the hard way to always wear my helmet! I'm just glad I walked away with only a concussion.
hayesm777 Yes very lucky you did walk away. It does not matter if your riding english or western always have a helmet on. Yes I am replacing my helmet after this. I have had one miner little fall and this major one with the same helmet so I am now replacing it.
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When it comes to a helmet I am sorry but I don't like it when people get bike helmets for horse riding. I don't think they will help, I mean how many time will you be going 20 to 30 miles per hour on a bike. OR have a bike that is 14+ hands high.
Christena - you are right, helmets for horse riding are designed especially for the needs of horse riders. Bike helmets are not appropriate. And also it is important to make sure the helmet fits properly - it needs to be tight enough so that when you tip your head upside down it stays on without the the chinstrap fastened. A loose helmet may come off easily in the event of a fall. But don't do what I did and borrow a too tight helmet for an hour long riding lesson and end up with a headache afterwards! You can also get adjustable helemts that can be tightened and loosened for a custom fit.
Christena - you are right, helmets for horse riding are designed especially for the needs of horse riders. Bike helmets are not appropriate. And also it is important to make sure the helmet fits properly - it needs to be tight enough so that when you tip your head upside down it stays on without the the chinstrap fastened. A loose helmet may come off easily in the event of a fall. But don't do what I did and borrow a too tight helmet for an hour long riding lesson and end up with a headache afterwards! You can also get adjustable helemts that can be tightened and loosened for a custom fit.
As a Polo player I am use to wear an helmet and so I always do.
People tease...until they have a problem and then curse themselves and the bad luck, bad horse etc.
Just a quick one... did You ride a new horse out of the arena? Maybe I am an inexperienced rider and that is why I never ride any horse out of the arena before understanding if can be a safe ride on the trail....
Ann Lindberg mentioned to wear a helmet also on the ground, not only when riding. I had a bad concussion when I was just leading my horse and a second one. I had some body else's horse at my place for company for my only one at the time. This horse was so head shy that I could not aproach him from the front to put a halter on him. I had worked with him using Monty's method and was able after about 10 days to slowly walk up to him and rub his head. His owner used to come with a pail of crunchies and even then it would take him 20 minutes to lay a hand on the horse. On this day of my concussion I was leading my horse on my left side ( he is a very calm ) and this other horse on my right to bring both to another pasture. It was a quiet warm summer day, I was by myself. Something must have startled this horse. His head flew around and hit me. It happened so fast that I didn't even realized it. I was out, found myself back in the house in the bathroom, the sink dirty with blood, my face the same, it was 50 minutes later. I went out to the pasture, found both horse tied to a pole how I would tie them, but have no memory what happened in these 50 minutes. The last thing I remember was that I was looking at my horse to the left, so it could not have been him and my head was dirty on the right.
Since then I wear my helmet as soon as I am around horses. Their reaction is so much faster then ours.
Hiltrud
I have always worn a helmet until I just did dressage and rode only one horse. Then I felt I was better or I don't know why I felt exactly but I stopped putting my helmet on.. Shouldn't have. The horse I was riding at the time had a lot of temper and one day, he wasn't so happy with the exercise we were doing and he rear up so high he fell. I was very lucky to fall on my feet, and no harm was done but never after that did I remove my helmet. Even now that I'm riding the nicest horse possible... !
I have always found it interesting that none of Montys instructors wear helmets when working on the ground at Flag is Up, and not many wear them when riding either or they wear stetsons (which offer no protection I gather). I am also guilty of forgetting to wear one when doing groundwork which is stupid of me (especially working with a horse I don't know) because Kelly Marks (the UK Instructor whose course I have done) ALWAYS wears a hat doing ground work as she had a head injury many years ago and doesn't want to risk another one (sensible woman!)so we have a good role model in the UK and no excuse! It has made me stop and think, I am being silly not wearing it. I would be interested to hear from Maya at Flag as I know she reads this forum content, why they make the decision not to wear one bearing in mind that they are very very good at keeping people safe there. Any thoughts Maya?
Dear friends. I am adding the summary of a little article I wrote during my Introductury Course:
• The risk of injury during horse riding is in the range of other sport activities.
• Underestimated are the injuries of the hand and the face, during handling of horses
• Underestimated are painful rib injuries which can be avoided wearing a protective west.
• High velocity – high risk of injury.
• Wearing of a helmet is a must.
• The first 100 hours are the most dangerous ones.
• No drugs, no alcohol.
• Safety stirrups should be recommended to avoid foot fractures.
Rudi
This is a Fantastic Thread to remind use to wear our helmet. Just as important to replace our helmets when we bump them hard.
Years ago I was bucked off twice in one month. Had not had time to replace my helmet between incidents. When I fell the second time I could feel the force being dispersed across the helmet, then it abruptly stopped when it reach the part of the helmet that had been spent on the first fall. I was lucky to have hit the unspent side, but would have had less trauma if it had been a new helmet.
Last fall I was given a new horse and decided that with a new horse should come a new helmet. Helmets have sure advanced since my last purchase a few years ago. Because of this I have decide to purchase a new helmet every couple of years even if the helmet has not been hit.
On the subject of looks there is a new helmet add on that makes your helmet look kinda like a western hat. Has anyone purchased an add on like this?
I totally agree Amberpony; I've just replaced my helmet after our fall with another Charles Owen, It's an AYR8, which is very light & ventilated, has a triple safety standard plus very comfortable.
Helmets MUST be fitted properly to be protective.
I thought I'd try an adjustable helmet as it was cheaper - it was total rubbish, I sent 2 back & asked for a refund then went back to Charles Owen very quickly!!! They recommend hats should be changed approx 3 - 5 years, but more often if you ride more frequently, such as professional riders riding several horses a day.
It was interesting that you could actually feel the force of the blow suddenly stop!
Christina wishing you a speedy recovery.. I had a silly fall off my old mare years ago, we went out down the footpath to the track below us, there's a small ditch about 2' wide & 1' deep, popped over it hundreds of times, the mare took off but for some reason went down on landing nose first! I promptly slid right up her neck & into the gravel, luckily I had my velvet hat on with a fixed peak because that folded down over my eyes/nose so I only had a small graze right on the tip of my nose! Left hand had a bit of a battering as well, it was a freezing December day! So glad I didn't have my skull on as I would've cut my face to ribbons.
I use a JTE ventilated adjustable hat now, whigh I
Bloody phone! Was saying that I love my JTE, horses for courses I guess!
A mate of mine had a depressed fracture after falling off jumping a bank hunting years ago, somehow she ended up underneath him, she not realising where she was tried to stand up caught him in the belly he kicked, bang on top of her head! She had an expensive skull on but it could've been worse or happened anywhere..
indeed, different hats fit different shaped heads, I don't have a problem with that, the ones i tried were JWI, the adjustment is on a thin bit of plastic that dials to "fit" different sized heads; the first was a 53cm - 56cm; it was too loose on the tightest fitting & would never have stayed on my head in a fall, no point wearing it then! The 2nd was the smaller size & was actually looser than the larger one when set to it's tightest fitting!It was only the lowest standard of safety too, well pony club approved!!!
The peaks now must be softer, collapsible peaks so you don't break your neck if you land face first.
I was talking to someone in the village the other day, her horse fell on her & rolled right over her head & he goes around 700kgs, all she had was a line of bruises across her forehead where her hat had protected her - Imagine if she'd not been wearing it!
THe reason they need replacing even if you can't see any damage to the outside, is that the protective padding inside is made up of thousands of tiny air bubbles which burst on impact, cushioning your head & brain; once they've burst, the foam has diminished in thickness & has lost those cushioning properties at that point, hence why Amberpony felt the force stop at that point.
The same happens over time with normal wear & tear as sweat also damages it over time, that's why hats should be replaced when they get old.
Great thread! And important!
Christena, I am so glad you got away with nothing worse. Hope you have a speedy recovery!
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Rudy,
Great list! I would like to add to it that after the first 100 hours it is even more dangerous, because that is when the rider begins to get cocky and self-assured of his/her skills and will start to ignore safety.
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I've always used a helmet; on or off the horse. Thanks to wise parents and good influence it became natural to me, and today I feel naked without it.
I do admit to being a bit careless with it during grooming/ground work with my "ole gal", but I always use it when riding, and at all times around my younger horse.
I really need it anyway, because I am small = easy to knock about, and can be quite clumsy too, so I am liable to bang my head into any hard, protuding object, like a water cup in the box, or - if loading - the metal bar in front of the trailer/float or the doorway out of it.
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When I started riding in the early 70's, helmets didn't protect you very much, and for lots of (adult) riders they were just something uncomfortable that went on when competeing because the rules said so.
Back then it wasn't even mandatory in beginner groups for kids(!) to wear helmets, even if it was encouraged and could be borrowed at the riding schools.
I'm glad the view on protection has changed with time and knowledge! Still, it wasn't too long ago that I spoke with a woman who claimed heatedly it was her "own xxxxing business if she choose to ride without a helmet and get brain damage".
I couldn't help but reply that she couldn't be more wrong because her irreparable brain damage or broken neck would affect her entire family as well as all the people who paid for her medical care through taxes. Not to mention the hospital bed and resources she so unnecessarily would occupy.
yep, some people think they're "such good riders" they'll never fall off & smash their brain to pulp!!!! Usually, not very good riders of horsemen/women at all.
We all go through a phase of thinking we know it all, especially around 1 year of riding!
I was watching a video on You Tube about barefoot trimming once & a very cocky young man commented" what a load of rubbish, are all horses in America trimmed like that" The chap who posted the vid, who was extremely good at trimming - replied " Well sonny, Your 19, it's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!". I roared with laughter as never a truer word said, Tee Hee.
Ooooo I love that comment Beryl, I know exactly who I can use it with too!!!!!!!
Lol excellent Beryl x
Glad it made you laugh too, I can relate to it a lot!!!
ROTFL! That is an awesome comment, Beryl! I will definitely try to remember that one - it will come in handy sooner or later.
Tee Hee, wish i could remember the man's name who said it, it is so appropriate in so many situations.