Not trying to start a helmet war, but am actually curious about the rules.-- Poking through articles about the derby, and noticed a photo of one of the trainers ponying a derby horse - I think was was Lukas, maybe? … An older gent on a gorgeous paint horse…Anyways, they looked to be on the track but the trainer had on a plain old cowboy hat. I guess I always thought anyone mounted at the track had to wear an approved helmet? (And I want to add, if this was indeed Lukas and I was still ponying racehorses at his age, I might say screw it to the helmet too- I’m not judging, just thinking ‘huh, I wonder how he gets away with that?’) Are only the jockeys required to wear them?
I saw that too, along with him in a clearly “article of apparel” English riding hat like we used to wear, with no harness.
Figured D Wayne is old enough, and has been around long enough, that he does what he wants. But curious to hear what the actual rules are.
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I agree that at this point in his life and history, D Wayne can wear what he wants on his head.
It’s still an interesting choice, given that his son Jeff suffered a devastating brain injury that destroyed Jeff’s life and eventually ended it prematurely, as a result of a horse accident (not riding).
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Similar to Queen Elizabeth riding with a scarf on her head. Who was going to tell her to wear a helmet?
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I found this article from 2009
This is HISA.
Scroll down to 2293 Equipment
Too true. I wonder if he’s been there helmet-less for so long that no one thinks twice about it lol.
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I’m sure he is far from the only one in his environment. It’s normal.
In fact, where I live, it’s normal among the majority of the horse-riding horse-public.
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Thanks for that! Looks like they are required, but perhaps Mr. Lukas was doing his own thing. Pretty sure he predates the helmet rule, so live and let live I guess.
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Not like he is galloping anything or breezing some over amped race horse…and who s going to scold him? He always has a good looking pony under him too.
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