One reason that many of the Professional Horsemen committee members (yes, really) glombed on to as a viable reason to do what they wanted (vote down a new approved helmets in flat classes rule ) which the AQHA sub-committee had passed, was because of a person that said if an “approved helmets required” rule was in place, and someone got hurt not wearing one while riding in an English saddle, the show could be liable for not enforcing their rule. I could not speak in this committee meeting, but I would have loved to point out all the associations that have an approved helmet rule and have not been sued. (The hunter trainers present just sat resigned after trying to voice common sense unsuccessfully.)
What about vaulting? Isn’t that a WEG/Olympic sport? Well, we’re not discussing Olympic here, I guess. But vaulting is a tough one. I can see that that sport is HIGHLY dangerous with the height those kids get. (Agreed, saintly horse). But I also can see how hard it would be to vault with a helmet. Just thinking out loud. What do you all think?
[QUOTE=ParadoxFarm;7077834]
What about vaulting? Isn’t that a WEG/Olympic sport? Well, we’re not discussing Olympic here, I guess. But vaulting is a tough one. I can see that that sport is HIGHLY dangerous with the height those kids get. (Agreed, saintly horse). But I also can see how hard it would be to vault with a helmet. Just thinking out loud. What do you all think?[/QUOTE]
I can see that being like figure skating, where the interference with balance, head weight, and peripheral vision outweighs any safety benefits from wearing one. (Not to mention, as said before, it’s not going to save you from a broken neck or cracked ribs or a shattered pelvis.)
I think for Western riders, setting aside that yeah, cowboy hats are cool, helmets will be more palatable as the number of options that just do not look anything like an English helmet become available. No black velvet, center strips, bug look like the Speed-Air, etc. Not saying the “hat helmets” (which just look silly) but Troxel is on the right track with helmets like the Sierra that have a little more personality than Hunter clone helmets.
Had to run another bale of hay up to camp (how the 14.1hh pony went through a whole bale in a day and a half is a whole 'nother thread). They were just taking a saddle bronc kid to the ER. DD’s group was mounted when I arrived and she was wearing her helmet. Yay!! A little part of me was worried that she might cave to peer pressure.
As an aside, I would like to send the whole lot of them to PC camp to learn some horsemanship and stablemanship.
In regards to figure skating, DD wore her helmet until she was through with Snowplow Sam and into Basic 1. DS wears a helmet when we go up for public. But I can really see where it would completely throw off vaulters and trick riders
[QUOTE=Plumcreek;7077651]
Not to mention horse resale value or stud value. They will wear the helmets, and all decide it is OK for that venue. Sacred Petra: I was only referring to the youth in question in regular classes for the bling comment. You do remember the brief but still occasionally visible fad of felt western hats with crystals on the upturned brims?? (Boy, I hate this no-paragraph thing). Just want to say I do wear my Tipperary helmet in the schooling ring riding in my western saddle always and my older skunk helmet in show classes (but I do not show western these days).[/QUOTE]
I can see where you’re coming from in terms of youth riders. I hear that content made a lot as a sweeping generalization about all western riders, so I’m a bit touchy about it.
Glad to hear DD was wearing her helmet when you came!
If I read the WEG rule correctly the reiners and vaulters do not have to wear a helmet while competing, but if they ride on the grounds at all including training, they will need to wear a helmet. So they can still wear their sponsors hat if it is that important. I know a few professional reiners, and all of them would love to ride in the Olympics. I need to ask if they would wear a helmet. Maybe a helmet company needs to sponsor them, or one of them that has their own line of tack can put out a helmet. I just think it stinks when they are influencing kids to not wear one.
The major western associations that deal with youth riders (AQHA, APHA some NRHA, high school rodeo, etc. ) need to sponsor a competition among helmet makers for the best new specialized western helmet.
[QUOTE=Plumcreek;7078092]
The major western associations that deal with youth riders (AQHA, APHA some NRHA, high school rodeo, etc. ) need to sponsor a competition among helmet makers for the best new specialized western helmet.[/QUOTE]
I whole heartedly agree. I can bling up a helmet for my daughter but wouldn’t it be great if someone offered Spiderman helmet skins for the boys? Or something else cool. If these organizations mandated helmets for juniors, I bet most would still them when they age out.
Plumcreek, your right! I agree totally. I am a member of AQHA and NRHA wonder how we could get some interest in doing that?
Troxel has a couple of helmets that I think are pretty workmanlike for a western rider. Cheyenne Rowdy is my favorite, but there’s also the Sierra and the Venture, and all come in black or brown.
There’s no reining in the Olympic games, only GP jumping, GP dressage, para dressage, and the 3 day event. The World Equestrian Games (WEG) have all of the preceeding plus reining, combined driving, vaulting, and endurance.
[QUOTE=rustbreeches;7077921]
In regards to figure skating, DD wore her helmet until she was through with Snowplow Sam and into Basic 1. DS wears a helmet when we go up for public. But I can really see where it would completely throw off vaulters and trick riders[/QUOTE]
With snowplows, it’s one thing, they’re little kids and most are going to quit anyway. But once they get into real skating and are a little older, helmets are just bad ideas and I wouldn’t allow it myself. There just aren’t a lot of head injuries, and the bigger dangers to themselves and others are actual slow skaters–people who skate quickly and know what they’re doing generally just don’t hurt themselves much when they fall, we don’t fall over backwards much and when we go down we land on a hip and we skid, which dissipates the impact. It takes a lot to get through especially to adult learners that slow and careful is going to break their bones and smash them flat on their backs, getting over themselves and moving out will make it a lot safer. (Note that I have a harder time understanding this when teaching because I’ve never had a problem standing on skates or moving forward so I don’t understand why people have issues, especially on figure skates which are much more stable than hockey skates, which should be reserved for strong, advanced skaters with good control.) Once you get into jumps, spins, and advanced moves, you don’t want some weight on your head pulling it around. Hockey’s different, but there when you’re really playing people are TRYING to smash you into walls.
I ride in one at at every show - people ask and I tell them a helmet saved me from a traumatic brain injury… They usually have no reply to that.
Hobby Horse have a helmet cover to match their slinkies, or if you are craft-inclined, the leather covered helmets can be blinged without much trouble 
Most of the people who compete in western rail classes here in Australia will NEVER work a cow … So why would a non cow person need to dress like a cow person ? Where I come from in Nevada, even the bull riders are wearing helmets and vests - they treat their riding like a sport - why shouldn’t we?
I rein some. I’m not a big name. I haven’t been to an NRHA show in ages, but the local reining circuit has several non pros and youth wearing them. I think if a few do wear them, it will give others on the fence about it encouragement to wear them. I find them more comfortable than my expensive custom western hat and they doesn’t fall off on a windy day!
[QUOTE=danceronice;7077875]
I can see that being like figure skating, where the interference with balance, head weight, and peripheral vision outweighs any safety benefits from wearing one. (Not to mention, as said before, it’s not going to save you from a broken neck or cracked ribs or a shattered pelvis.)
I think for Western riders, setting aside that yeah, cowboy hats are cool, helmets will be more palatable as the number of options that just do not look anything like an English helmet become available. No black velvet, center strips, bug look like the Speed-Air, etc. Not saying the “hat helmets” (which just look silly) but Troxel is on the right track with helmets like the Sierra that have a little more personality than Hunter clone helmets.[/QUOTE]
Do you wear a helmet? I have never seen a helmet that affects someone’s peripheral vision let alone is so heavy it would affect balance. I also think the “oh yeah, well a helmet doesn’t help broken ribs or a neck so I don’t wear one cause that’s the only thing I’ll ever hurt if I fall off” is ridiculous. I’ve fallen off plenty of times and never landed on my head but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop wearing a helmet.
As far as the comment that western riders wouldn’t go to WEG if they had do wear a helmet? Well I guess it’s their loss and there are plenty of people standing in line behind them!
I am an every ride every time person. I really wish everyone would wear them. I make anyone I give a lesson to wear one. But in the end an adult is an adult, I can’t force people (non students) to be smart and wear one.
But for an adult to tease a child and tell her she doesn’t need a helmet (and I agree with the reins over the pommel, dangerous when mounted at least)… OP… Let her have it. Seriously. I would have a very serious talk with that adult that you don’t appreciate her undermining your authority and giving your daughter a hard time for taking precautions. That is unacceptable.
We were at CFD yesterday and one of the barrel racers had her horse literally drop out from underneath her. He caught himself or the ground gave and he couldn’t recover and she went down like a ton of bricks. She didn’t jump back up either, so I used her misfortune as a GREAT example of why DD has to wear a helmet when she rides, English or Western. The rider was okay and left the arena on her own two feet, but it was a bad fall.
