Sorry for the delay, I was replying more specifically to Bonnie2’s comment about Sylva’s feelings on the matter. I meant to quote her to make that clear.
This whole critique of Boyd taking off his helmet during victory gallops, or Michael Jung schooling Chipmunk without a helmet…
It reminds me of an iconic Charles Barkley commercial from the 90’s.
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I know somebody who fell off in a freak accident years ago and had life changing injuries. She was an excellent rider, and she was wearing a helmet.
She still ended up in the ICU for quite some time, and then a rehab facility for a long time after that. I went and visited her in both locations multiple times, and I have not gotten on a horse without a helmet since then.
Other people can do what they like, but I stand by my statement that it’s dumb to get on a horse without a helmet. Anything can happen with horses at any time, so it makes sense to at least try to minimize your risk.
The victory gallop exception is a bad idea, but at least it’s only for a short time.
I remember a video from a few years back of a jumper rider doing a victory gallop. I think it was at some show in Europe, and his horse spooked just a little bit at something and shifted sideways, and the saddle turned, and the guy fell off and hit the ground hard.
They had put on a cooler for winning the class, and I wondered if the girth was not tightened enough after they put the cooler on. But it just shows that anything can happen with horses, even if you just won the biggest class of your life.
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I agree it’s a bad idea to ever get on a horse without a helmet. I always wear one when lunging too, after hearing about a truly horrible accident someone else had.
I just think top tier pro athletes in any sport are wired a little differently than the rest of us, mentally speaking. Which is fine. I don’t necessarily look at all of their choices and actions as examples of best practices, or good role models to point out to my kid.
I guess FEI or USEF or USEA can crack down on helmet-less victory gallops… but I just sort of don’t see it as a major safety issue to fret over. But sure… freak accidents can certainly happen.
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Yes, that’s what I was referring to.
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Carrying this over from the WTF thread:
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THAT is extremely disappointing.
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I’m old enough to recall times when it was common to see people riding without helmets but now it is uncommon - and attracts negative comment - to ride without a helmet. Habits do change, sometimes for the better.
FEI has always been behind USEF/USEA in regards to helmets, and this was a USEF run event, which means there was no exception for taking your helmet off during a victory lap. I’m not picking on one person, I think it should apply to everyone.
It’s always interesting that we push everyone reading the rulebook and knowing the rules, but when someone points out a rule that isn’t being followed it’s “this is America” or “mind your own business” or “professionals aren’t role models.”
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There are huge swathes of the USA riding public who do not wear helmets, ever. Most of the Western disciplines, lots of casual trail riders, carriages in “turnout” type classes, rodeo, etc. It kind of drives me nuts.
I have forgotten my helmet a couple of times when wearing a winter hat, and I always felt silly about that. And I will admit to climbing onto my retired mare a couple of months ago to take a photo from her back, with no helmet. But otherwise…
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Not to mention, if I - Smurf-Rider-From-Nowhere - point out to the TD or GJ or whomever that the rules still apply to BNR-With-Multiple-WEGs-and-Olympics-Under-Their-Belt and they need to be wearing a helmet during a victory lap, I will get a pat on the head and they’ll say, “It’s okay this one time, honey.”
Years ago, I can’t tell you how many times I pointed out a pro rider who was wearing a clearly unapproved helmet (it was basically made of cardboard) to the TD, and they brushed me off. What’s the point of having these rules if they refuse to enforce them equally?
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What kind of helmet was it? Trying to picture a professional wearing that …
I still don’t get while we try so hard to prove that equestrian sports are indeed sports and then we’re like nah we don’t need no stinkin’ safety equipment. Professionals in other big sports seem to be like wrap me in bubble wrap please. Have you seen the stuff baseball players wear now just to run the bases? I know, I know, it’s a personal decision but it’s also my personal decision to think you’re a moron if you won’t use even basic safety equipment
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To add…
How many are wearing an expired helmet.
Tooooo many.
But ya can’t tell unless you look inside it, so…
Worse…
How many “professionals” & amateurs are still wearing helmets they’ve fallen in because they can’t afford the new helmet…BUT they have that new CWD and are showing 2x a month.
Em
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(At least in my area) This is also partly due to lack of education. I’ve talked to dozens of people that didn’t know they needed to replace it when they fell off. Including a client that fell for the second time and ended up with a helmet in 3 pieces and a concussion. 
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It was one of those Champion-type skullcaps from the 80s - you know, leather straps with buckles. Definitely pre-ASTM days.
See and my answer to this and for other related stuff was to create the FB group about MIPS helmets that I started in 2019.
We’re 4900 people strong now and getting the info out to more riders about replacement norms, the helmet replacement policies and relevant discounts from manufacturers, and the recommended life span of helmets. On top of the info about MIPS and the current and upcoming studies.
I can’t do too much myself but turns out the world of helmet people wants more people to know more things and they’re very friendly.
Em
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