Hair out of helmet in Hunter Ring

[2bayboys]

@Equkelly

Because it requires you to erase your femininity and hide it in your helmet. It’s not enough to have a low pony tail, braid, or bun…no no no. You can’t show that you have hair. Better cram it in your helmet so we don’t have to see it.

Whoa. Isn’t it actually sexist to ascribe to the notion that long hair is an inherent, and by implication, more desirable feminine trait? Are women who wear their hair short “erasing their femininity”? I call BS on that statement.

For the record I have long very thick heavy hair. And the only way it’s comfortable for me to wear a helmet is with my hair up. I’ve tried buns and braids etc but my own conformation plus volume of hair tilts my head and neck forward when I try to wear my hair down at the nape of my neck.

[trubandloki]

@Cat.J95

Maybe it’s just me, but from what I’ve gathered its the more hair, no matter how it happens, the less effective the helmet is going to be. With that being said, why purposely make the helmet less effective?

This!

The other day I was talking to my friend about how my hair has thinned out so much over the last couple of years (oh the joys of aging) and then I said - The one positive is now I have a more normal amount of hair (I used to have crazy thick amounts of hair) so my helmet will fit more securely and be more safe.

[foursocks]

Except that both the mechanic and the Ford shop are experts in cars and car repair. Dealers are notorious for overpricing their repair work, and perhaps yours was either trying to get you to buy a new car or simply incompetent. Your example would have been (sort of) more valid had you said that you brought the car to a six year old child and she diagnosed the problem.

[Equkelly]

@StormyDay

I’m really done with you, you are making up the weirdest excuses about why people can’t have choices about our own hair. Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it should be outlawed. The world does not revolve around you and your likes and dislikes.

If, in the future, someone actually does a study that shows that we need to keep our hair out of our helmets for safety, great. I’ll do it. But that hasn’t happened. And right now, it’s all speculation. And you irrationally demanding we all follow your preferences won’t make it fact.

RIGHT NOW people don’t have a choice about what to do with their hair because everyone has to shove it into their helmet if they want to fit in with the rest of their class.

We have people with thick hair, especially people of color that are buying helmets multiple sizes too big just so they can fit in. That’s a huge problem. USEF could solve it tomorrow and we’d be done with this.

[Equkelly]

@2bayboys

Whoa. Isn’t it actually sexist to ascribe to the notion that long hair is an inherent, and by implication, more desirable feminine trait? Are women who wear their hair short “erasing their femininity”? I call BS on that statement.

No… you know very well I didn’t say that. Long hair is just typically a feminine trait. Doesn’t mean women can’t have short hair and it doesn’t mean men can’t have long hair.

@2bayboys

For the record I have long very thick heavy hair. And the only way it’s comfortable for me to wear a helmet is with my hair up. I’ve tried buns and braids etc but my own conformation plus volume of hair tilts my head and neck forward when I try to wear my hair down at the nape of my neck.

Then you need a different helmet fitter because your helmet isn’t supposed to be a bonnet for your hair.

[Xctrygirl]

There’s more evidence about the effects of hair being up in a helmet relative to a concussion than folks think.

This is a video with the esteemed Dr. Lola Chambless from Vanderbilt University, where she is an assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, and Roy Burek from Charles Owen.

These guys are the experts.

Em

Concussion Training featuring Dr. Lola Chambless, MD & Roy Burek of Charles...

[Foitin]

Having this same thinning/helmet getting bigger problem, sucks!

[2bayboys]

Of course they have a choice. They choose not to exercise that discretion if they follow the crowd instead of wearing their hair out of the helmet if that’s their preference.

[Equkelly]

@2bayboys

Of course they have a choice. They choose not to exercise that discretion if they follow the crowd instead of wearing their hair out of the helmet if that’s their preference.

That’s like saying you have the choice to wear a neon green hunt coat. You do technically, realistically you don’t.

[Cat.J95]

Uh what? There’s actually a rule about coat colors. No neon green is not allowed per the rules.

[2bayboys]

Wearing your hair out of the helmet in a neat and tidy manner is hardly analogous to wearing a neon green coat.

And by the way, this year I bought a mesh coat that is purple. Not neon purple, but it’s purple. Plenty of blue ribbons won with my purple coat on.

[Equkelly]

@Cat.J95

Uh what? There’s actually a rule about coat colors. No neon green is not allowed per the rules.

Ok but not at the local circuit. You know what I mean, just because there’s not a rule stating that that’s how you have to wear your helmet doesn’t mean there aren’t other pressures to wear your helmet that way.

[StormyDay]

@Equkelly

@Cat.J95

Uh what? There’s actually a rule about coat colors. No neon green is not allowed per the rules.

Ok but not at the local circuit. You know what I mean, just because there’s not a rule stating that that’s how you have to wear your helmet doesn’t mean there aren’t other pressures to wear your helmet that way.

The more and more you post the more we all realize you have zero idea what you are talking about.

[Cat.J95]

You do realize most local circuits state they follow USEF rules right? And please don’t try to further stretch by saying “oh no the local circuits that everyone knows are unsafe.”

No one here is speaking about random backyard circuits that don’t follow USEF rules.

[Equkelly]

@Cat.J95

You do realize most local circuits state they follow USEF rules right? And please don’t try to further stretch by saying “oh no the local circuits that everyone knows are unsafe.”

No one here is speaking about random backyard circuits that don’t follow USEF rules.

You get the point. We don’t need to argue about what shows you can and cannot wear a neon hunt coat. The point is that there’s somethings that are technically legal but you would negatively stand out if you did them.

[Cat.J95]

I have never negatively stood out not having my hair up. Honestly I doubt the judges even remember my hair. It’s never been in just a pony tail because I find it annoying, but I have never pinned lower because of my hair.

Also, correcting your misinformation posts isn’t arguing. It’s correcting misinformation.

[Equkelly]

@Cat.J95

I have never negatively stood out not having my hair up. Honestly I doubt the judges even remember my hair. It’s never been in just a pony tail because I find it annoying, but I have never pinned lower because of my hair.

Well good for you if you have the confidence to look a little different in the hunter ring. That’s great and I wish more people did, but unfortunately they don’t. There’s posts all the time on here and other forums that say “my trainer is making me wear my hair up and my helmet doesn’t fit” and people in the comments advising the OP to buy a bigger helmet. That shouldn’t happen. It doesn’t matter that you and I are confident enough not to play that stupid game because their are minors in our sport who are not.

And thank you for taking hunt coat misinformation down seriously. We all know how serious this matter is!

[Cat.J95]

Well I give up if you think correcting misinformation regarding the rule book isn’t serious. It’s also obvious you haven’t been to or watched a show recently.

[Equkelly]

@Cat.J95

Well I give up if you think correcting misinformation regarding the rule book isn’t serious. It’s also obvious you haven’t been to or watched a show recently.

It doesn’t matter, there’s posts here all the time saying “how do I shove my hair into my helmet”. I think that’s a huge issue in our sport. If you don’t, that’s ok but I think that’s super messed up.

[2bayboys]

The point that I and others are making is that your belief in the negative consequences of refusing to wear “hunter hair” is not supported by the experiences of those who show regularly.

It appears you want the rule change so that you don’t feel uncomfortable with your choice to present yourself in a way that is different than others. There is no rule that prevents you from wearing your hair out. Go forth. Ride so well that others want to emulate your example.