Did Mark Todd just jump around the showjumping phase in a velvet hunt cap??
I would hope that he just showjumped around in a hunt cap style approved safety helmet with a harness. I don’t think they’re allowed to jump without approved safety gear.
Why all the event riders felt the need to change from safety helmets to hunt caps for the victory gallop I will never understand.
Not one of the excuses from the ‘personal choice’ camp washes with me.
Helmets help lessen, or prevent head injuries, period. Accidents happen with horses. We all pay the medical premiums that pay for the costs of treating a patient who was stubborn enough not to try and lessen the consequences of a fall.
Bravo to organizations like Pony Club where wearing a helmet is second nature.
Zevida, they switch to hunt caps becuse they’re stupid and because their idols do. And their idols still resent being required to wear helmets at all because they’re stupid. So the first opportunity they have, they switch back to show that they’re still cool, and that they were only wearing the helmet because they had to. The same reason that many of them unbuckle the helmet as soon as they clear the last jump.
On the other hand, Steffen Peters switched back to his helmet for the victory lap. Totally awesome.
On the ground?
I find it interesting that all those of you who are so very ardent about wearing approved helmets when mounted haven’t extended your safety-consciousness campaign to the work we do with our horses on the ground. I knew a young woman in the early nineties who suffered a TBI when her horse spooked and kicked her in the head while she was removing his boots in the barn aisle.
You have noted that riding is an inherently dangerous activity, but I would argue that horses, due to their sheer size and unpedictability, are inherenty dangerous animals. Danger of head injury runs on a scale of liklihood that begins with leading Steady Eddy out of his stall, not with getting on his back for some light flatwork. We all set our thresholds for risk somewhere-- even those who wear their helmets every time, every ride. My only point here is to suggest that the knowledge that we all accept a certain level of risk might engender a little more understanding of the rider who assesses his or her mounted activity as "low risk, " whether or not you consider the decision smart and whether or not you’d make the same one for yourself.
Steffan switched in to a baseball hat Immediately following his freestyle ride. It said GPA…you’d think if GPA was paying him to wear something it’d be a helmet…
they’re the helmet police!! :yes: just like the helmet preachers on this board lol
the helmet preachers have the only ‘smart’ opinions on here … dontcha know?
ignorance is bliss to try and run everyone elses life just because you have the time to preach :lol:
I’m just tired of hearin the preachers too, give it up… its not a law, close your mouth and mind your own business :yes:
