Thanks for the replies everyone!
I always always always wear one while riding.
I think I will start to incorporate putting my helmet on when I get to the barn (when I get to go to the barn again after COVD restrictions lift), and then get my horse. Since there is always potential for a freak accident with horses, I might as well at least feel like I’m doing what I can to lessen the “risk” involved with them.
[h=2]http://animalscience.uconn.edu/equine/helmet-safety.phpImportant Differences Between Bike Helmets and Riding Helmets[/h] Bicycle helmets are designed to sustain impact from the height of a fall from a bike, not from the much greater height of a fall from a horse.
Bicycle helmets may seem sufficient for protecting your head and you may find them lighter, cooler and
more comfortable. However, bike crashes and falls from horses are not at all similar and therefore the helmet design is drastically different. The results? Bike helmets are
not
designed to protect your head when you’re horseback riding! The height of a fall from a horse is far greater than the height of a fall from a bicycle. Bicycle helmets are not designed to withstand impact from the height of a horse. Also, bike helmets are designed to Protect the top of the head since most falls from bicycles are forward. Falls from horses occur in all directions and therefore the back and sides of the head are just as vulnerable. These parts of the head are not protected by a bike helmet.
Think bike helmets are more comfortable? Helmet companies are now coming out with all kinds of new styles to meet the demand for cooler, lighter, more comfortable helmets for horseback riding, similar to bike helmets, while still offering the same protection of a horseback riding helmet.
I always wear one when riding. Otherwise I usually don’t put it on until I’m grabbing my bridle, and it comes off after all tack has been removed. If I’m riding more than one I’ll just keep my helmet on in between.
I like to wear mine all the time at the barn. It’s become something of a security blanket. I literally feel more confident with the helmet on no matter what I’m doing. I have an Uvex helmet. It fits like a glove, looks cool, and hides my hair…so why not?
I always wear one while riding but I always put it on right before I put the bridle on. I take it off as soon as I get the halter on my horse.
@Chall, I don’t feel any difference in comfort between my bike helmet and my equestrian helmet. They are both so well fitted that I forget that I’m wearing them (one at a time, of course).
I wore my equestrian helmet when driving my ponies in Colorado, and my neighbors didn’t get it. But people did seem to wear helmets for the most part biking, as did I. Then I moved to South Carolina and continued to wear my bike helmet when biking, and my neighbors here think I’m a weenie. Now that I ride a trike due to balance problems, I still wear my helmet, so they really think I’m a weenie. But I don’t care. They all back out of their driveways without looking. I usually see that it’s about to happen and take evasive action, but sometime I might miss one. I’ll be happy to be wearing a helmet then.
Rebecca
Growing up, I put my helmet on before bridling. Now, I put it on when I get to the barn and only take it off after Pony is put up in her stall after my lesson or I’m done handling any of the horses. I don’t want to take the chance that “just this one time” turns into the last time. Take nothing for granted, and all that.
This - and with the weather we are currently experiencing in the SE, what I won’t be wearing tonight is my pajamas. Meaning I will remain fully dressed —-
agreed!! This will be my plan going forward, when I get to see my boy after COVD restrictions lift!
I always wear my when riding and am trying to get in the habit of doing so when lunging.
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@wonderosa a few months ago I brought my dad and aunt to the barn to see my new 4 year old TB. I planned on doing the first ride at the new facility while they were there. He’s a pretty good boy but I figured hey, better to not be alone just in case. After my uneventful ride, my aunt picked up my helmet and asked if it was mine. I was shocked! I had a winter hat on and totally didn’t realize. My aunt didn’t know any better but I asked my dad why he hadn’t said anything? He said oh I figured you were just going to walk this time.
Lol I explained him that I always wear a helmet and please say something next time.
I did that a few years ago when I was trying saddles with my saddle fitter. It was a particularly cold day so was wearing a winter hat for a change. Therefore when I got on the horse I didn’t feel naked. When I was done I finally realized that I wasn’t wearing a helmet. I had done the same think probably 15 years before that and realized part way through the ride and practically through myself off the horse to run to the barn to get a helmet.
I have six horses right now. One is a yearling who didn’t get as much training while younger as she should have due to me having unexpected double knee ligament replacements and cleanout/repair of the other ligaments in that knee. So she’s not as steady as she should be yet. For her I make sure I always have my helmet on for any moments that may be had while we walk around the barn and come across new situations. For the others, I usually leave my helmet on until it’s time to go or time to haul hay out for them. I feel safer having it on while grooming and leading. You just never know.
Always when I ride and drive. While I appreciate there is a risk in handling a horse on the ground, I am not concerned about it.
I usually put the helmet on right before the bridle, which is that last thing that goes on he horse. Recently, after a friend’s freak injury, I’ve started putting my helmet on while down around the legs as I groom. I admit I’m not consistent about it though.
Unless it’s atrociously hot I usually keep the helmet on post ride until I get into the tack room. Part safety, part vanity. I have short hair and get awful helmet head (more from the hairnet than the helmet) and keep a couple of ball caps in my locker.
I wear mine when mounted but not when grooming. The exception to that being during the summer time when I’m cleaning hooves- I wear it then out of concern my horse kick at a fly when I am bent over.
Always when riding and lunging.
I almost always have mine on when I’m around horses if I’m going to ride. My hair can be a little bit of a wild lion mane, so I tend to put my helmet on as soon as I get to the barn just so I can contain it. I’ve never had an incident where I was particularly glad to be wearing it on the ground, but I’ve had several friends who did.
Seeing as there will be crazy wait times for hair appointments, “it hides my hair” will be the best reason for wearing a helmet at all times.
That said I always wear mine to ride, but rarely for ground handling, but having seen a picture this week, of a guy who was worming his usually quiet horse, said horse took exception to it, reared up and caught him with a shod hoof, I might start wearing it more often.!
When I was first teaching a horse to stand still for clippers, I wore a helmet.
Now that I haven’t been able to ride due to COVID-19 and I spend all my time on work telecons, I was just thinking today about wearing my riding clothes and helmet during those. Frankly, my riding clothes are pretty much the best “non-work” clothes I own!
I just put my breeches on yesterday, just for the heck of it (haven’t ridden my horse since March 15 due to COVD restrictions). Maybe I’ll add my helmet next!!
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