How to get western riders to wear helmets?

[rustbreeches]

[QUOTE=sirbeastmom;8044029]
I’m an ex-English rider turned Western convert, and there have definitely been situations where my helmet has been received very very poorly.

I expect some good-natured ribbing when I wear my helmet to traditional Western events, but there have been times that my helmet wearing has been met with actual offense. I’ve been told I might as well be sticking up a middle finger to Western heritage and tradition if I wear my helmet. There have been a few instances where I was not allowed to participate if I insisted on wearing a helmet.

That said, MOST people don’t care if I wear my helmet or not, but there are some places and people that care a great deal.

Not sure how to change the minds of the people who see helmets as an insult to tradition…[/QUOTE]

I am very curious as to what events you were not allowed to participate in while wearing a helmet. We are also in CO and have taken quite a bit of ribbing over helmets, but nobody has told DD she couldn’t do activities while wearing one

[Mukluk]

Somehow it has to become “cool” to wear a helmet. That would likely only happen when big name western riders start wearing helmets because they think it’s awesome or smart or gnarly or whatever. And so far as I know I don’t think any big name western riders wear helmets.

[Foxtrot_s]

^^^

That is how it worked in u/l dressage…instead of top hats. (After a u/l rider had a training accident and TBI and became the spokesperson for helmets.)

[SuzieQNutter]

Doctors orders from Doctor Travis on The Doctors - whenever you go off the ground, even if only 2 rungs on a ladder, wear a helmet.

He can fix your broken leg. He can fix your broken arm. He cannot fix your broken brain.

[sirbeastmom]

[QUOTE=rustbreeches;8044372]
I am very curious as to what events you were not allowed to participate in while wearing a helmet. We are also in CO and have taken quite a bit of ribbing over helmets, but nobody has told DD she couldn’t do activities while wearing one[/QUOTE]

This never happened at a show or sanctioned event, but I have gone on rides, brandings, and drives where I was pulled aside and told not to wear my helmet because it was seen as insulting.

[wonderhorseguy]

[QUOTE=mvp;8043262]
I think the helmetless should be required to finance their own TBI rehabs. That oughtta put a dent in their thinking…. correlated with the dent in their wallet.

I don’t care who decides to hurt themselves how so long as I’m not asked to finance it… while I’m doing my part to make my health care cheap via a helmet.[/QUOTE]

You could just as easily be asking us to finance your healthcare when you have an injury due to riding horses. Say, a broken neck, or a broken back. Of course if horseback riding is banned as being too high risk this becomes meaningless.

Why do people think they have the right to tell other people what to do?

[rustbreeches]

[QUOTE=sirbeastmom;8044660]
This never happened at a show or sanctioned event, but I have gone on rides, brandings, and drives where I was pulled aside and told not to wear my helmet because it was seen as insulting.[/QUOTE]

That is horrible.

[Foxtrot_s]

I found the opposite - granted an amateur ‘cowboy’ but while they smile at my English threads, they admire my horse and her abilities, courage and gameness.

[beau159]

@sirbeastmom;8044029

There have been a few instances where I was not allowed to participate if I insisted on wearing a helmet.

Wow. Sorry to hear that.

I’m certainly not one to be “sue happy” but that would be something I’d take them to court over, for the principle of them NOT allowing you to compete with your helmet. That’s ridiculous.

@Mukluk;8044378

Somehow it has to become “cool” to wear a helmet. That would likely only happen when big name western riders start wearing helmets because they think it’s awesome or smart or gnarly or whatever. And so far as I know I don’t think any big name western riders wear helmets.

In the barrel racing world:

Fallon Taylor (current WPRA world champion)
http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/2f/86/2f86a7b92ec2659e8f4ef8c9f217a40b.jpg?itok=3x5tIqdn

Nicole Aichele (set a 16.643 record on the standard barrel racing pattern in 2010… which has since been broken)
http://youtu.be/48buKymBrGY

Delores Toole wore one at the 2004 National Finals Rodeo.
http://www.equisearch.com/article/barrelhelmet_012705

They are few and far between, but they are there.

I’m hoping more people at the top (not just barrel racers) in Western start to follow suite.