I have to say I’m a bit surprised…where I live anybody under 18 MUST wear a helmet while riding…I know it isn’t a “typical” western habit to wear a helmet, but I guess I was hoping that Congress might be a good place to promote it. Just watching the live feed and was mulling it over.
Thoughts?
Dee
You’re not likely going to see helmets in any of the western events at Congress except for maybe some entrants in barrels, pole bending and stake race.
Can we please make these stickies? Then we could just have one thread on helmets rather than bringing it up all the time.
Also, saddle pads and saddle fit.
Some progress is being made, youth English riders have to wear actual helmets (not the fake hunt caps) in English events. I wish that all riders under 18 hand to wear helmets in western events. Same goes for saddleseat events too. Risking one’s head for fashion is the dumbest thing ever. I don’t know if we will ever see it though. I was once told by a western trainer that if I was going to wear a helmet I shouldn’t even bother showing up for a western class. :no:
A few barrel racers are wearing them thanks to last years World Champion and her wearing one. However, doesn’t mean they wear them all the time either, I’m guessing most ride and train without a helmet on. I think the Western world will always be a hard sell to use helmets. They like their cowboy hats. I do think it would be good to require helmets for all riders under the age of 18 at shows, just not sure that would go over very well (actually I would like it for riders of all ages).
[QUOTE=aktill;8345342]
Can we please make these stickies? Then we could just have one thread on helmets rather than bringing it up all the time.
Also, saddle pads and saddle fit.[/QUOTE]
Would also be nice to have one thread for people asking for opinions on saddle brands.
[QUOTE=js;8346484]
I think the Western world will always be a hard sell to use helmets. They like their cowboy hats.[/QUOTE]
As already mentioned above, there are parts of the English world that have a hard time wearing helmets too.
And why can’t people just let other people make their own decisions? I personally favor helmets, but it’s none of my business whatsoever what someone else does with their head.
People riding QHs at the big shows aren’t going to wear a helmet with their outrageously expensive show clothes. It wouldn’t look right. And of course, they are immune from falls.
As we all know, appearances speak louder than words.
From the way a hat is creased, I can tell whether the wearer is an amateur or a pro and whether that person’s specialty is working cow horse, reining, halter, western pleasure or something else.
I can tell whether it’s summer or winter by whether the wearer has on straw or felt. The quality of the hat tells me whether the wearer knows quality and has chosen to flout the rules regarding Labor Day and felt.
I can tell whether a cowboy is the real thing or a wannabe.
A hat isn’t “fashion.”
Hats are expensive purchases, carefully tended and stored when not in use in specially designed hat cans.
A hat is the person’s complete identity sitting atop her head, speaking silently to the world.
Here’s what helmets say silently to the rest of the western world:
- I’m a child.
- My mom made me wear this.
- My horse isn’t broke.
- I’m afraid of my horse.
- I’ve never been on a horse before.
- I have a physical disability.
- I have a mental disability.
No professional western horse trainer will ever wear a helmet as long as those perceptions exist. No trainer will risk his/her livelihood in that way.
Those perceptions may seem wrong to you, but they are real. If you want to western riders to wear helmets, you will need to change the perceptions.
And I think you’re much much much likelier to get western riders to wear yellow shirts than to wear helmets.
I don’t need a hat to tell me whether it’s summer or winter, LOL!! And as far as “complete identity” goes, that’s just ridiculous. It’s silly dress up stuff.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8348417]
I don’t need a hat to tell me whether it’s summer or winter, LOL!! And as far as “complete identity” goes, that’s just ridiculous. It’s silly dress up stuff.[/QUOTE]
Congratulations on being able to tell winter from summer.
A show is that, a place to showcase yourself, your horse, training, knowledge, professionalism, al according to certain rules those in the know determined long ago, now followed as tradition determines.
Those same showmen may at home and with colts wear a helmet.
In the show-pen, it is part of how you show.
No different than tall boots and breeches, a kind of wear no one wears anywhere else, unlike cowboy gear and hats, that are standard work gear also.
No need to put others down for what they wear, no matter what that may be.
As they say, different strokes …
P.S. I think those bowler flat brim hats some wear as cowboy hats look-alike look odd, but guess they can be used as a salad bowl if you are short one.
Just kidding!
What we are used to is what we have around us, that doesn’t mean other is “wrong”.
As far as helmets are concerned, I do think youth should wear them. I compete in Ranch Versatility events, and I can tell you, helmets are non-existent. I will say, the kids are pretty tough riders. Yes, I know anything could happen. I also know that the helmet debate, is primarily an English discipline one. Most of the people I know don’t consider it the issue others do. I also think that the attitudes of western riders will not change, especially with the “I am better than you” and “you are an idiot” attitude most helmet pushers have.
[QUOTE=MyssMyst;8347578]
And why can’t people just let other people make their own decisions? I personally favor helmets, but it’s none of my business whatsoever what someone else does with their head.[/QUOTE]
It is my business when they have the same insurance policy as me. It is my business when I pay into Medicare, Medicaid, and other social services with my hard earned money. The average cost of care for somebody with a neck, head, and/or spine injury ranges anywhere from $300,000 to $1,000,000 for the first year, and then roughly $100,000 a year for every year after. And to think that a helmet costs $40.
Except that people who don’t wear helmets are idiots gambling with their lives and the lives of their family and friends.
I had a concussion last year in October when my horse stepped into a sink hole and I was flung head first over her shoulder when she fell. My first, and hopefully my last. I am still dealing with side effects. I was wearing a helmet. I had not been wearing a helmet I may not be here preaching how important helmets are.
…and round and round we go. This is why I requested the sticky, since you can find this thread word for word in about a dozen other threads.
Excuse me, but exactly WHOSE perceptions are those?
Sound like these are YOUR perceptions?
Glad you think I’m a child, my mom made me wear it, my horse isn’t broke, I’ve never been on a horse, and I have a MENTAL DISABILITY.
You can put whatever you want on your head (a hat, a helmet, a cat…), I really don’t care. It’s your head. But it’s blatantly disrespectful to say such things about people who choose to wear helmets.
Wow.
[QUOTE=LJStarkey;8348381]
Hats are expensive purchases, carefully tended and stored when not in use in specially designed hat cans.
Here’s what helmets say silently to the rest of the western world:
- I’m a child.
- My mom made me wear this.
- My horse isn’t broke.
- I’m afraid of my horse.
- I’ve never been on a horse before.
- I have a physical disability.
- I have a mental disability. [/QUOTE]
1.) I’m 35
2.) My mom is dead. RIP.
3.) My horses are indeed trained.
4.) I’m not afraid of my horses.
5.) I’ve been riding for 20 years.
6.) Don’t we all? 
7.) Nope.
Horses trip, tack breaks, bees sting, life happens.
That list is the kind of judgmental garbage that makes kids ashamed of wearing helmets. Maybe if the ADULTS stopped being so judgmental it wouldn’t be a shame factor.
Knew two girls who were riding double while practicing for one of those Rescue competitions (you canter up, second person swings up behind you) when their horse was slammed into by another horse that bolted. The 2 girls went flying into the arena wall. One had a helmet and the other didn’t. While both survived and ended up being just fine, one got up, removed her flattened helmet and knelt by her unconscious friend while the ambulance came. Second girl wasn’t allowed to ride for 2 months because she had a severe concussion.
The other girl was back on her horse the next day.
^^^ +100
[QUOTE=LJStarkey;8348453]
Congratulations on being able to tell winter from summer.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I think Flash44 TOTALLY missed your point, LJ. But then since you can’t put tone of voice into an online post, I’m not sure I got your point either.
