Some people can pull off a top hat and some people can’t.
In light of several serious head injuries lately in the equestrian community, I’m surprised anyone still uses top hats though. Even more so given that some of these accidents happened doing relatively simple things.
Personally, Colin Firth is one of the few men I think looks good in a top hat while riding.
I just add it to the list of reasons I don’t idolize the man.
[QUOTE=JER;7514270]
I don’t care how his top hat looks. I only care that it offers no protection to his head, and that it sends the message that it’s okay to sit on a horse without certified head protection.
It’s never okay to sit on a horse without a helmet. Never. Never. Never.[/QUOTE]
This x1000!!!
Perfectly said.
I gotta say, when I saw the pics Thursday of Philip wearing a helmet in dressage, I though he looked really sharp. Almost all recent pics of him in a top hat made him look just sloppy. I don’t know why, he just doesn’t wear one well. I was also surprised, given the givens, that he would ride one of Martin’s horses in a top hat. Hmmmm.
My eye is quickly starting to see “silly” when I see a top hat, and “athlete” when I see a helmet.
I agree that most of the top hats look sloppy. I saw a picture of Marilyn Little in a top hat that made her look like a plump, frumpy, old lady. My thought was that if you are young, thin and attractive, you shouldn’t hide your attributes under some funny looking relic.
Agreed. Also more silly looks- shad belly coats!!! or any coats for the matter - when can we get rid of these…?
How about riding in athletic attire, breeches, athletic shirts and helmets…???
[QUOTE=JFCeventer;7513910]
I always find it quite silly that as busy as somebody like PD is at an event, he bothers to take the time to swap out his helmet for his top hat for FEI classes. I was quite pleasantly surprised to see most of the riders in the CIC3* wearing helmets though. The only ones who wore the top hats in the pictures on EN were PD, Buck, and Marilyn Little.
I will never understand the appeal of the top hat anyway. I think they look silly.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=kinscem;7519223]
Agreed. Also more silly looks- shad belly coats!!! or any coats for the matter - when can we get rid of these…?
How about riding in athletic attire, breeches, athletic shirts and helmets…???[/QUOTE]
What, so you don’t think a neck napkin and Mozart’s frock coat say “athlete”? :lol:
[QUOTE=monstrpony;7515202]
My eye is quickly starting to see “silly” when I see a top hat, and “athlete” when I see a helmet.[/QUOTE]
:yes::yes::yes:
[QUOTE=kinscem;7519223]Agreed. Also more silly looks- shad belly coats!!! or any coats for the matter - when can we get rid of these…?
How about riding in athletic attire, breeches, athletic shirts and helmets…???[/QUOTE]
Amen!! I really do not understand requiring athletes, both men and woman to wear what was popular in the 1850’ and to be worn ONLY by men at formal occasions. Really, we aren’t going to a formal ball - we are riding fit horses. Its pretty absurd.
They keep talking about bring “spectators” to the sport - CIC has XC last to be more spectator friendly - yet dressage still calls for a penguin suit, which just looks like a silly costume to the vast majority of the public.
Black coats might be comfortable in merry o’ England, but they are hell in the California heat - I hope some day our athletes will have the freedom to dress like athletes - not like they are headed to a period correct costume party.
A helmet is part of an athletes apparel.
This is just one person’s opinion and not specfic to any rider-- continuing to wear a top hat in FEI competition seems ego based, a badge of honor for having “made it” to the FEI level.
This seems particularly silly given that the FEI “CIC” classes are recent additions that are basically glorified horse trials, just run under the FEI rules/banner.
It is also stupid.
I propose a rule change: If a rider dons a top hat, s/he must wear it with a powdered wig. And/or a monacle.
I mean, if you’re going to look ridiculous, ya might as well go full throttle!
One thing I’m curious about is the disconnect between the North Americans and Europeans regarding helmet use. Considering the large amount of riders in European and UK countries, if their accident rates are even remotely parallel to ours, I would think they would be more accepting of this safety transition. Across the disciplines, it appears many riders overseas still denigrate helmet use.
Why?
[QUOTE=kcmel;7514071]
I drive by TPF quite often and it’s not unusual to see riders hacking without a helmet. So apparently it’s not something Phil feels strongly about.[/QUOTE]
Bingo…
[QUOTE=Frizzle;7519882]
I propose a rule change: If a rider dons a top hat, s/he must wear it with a powdered wig. And/or a monacle.
I mean, if you’re going to look ridiculous, ya might as well go full throttle![/QUOTE]
I LIKE it!
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