i was watching the canadian national arab show from manitoba last week and someone was wearing a helmet in an adult western pleasure class.YEAH!!!
It’s a risk management thing, everyone manages their risk at different levels. The base jumper (especially mountain jumping) chooses to manage risk at a very high risk level. A motorcycle stunt rider also manages his risk very high. Some people aren’t comfortable unless they can eliminate every hint of risk. Driving a vehicle on a hiway is a risk that we manage at a reasonable level by having rules of the road. A race car driver drives that risk way up by violating a rule, he exceeds reasonable speed. In regard to helmets for horse riders, they do help to save lives and prevent damage when accidents happen. On the other hand having the helmet on can make a person feel safer and they take more risks that they wouldn’t otherwise, counteracting the reason for having it.
I listened to one trainer who recommended not wearing helmets for that reason, he’d seen too many people, and parents of kids, putting themselves into, and allowing dangerous conditions, excusing it just because they, or the kid, had a helmet on.
when we feel vulnerable we take extra precautions.
Which is why I don’t want to take sides. Since a helmet is not an accident preventive, and not a guaranteed save from injury. It’s just a certain amount of risk reduction, provided additional risk isn’t taken because you feel safer, which would easily cancel out the reason for having it on. Want to wear one? fine. Don’t want to? so what!
[QUOTE=reubenT;7136892]
It’s a risk management thing, everyone manages their risk at different levels. The base jumper (especially mountain jumping) chooses to manage risk at a very high risk level. A motorcycle stunt rider also manages his risk very high. Some people aren’t comfortable unless they can eliminate every hint of risk. Driving a vehicle on a hiway is a risk that we manage at a reasonable level by having rules of the road. A race car driver drives that risk way up by violating a rule, he exceeds reasonable speed. In regard to helmets for horse riders, they do help to save lives and prevent damage when accidents happen. On the other hand having the helmet on can make a person feel safer and they take more risks that they wouldn’t otherwise, counteracting the reason for having it.
I listened to one trainer who recommended not wearing helmets for that reason, he’d seen too many people, and parents of kids, putting themselves into, and allowing dangerous conditions, excusing it just because they, or the kid, had a helmet on.
when we feel vulnerable we take extra precautions.
Which is why I don’t want to take sides. Since a helmet is not an accident preventive, and not a guaranteed save from injury. It’s just a certain amount of risk reduction, provided additional risk isn’t taken because you feel safer, which would easily cancel out the reason for having it on. Want to wear one? fine. Don’t want to? so what![/QUOTE]…Many people list the points you have made. The difference in the specific risk reduction that helmets provide is that recovery from a TBI is usually not to a fully functional level. With a broken leg, you may limp, but can still take care of yourself. The “So What?” difference with a Traumatic Brain Injury is that your decision involves more than just yourself - someone else who will have to care for you daily and assume the time and monetary cost of your care, maybe for the rest of your life.
I have seen the argument about people taking more risks because they are wearing a helmet before. However in all my interactions I have never seen or heard from anyone who claimed this or displayed this. (I realize I cannot always tell!) The only exception might be the trainer who puts on a helmet for the “difficult” horses - but it is not a reckless disregard for safety suddenly appearing nor an apparent feeling of invincibility.
I suspect that those who might take more risks because they have a helmet on are generally those who usually don’t wear one.
Sorry, I don’t buy that “Race car drivers take high risks by violating the speed limit.” Race car drivers are driving a vehicle built for that speed and has safety gear installed to lessen the driver’s risk of death in the event of a crash. The Hans device was rarely used by drivers until Dale Earnhardt Sr died in what looked to be a harmless accident. NASCAR is always trying to improve the safety of their sport. They don’t allow drivers to compete without a fire suit and helmet and seat belts, etc. The same should work in horse sports. The government mandates that I wear a seatbelt while driving. Why not require it to ride a horse? Just seems silly to risk your life/quality of life for fashion! Just my .02 which doesn’t mean much.
I think the saddle slipped causing the horse to buck…maybe?
I had a farrier, a Western person, once whose wife suffered a serious TBI from a horse accident. She had to learn to walk and talk again. She never rides without a helmet now. I asked him if he used one as well, and his response was that he was too good a rider to need one
[QUOTE=Schatzi09;7137485]
Sorry, I don’t buy that “Race car drivers take high risks by violating the speed limit.” Race car drivers are driving a vehicle built for that speed and has safety gear installed to lessen the driver’s risk of death in the event of a crash. The Hans device was rarely used by drivers until Dale Earnhardt Sr died in what looked to be a harmless accident. NASCAR is always trying to improve the safety of their sport. They don’t allow drivers to compete without a fire suit and helmet and seat belts, etc. The same should work in horse sports. The government mandates that I wear a seatbelt while driving. Why not require it to ride a horse? Just seems silly to risk your life/quality of life for fashion! Just my .02 which doesn’t mean much.[/QUOTE]
Well, I don’t support government mandates (and a good constitutional lawyer could probably really gut things like seatbelt laws, though federalized health care may mean the government starts regulating or banning anything dangerous to try and save money) but I was going to point out, racecars are about ten times safer than any street vehicle a they’re designed anticipating a crash (no, you wouldn’t want all their modifications on the street, they’re also devilishly uncomfortable to be in). Yes, riding helmets of the modern design look really, really stupid (I may look at jockey skull caps as they seem to have a slightly less obnoxious look) but so do most show clothes, English or Western. We already look like goofballs, what’s one more layer that actually serves a protective purpose?
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;7137509]
I think the saddle slipped causing the horse to buck…maybe?[/QUOTE]
I actually think the cow collided with the horse or vice sersa (I’ve seen it happen before) and almost knocked the horse off it’s feet.
This is the rider’s comment:
We were getting to the corner on our fence run and the cow went up under her neck and wiped out her shoulder… All 3 of us were on the ground by the end…i ended up breaking the cows fall at one point…
everyone walked away, including the cow
Yes, I see that now, the collision first and probably the saddle slipped as he fell off. Lucky.
Well, I am one of those western riders who never wore a helmet. I am happy to say, and proud of myself, that I have albeit slowly, transitioned myself to now showing our local circuit in the western classes with a helmet. And it feels good to know that I did it for my own safety.
Multiple people gave me props yesterday at our show for wearing a helmet, and it didn’t matter one bit to the judge in my placings. I know this because we placed well! 
Oh, and I wear one while not showing as well!
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7105218]
Here’s reason #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5HNnL2D2RE&feature=youtu.be[/QUOTE]
In both examples, there was no impending head injury. If you want to convince someone, at least find an example of someone actually hitting their head.
An 11 year old girl in my community is presently in a coma after a fall, in her arena, from her dead broke horse. No helmet. She’s been in a coma for 4 weeks. Blunt trauma to the head.
I learned this when I was at the doctor checking my sprained ankle - I took a tumble off my horse, face first on Saturday when she stumbled to her knees at canter. I was wearing a helmet and have a tiny scratch on my lip, many bruises, a sore forehead and a sprained ankle. I wish those parents would have put a helmet on that 11 year old. The NP who told me about it said they show western, and are very good riders. Huh. That’s a shame that people think they are so good that their brains won’t be damaged.
