I am a western rider and I really love the Da Brim visor that I added to my helmet.
I tie a long flowing scarf around mine that hides the top of the da brim and have gotten lots of compliments.
I don’t have a photo of mine, but here are some other photos:
http://www.dabrim.com/html/gallery.htm
I am not affiliated with them, just love mine.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8649680]
Exactly. I think we are all old enough to recognize and accept risk, or take steps to reduce it, or not take steps to reduce it. But to single out one risk and ignore the others is silly.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I have yet to decide to become vegan, quit drinking and smoking or wear a helmet. I really wish it would stop getting shoved down throats. I don’t need to be “saved”. I have no problem with people wanting to wear them but don’t make it mandatory.
[QUOTE=Go Fish;8650506]
Thank you for your response. I appreciate that you’ve come to the table with SOMETHING that fills the gap for western riders. It’s a start, and just like with English helmets that were hideous at the start, I think design features will improve with time.
I still occasionally turn back for my cutter friends and wear my GPA. I may just look into a western-style helmet once they are on the market.[/QUOTE]
Or make your own HellHat with your GPA. :yes:
To those who don’t wear a helmet, I’m curious why? I 'm not here to argue with you, or tell you you’re wrong, or anything like that. I just would like to know what it is about helmets that you don’t like / want when you ride.
I feel it’s much smarter to train your horse up right than to suit up in a helmet vest whatever so that when you fall off you might possibly mitigate the damage. I don’t ski with a helmet, I don’t have a life jacket on when I’m on the boat.
[QUOTE=BigMama1;8657493]
To those who don’t wear a helmet, I’m curious why? I 'm not here to argue with you, or tell you you’re wrong, or anything like that. I just would like to know what it is about helmets that you don’t like / want when you ride.[/QUOTE]
I do wear a helmet every ride, but I can tell you where I feel most pressure to NOT do so - traditional events.
I’ll preface this by saying that this a problem of my own creation, entirely. I’ve NEVER had anyone say boo, and never even had the tiniest hint of disapproval. I’ve even had people come up to me and thank me for doing so, saying it gave them mental permission to do the same (that was at a Martin Black clinic) and that after seeing me do so they went back and grabbed theirs.
Good: safety, no issues with heat or sun, because it lives at the barn I never forget it and it’s a LOT easier to store than my good hats.
Bad: they look terrible in photos paired with traditional tack. You stick out like a sore thumb at events where everybody else is kitted out “traditionally”.
These photos just look better:
http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/IMG_1492.PNG
http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/CaldwellClinic.jpg
Then these:
http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/DSC_06412.jpg
(me in the far right):
http://www.westernhorsereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/caldwell4721.jpg
From:
http://www.westernhorsereview.com/blogs/screen-doors-saddles/the-vaquero-tradition/
I don’t personally buy any arguments other than the looks side, personally. I’ve had horses go down with me on board chasing cows, and I’ve been lucky to avoid injury because it ONLY seems to happen on days where I buckle and don’t wear a helmet. Anyone who takes more risks simply because they’re wearing a helmet needs their head examined etc etc.
Can I see myself while riding? No. Do I think anyone else cares what I look like while riding? Heck no. Does it still bug me? Yep.
I’m lucky that my wife has just put her foot down and asked me nicely to wear a helmet all the time. Good enough for me; solves the internal struggle.
Per this thread, though, there’s no way I’m wearing a hat helmet. I’d honestly feel dorkier than in an english one.
[QUOTE=aktill;8658330]
I do wear a helmet every ride, but I can tell you where I feel most pressure to NOT do so - traditional events.
I’ll preface this by saying that this a problem of my own creation, entirely. I’ve NEVER had anyone say boo, and never even had the tiniest hint of disapproval. I’ve even had people come up to me and thank me for doing so, saying it gave them mental permission to do the same (that was at a Martin Black clinic) and that after seeing me do so they went back and grabbed theirs.
.[/QUOTE]
I’ve never shown, but after tagging along with a friend to a show with ranch horse classes I’ve decided to start. Happy to say I saw one or two helmets in the ring so I won’t be the first or only one, probably. 
But you know, I do get grief from certain fellow recreational riders about helmets. Go figure. I always tell them they obviously have nothing between their ears to protect and to get off my case (said with a smile, of course 
). But I’m always surprised and a little saddened to hear needling over what I choose to wear on my head. Because I think there must be folks who’d wear one but for that juvenile kind of nonsense.
As for looks, well I ask you, does this look dorky? Well, yes, yes it does. :yes: No getting around it. :lol:
(I also know I’m not supposed to be two-handing that bit. This was taken yesterday at my very first ranch horse lesson. I’m pretty much a life-long snaffle bit rider and I forgot. Momentarily.)
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8658447]
I feel it’s much smarter to train your horse up right than to suit up in a helmet vest whatever so that when you fall off you might possibly mitigate the damage. [/QUOTE]
Do what you’d like with wearing or not wearing a helmet BUT I have a question: What if your horse trips/slips and falls, and sends you flying? And it has nothing to do with training?
Not dorky at all.
But now I think THIS is dorky.
:eek:
…Since this thread is probably headed for opening the can of worms on helmets debate anyway. 
Opening beau159’s can of worms… :lol:
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8657886]
I feel it’s much smarter to train your horse up right than to suit up in a helmet vest whatever so that when you fall off you might possibly mitigate the damage. I don’t ski with a helmet, I don’t have a life jacket on when I’m on the boat.[/QUOTE]
Why do people make up bullshit excuses like “if I train my horse properly, I won’t fall off so I don’t need a helmet”?
Who here has not heard of Courtney King Dye, Olympic dressage ride who suffered a TBI when her very well trained horse tripped and fell? She wasn’t jumping nor was she riding at speed. To claim that you don’t need a helmet because you’re a good rider on a well-trained horse is laughable.
And a new study, out since the last time we argued about this:
http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2016.1.FOCUS15613
From 2003 to 2012, in total, 4788 adult sports-related TBIs were documented in the NTDB, which represented 18,310 incidents nationally. Equestrian sports were the greatest contributors to sports-related TBI (45.2%).
As I’ve said many times before, if you’re an adult, I don’t care whether you wear a helmet or not. But it does offend my sensibilities when people aren’t honest about the reasons why. Because there is no logical justification for not doing so, it’s a purely emotional decision, at least among people who post here at COTH and have seen the statistics and heard the stories.
Who really accurately can assess risk? The fat person with the helmet or the non smoker without the helmet? You tell me. You tell me that u r totally cognizant of ALL the risk factor when u get on a horse, including smoking weight drinking and THEN lecture me about a stupid helmet/. I know BEFORE I get on if there is a risk of coming off. So sorry for your lack of aptitude.
Well stated NoSuchPerson! You very eloquently wrote what many have all been thinking throughout this thread!
Signed,
Western Rider Who Is Not Too Proud To Wear A Helmet
Back to the original topic at hand…
I wouldn’t buy the resistol helmet for myself (because I’m happy with what I have and I think the price is a bit high), but I will get one for my daughter if she wants one.
We both show on a local western circuit, where I have received flack for donning my helmet. I’m OK with it. I was a bit shocked because the people were so nice and helpful otherwise, but it is what it is. I know I’m not traditional, and of course a well shaped hat looks better. But, I consider riding horses a sport, and I don’t know of any other sport that discourages wearing of sports equipment for safety. Many people view it as more of a pageant. I also received anti-helmet backlash when I participated in saddleseat shows/riding. I don’t force my opinion on anyone else, and I appreciate it if they do the same for me, but it really irritates me when kids are the recipients of peer pressure not to wear a helmet. So if this helmet made my daughter feel better about being the only kid in her class wearing a helmet, I will shell out the cash and be happy that such an option exists. I’m also looking at adding my own brim to one of her existing helmets, as another poster linked (thanks to whomever that was!).
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8659325]
I know BEFORE I get on if there is a risk of coming off. [/QUOTE]
I see your point if we are (for example) talking about a horse that is a known bucker, or bolter, or is green-broke, etc.
But I guess I don’t understand the rational that “my horse is trained well so I don’t need a helmet” simply because accidents can happen even if you have the best bombproof horse who is very well trained. They aren’t immune to tripping or slipping, or having an accident.
Again, if you don’t want to wear a helmet, fine. Do what you want. But be honest with yourself. 
I’ve been riding horses for almost 30 years and have pretty much had a helmet on that entire period. Thankfully, I can say I’ve only had one head injury in all those years, and I do credit my helmet for taking most of the blow.
I was riding a green 3-year-old filly. Super sweet mare. Not a mean bone in her body; I don’t think she even knew how to pin her ears! I had a lot of fun training her. One evening, I was riding her out on the trails about 1/2 mile from my parent’s farm. We were working on loping some circles in the field. We were working a circle to the left and remember she just wasn’t rounding as nicely as I would like, so I was working on getting her nose a little more tipped to the inside and getting her shaped a little better.
The next thing I remember is I am on foot, walking toward my parent’s place. I’m not anywhere near the field anymore, and I’m holding my right arm because it hurts.
What we can piece together and what I very vaguely remember, is her starting to “go over” to my right. I believe she simply stumbled at the lope, and completely rolled over me. My right arm hurt, and my left leg hurt. And there was dirt stuck on my saddle horn and cantle. So the “evidence” supports my theory, even though I can’t really remember it.
So I guess just an example of a horse that didn’t have any risk but something still happened. Sure, one could argue that she was “risky” because she was green broke, but she was honestly one of those true sweetheart horses that I would be comfortable letting ANYONE ride her. She was pretty quiet (not going to take off running), she didn’t spook (even if a bird flew up in front of her), and was just a joy to be around.
She just tripped over her own feet. Freak accident.
Can happen even to the best well-trained horse.
[QUOTE=meaty ogre;8659536]
We both show on a local western circuit, where I have received flack for donning my helmet. [/QUOTE]
I show with my helmet on as well. (local open shows)
Truthfully, I kind of think of it as a way to get noticed by the judge. They’ll remember the helmet-wearing-gal.
Thankfully, I’ve never received any flack for it. Sorry that you do!
[QUOTE=BigMama1;8657493]
To those who don’t wear a helmet, I’m curious why? I 'm not here to argue with you, or tell you you’re wrong, or anything like that. I just would like to know what it is about helmets that you don’t like / want when you ride.[/QUOTE]
I have never worn a helmet and probably never will. I have no problem with people wearing helmets and I will not poke fun at those who do. Like Palm Beach has said, how can you take precautions for one risk and ignore others?
I am going to get on my soap box for a little bit.
I get tired of people posting videos of a wreck at a horse show or rodeo and the first thing someone says is “a helmet would of prevented an injury”. How many times have you been somewhere in a group setting like a show, group ride, etc. and a horse takes off bucking and everyone stands around with a thumb up their ass and watches the tragedy unfold? I wasn’t raised like that. I grew up around guys that help keep someone out of a wreck and I was taught to do the same. Knowing what to do in those situations goes along way and keeps people from getting hurt. Wearing a helmet doesn’t prevent the problem it just sticks a finger in one hole of many in a leaky dam. To asses that type of risk in my situation, if I am going to get on something that is a little cranky I’ll make sure I have someone is there that knows what they are doing and knows how to crash into one as opposed to being by myself or some idiot that will cause a wreck or stand and watch.
I was waiting for someone to bring up Courtney King Dye, it seems to be the go to in these discussions. Can a horse stumble and fall on top of you no matter the training, you bet, had it happen several times. Freak accidents. I’ve also tripped over the dog in the living room on the way to the fridge and busted my head open on the corner of the bar. I guess I better strap a helmet on my head on the way to the kitchen.
I realize the majority of people on this forum are english riders and most of you have either converted to western or also ride in western tack, wearing a helmet is normal for you and expected at english functions. Those that sport helmets feel uncomfortable wearing one at western functions (“looks dorky”) and don’t care what others choose to, or not to, don on their melons, yet early in this thread and in other threads on this forum, some feel helmets should be made mandatory at western events. What I take from those comments is that making others wear helmets and even mandatory makes YOU feel better about your choice to do so. YOU wouldn’t feel “dorky” wearing one if everyone else was required to do so as well. What I say is, like I’ve said two times before, quit cramming it down the throats that choose not wear one. If you truly didn’t care what others wore on their head would you be making this argument?
These threads are always the same circular set of arguments:
…and around and around we go.
Evangelism doesn’t work on either end.
And that’s fine. Adults can do whatever they want to do.
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098]Like Palm Beach has said, how can you take precautions for one risk and ignore others?
[/quote]
That’s a silly and irrelevant argument. We all take precautions for some risks and not for others. We all engage in all kinds of risky behavior. And we take precautions for some of it and for some of it we don’t. Everyone has to make their own personal risk assessments and decide which risks they want to accept, which risks they want to avoid, which precautions they want to adopt, and which precautions they don’t. But saying, “Well, you’re overweight and you have a poor diet so why would you bother wearing a helmet?” is nonsensical.
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098]I get tired of people posting videos of a wreck at a horse show or rodeo and the first thing someone says is “a helmet would of prevented an injury”. How many times have you been somewhere in a group setting like a show, group ride, etc. and a horse takes off bucking and everyone stands around with a thumb up their ass and watches the tragedy unfold? I wasn’t raised like that. I grew up around guys that help keep someone out of a wreck and I was taught to do the same. Knowing what to do in those situations goes along way and keeps people from getting hurt. Wearing a helmet doesn’t prevent the problem it just sticks a finger in one hole of many in a leaky dam. To asses that type of risk in my situation, if I am going to get on something that is a little cranky I’ll make sure I have someone is there that knows what they are doing and knows how to crash into one as opposed to being by myself or some idiot that will cause a wreck or stand and watch.
[/quote]
That makes no sense. None of that has anything to do with people wearing helmets. How the hell is having someone around who knows how to “help keep someone out of a wreck” going to prevent a rider from suffering a TBI when one of your “freak accidents” happens?
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098]I was waiting for someone to bring up Courtney King Dye, it seems to be the go to in these discussions. Can a horse stumble and fall on top of you no matter the training, you bet, had it happen several times. Freak accidents.
[/quote]
You’ve missed the whole point of people citing Courtney King Dye’s accident. I cited it because Palm Beach claimed that he/she didn’t need a helmet because he/she trained his/her horses properly and was an experienced rider. Courtney King Dye’s accident is prime evidence that such a statement is false. Having a well trained horse and being an experienced rider is NOT sufficient to protect you from injury and I wish people would stop saying that it is. And that is the lesson of the CKD story.
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098] I’ve also tripped over the dog in the living room on the way to the fridge and busted my head open on the corner of the bar. I guess I better strap a helmet on my head on the way to the kitchen.
[/quote]
Hey, if your personal risk assessment suggests to you that you should, go right ahead. As I already said, we all have to conduct our own personal risk assessments and decide which risks we’re willing to accept and which risks we’re not. And adults are free to do whatever they want.
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098] I realize the majority of people on this forum are english riders and most of you have either converted to western or also ride in western tack, wearing a helmet is normal for you and expected at english functions. Those that sport helmets feel uncomfortable wearing one at western functions (“looks dorky”) and don’t care what others choose to, or not to, don on their melons,
[/quote]
That’s fine. It’s your choice. But, as I’ve argued before, people who chose not to wear helmets should be honest and just say, “I don’t want to wear a helmet because it’s uncomfortable and it’s hot and it looks dorky.” Don’t try to justify not wearing a helmet by saying things that are clearly untrue, like “helmets don’t really help,” or “my horse is well trained so I won’t fall off.”
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098]yet early in this thread and in other threads on this forum, some feel helmets should be made mandatory at western events.
[/quote]
I think I’m the only one who has said anything like that in this discussion and what I said was that I thought organizations should adopt the 4-H rule, which is that kids must wear helmets at official events/activities. And I stand by that statement. Around here, the law requires kids to wear bicycle helmets. Why shouldn’t helmets for riding also be required for kids?
Kids’ “melons” are more fragile than adults. Their lack of impulse control and good judgment leads them to engage in more risky behavior. I was a pretty risk averse kid, and yet I did stuff with my ponies/horses that would make any parent’s hair curl. Heck, I might have a few more IQ points today if I had been forced to wear a helmet when I was younger.
[QUOTE=Aces N Eights;8660098]What I take from those comments is that making others wear helmets and even mandatory makes YOU feel better about your choice to do so. YOU wouldn’t feel “dorky” wearing one if everyone else was required to do so as well.
[/quote]
If I was worried about looking dorky in public, I wouldn’t be able to leave my house. :lol:
Which argument? That wearing a helmet while riding can help prevent TBIs? That falls and TBIs can happen to anyone, no matter how well trained their horse is or how experienced a rider they are? I will continue to say those things because they are true. Whether or not you chose to believe them or chose to wear a helmet is irrelevant and doesn’t change the truth of those statements.
And, one last time, as an adult, you are free to wear or not wear a helmet. I truly don’t care. I have several friends (lifetime western riders) who never wear a helmet. I would never comment on that or suggest to them that they ought to wear a helmet, because it’s none of my business.
I just want non-helmet wearers to stop saying things that aren’t true, or denying the validity of things that are true.
[QUOTE=BigMama1;8657493]
To those who don’t wear a helmet, I’m curious why? I 'm not here to argue with you, or tell you you’re wrong, or anything like that. I just would like to know what it is about helmets that you don’t like / want when you ride.[/QUOTE]
After all my pontificating, it occurred to me that I should probably answer this question. Because I did not become an “every ride” helmet wearer until maybe 6-7 years ago.
Why didn’t I wear a helmet? Very simple. I didn’t want to. I never wore a helmet growing up unless I was jumping. I wasn’t accustomed to wearing one all the time. I didn’t see the point. I didn’t know anybody who wore helmets for trail riding or flat work and it simply never occurred to me to put one on. I never gave it any thought.
There are people who are adrenaline junkies and doing a high risk sport without a helmet adds a certain spice.
I have to agree with the poster above that I don’t buy the “train your horse right so you don’t need a helmet” argument. You might as well train your boat not to capsize so you don’t need a life jacket, or train other cars not to hit yours so you don’t need a seat belt.
If you are an adult and you don’t wear a helmet, that’s fine, but at least use a reason that makes some logical sense. You don’t like the way they look, you don’t like the way they feel, you think you are too god a trainer / rider to need one.
I also agree they should be mandatory for kids at competitions. Their brains are just developing - shouldn’t we protect them? When they are adults they can make their own choices.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
