[QUOTE=magicteetango;7554787]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqfb4JyOxok
Sorry, it was the first thing I thought of.
I agree, I think helmets should be a requirement. Plenty of top riders have suffered TBIs doing dressage, hacking, whatever. It’s just a pointless risk.[/QUOTE]
Who is that?
[QUOTE=hb;7555008]
Who is that?[/QUOTE]
A delusional narcissist.
[QUOTE=BabyGreen;7554710]
I thought Phillip Dutton looked like the Artful Dodger.[/QUOTE]
Oh my gosh, you’re right! The whole time I was watching his dressage test, I kept staring at his face/head wondering who he reminded me of with that top hat shoved down on top of his ears. Not knocking him - I’ve met him and he’s a great guy! I just like the looks of the helmet vs. the top hat on him (and everyone else!).
That is an interesting comment about Buck - he wore the top hat for his “team horse” hopeful. Would that be the same reason so many riders were wearing their red jackets? I thought it was strange.
Really disappointed in the younger riders and Canadians who wore top hats…
[QUOTE=SLR;7554795]
Because top hats are permitted for dressage.[/QUOTE]
Ah, perhaps I misinterpreted in the way I read the rule. I thought that they were referring to helmets as “hats” because of the phrasing “A ‘riding hat’, designed to provide protection, must be worn at all times by anyone, whether or not a Competitor, riding anywhere at a BE Event.” Assumed it was a British expression. But the rule does also mention top hats an uniform hats as an exception. I think that’s where I went off course.
I think Buck’s first horse can be difficult and has caused injury in the past so I wouldn’t be surprised if he feels it warrants the protection even though he appears to love the top hat in other situations. As with PD, I really prefer the look of the helmet-they both look good in the helmet and troll-like in the top hat.
And, sorry to say it, but Buck is exacerbating the problem by switching headgear, knowingly or unknowingly.
Three of the main reasons people wear top hats: 1) it is seen as a status symbol for competing at the FEI level; 2) they feel pressure to match the big time riders, still embracing outdated top hats; and 3) riders are concerned that they are saying their horse is unpredictable or less trained, if they wear a helmet.
All three reasons are ridiculous, but are there, nonetheless. The only way to rid ourselves of such nonsense is for helmets to be mandatory. Otherwise, you will see things like Buck reinforcing #3 big time, by switching back to a top hat for his “more reliable” horse.
A little off-topic, but interesting. It used to be switching to a “star level” was a much bigger step, back when there were only CCI’s, which equated to a long format. A Horse Trials was similar to what we have today, but a CCI was a much bigger undertaking. A CCI used to be a long format, true three day event. It was a significant difference in expectation of horse and rider within a level.
While there is still truth to that at the CCI level (minus the long format and other characteristics), the FEI decided we needed CIC’s, which are little more than a regular horse trials run by the FEI. There isn’t much difference between a Prelim level horse trials and a CIC*, other than a big fat price tag and FEI rules, including the infamous top hat exception.
So, the whole idea of wearing a top hat as a status symbol, is even more ridiculous in many of these classes.
I honestly think the helmets look better than the top hats. I think a large percentage of the male riders are almost cartoonish looking in those things. The women are not quite as clownish with their smaller hats. Helmets bring a tone of, this is serious stuff to the competition. Also the riders look more like athletes participating in a dangerous sport. And of course, I am a helmet Nazi for the obvious safety reasons.
The video blogger? I don’t think she’s any sort of well known rider, but I guess she’s an extremely popular equine video blogger?
[QUOTE=hb;7555008]
Who is that?[/QUOTE]
Hopefully, helmets will become the norm. With Sylvie Martin’s accident and now this unfortunate one, hopefully other riders will take note. You only have one brain. They should use it. JMV
[QUOTE=big_red_ottb;7554093]
What boggles my mind is that any Young Riders (Jamie Pestana is the example in this) would ride without a helmet. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not far from Jamie’s age (within a year or two) and I have never ridden a horse without a helmet. It’s just never even occurred to me. I put a helmet on even if I’m just going to sit on the horse for a second for a picture or something.
I have a better understanding of the reasons why people who have grown up without helmets don’t wear them, for showing or otherwise - but WHY would a Young Rider show without one?! It’s very hard for me to understand.[/QUOTE]
The Young Riders not wearing helmets is particularly disturbing to me as well. I’m 18, so very close to Jamie Pestana’s age as well, and I will absolutely NOT get on a horse without a helmet. It’s just a stupid thing to do. I also think the top hats look ridiculous and if we really want more people to take our sport seriously we need to start looking more like athletes and less like overheated penguins.
I think a lot of these riders either underestimate how big of a role model they are to young riders or simply do not care. Either way, it’s a problem. My first trainer always required helmets all the time. I grew up with wearing a helmet as the norm and not wearing one never crossed my mind. Seeing the likes of Phillip and Buck riding around without helmets on can have quite a large influence on young riders.
Also, speaking of Rolex specifically: Why on Earth would you NOT want to wear a helmet when you’re sitting on a 4* fit horse in a dressage ring with that much atmosphere?
[QUOTE=RAyers;7554525]
While I can agree with your sentiment, having seen the actual physical damage to a body in the hospital on a regular basis, wearing a helmet is the easiest and cheapest way to avoid a completely life changing experience for the entire family as well as affecting numerous others who will have to care and treat the patient. Thus, I am an advocate for requiring helmets. For those who don’t, I suggest they promise not to seek medical attention.[/QUOTE]
This x 1000
I work on an acute spinal cord injury unit (think injuries like Christopher Reeve) but I often float to the TBI unit (think injuries such as Courtney King-Dye).
What I see is devastating for both the patients and their families. My spinal cord injury patients are able to express that they are “still themselves” (heart and mind) although they may now be a quadriplegic on a ventilator. My TBI patients cannot say the same thing 
Another positive thing about a helmet is that it does not spontaneously fly off in the middle of a dressage test, creating a small obstacle course. 
Perfect timing for this thread. I was at a VERY upper level dressage barn today that is also home to a handful of jumpers and honestly it is rare to see ANYONE ride with a helmet. I think I saw 10 riders today and only three had helmets, including a young rider thankfully.
Wait, it gets better.
Two of those riders were JUMPING. And not jumping 2’ crossrails…they were schooling at least 3’ and some of the jumps looked pretty big. I mean seriously, how stupid are you?! You are a TRAINER. A role model. You earn your living by riding. All it takes is one fall, and not even from a horse spooking or being naughty, and not only is your life in danger, but there ya go…no income for a while. As my friend said a helmet is basically brain insurance. I have ridden without a helmet. My barn growing up had a strict “helmets all the time” rule, so when I moved to a barn without helmet rules I felt like a rebel. I was so stupid…and lucky.
TBI survivor here (non horse related). Believe me you do not want to go there. Wearing a helmet is a small price to pay to help protect your brain. In my old age I primarily ride on the flat and I always wear a helmet. I respect those who do as well.
While I am. Strict Helmet fan…The FEI rules DO NOT require a Helmet to be worn in competition at that level…and rarely have we seen or heard of a rider wearing a Top,Hat in a competition ring suffer a injury.
Frequently you will see a rider warm up or school in their Helmet and compete in their Rop Hat switching out prior to entering ring.
I still prefer to see a top hat worn at upper level dressage with a Tail Coat.
There are still a lot of riders of all levels riding around in baseball caps in public while,schooling on their home turf!! I would be more concerned about them than a Top Hat in the Dressage ring…those riders still set the tone for impressionable youngsters Who Are Not Riding at The UL s yet…and Barrel racing!
I would be down to share and sign a petition - top hats need to be retired end of.
I do not get the “well I am just riding on the flat, and just hacking”. My worst falls have had NOTHING to do with jumping. In fact last year when I fell and hurt my back (probably my worst fall as far as pain goes) I was trotting a circle while hacking and nothing exciting going on. Before that I had fallen in a lesson when I had been jumping but I was dumped while working on the flat, not jumping. Another time I had just picked up a trot in a field on a hill and my horse tripped and fell and I went head first into the ground, I was fine, my helmet not so much, can’t imagine that fall without a helmet.
In the last 10 years I have fallen off due to a jump twice and guess what…landed on my feet both times!
I have sat on my personal horse for pictures without a helmet and it felt weird, and I know what risk I was taking and I know anything can happen but my horse is about as safe as they come, there are other horses I would not sit on without a helmet.
I am glad my mom (also a horse person) made me wear approved helmets from the beginning so they never felt weird to me!
[QUOTE=Jealoushe;7556216]
I would be down to share and sign a petition - top hats need to be retired end of.[/QUOTE]
I would be happy to sign a petition, though they are not always effective. I suspect any petition would be heavily USEA-based and not get wide participation among people who compete in and/or support in FEI events (and they are a small group).
Ideas for action:
Or there could be a parent video with a similar message and request: set an example for our kids who want to be top riders;
If you regularly clinic with a ULR, consider finding a respectful, collaborative, friendly way to have some of the regular students tell him or her that you would love to see him/her proudly wear a helmet and be a part of the change we want to see. No pressure, no public shaming. Just a good conversation at the end of a work day.
If you know any owners, talk to them. Encourage them to make this request or better yet issue an announcement that from here on out, all of their competition horses will be ridden in helmets in dressage.
Create some kind of Wall of Fame or award system that publicly recognizes and thanks FEI riders who wear helmets in dressage. Could be something as simple as a website or Facebook page. Post pictures of ULRs in helmets on a regular basis and shower them with praise. Could be something more involved, such as providing some premium for every rider who wears a helmet in a CIC or CCI test at a particular event, which you then publicize. Could be something as simple as a donated goodie bag that the organizer rounds up. Could be a simple chip like race finishers get.
If you have a relationship with a sponsor, persuade that sponsor to encourage riders to wear helmets.
Get one ULR on board and work with him/ her to make an announcement that from this day forward, s/he will proudly wear a helmet in dressage. No judgment of people who don’t. Just a step forward. Buck Davidson would be ideal. He wore a helmet with his tough horse. He recognizes that you don’t die of uncoolness when you wear a helmet in dressage and that at least sometimes, dressage carries risk. It’d be great to see him say, publicly, I’m going to stick with this every time.
[QUOTE=dotneko;7554094]
What I do not understand is how the USEF does not require hard hats across the board for all disciplines. There are very young children riding saddleseat, for example, without helmets. I recently judged the dressage portion of a breed show for which helmets were required for all riders where right next to our warmup were children without. Either it is a safety issue or it is not. Can’t have it both ways.[/QUOTE]
I agree. If we are going to question top hats, we need to look at ALL disciplines and that brings up much controversy… unfortunately.
But there’s no reason to single out dressage…
And it was just a short time ago that people show jumped in non-approved helmets. We are making a lot of progress in a short amount of time.
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
