I think it’s originally a British thing. The jockeys have all been riding with their helmet covers like that for years and years, so now the eventers too, really nothing new. I personally have always thought it looked dumb, myself.
Count me as another person who dislikes the tilted hat covers and never understood the point there.
[QUOTE=Huntin’ Pony;7719877]
I always thought it came from race jockeys, whose body/head position is more horizontal and thus the brim would impede vision if it were “down.”[/QUOTE]
This is what I’ve always thought, and sometimes on CC you need every bit of sight you can get.
[QUOTE=Wordplay1832;7720996]
What I had been told about skull caps, is that they are designed with the flexible brim (whether worn flipped up or level), is that if you get lawn darted into the ground, that the visor will give, rather than be hard like a normal helmet, hopefully not causing secondary issues like breaking your neck due to the visor catching on the ground.[/QUOTE]
That’s the original reason for them. However, many normal helmets today are built so the visors pop right off. There’s warning labels on some of them when you buy them saying, “hey, don’t carry this around by the visor, it’ll come off.” 
The cover that came with my CO J3 rides up and flips up naturally and I’m constantly fighting the cycle of “helmet wedgie” where it tries to ride up so far it falls off the back. My “show” helmet covers stay in place…although not sure how many more miles I’ll get out of my xc cover, it’s Lycra and getting totally shredded from the pebbly surface of the helmet. Whoever said those things will draw blood was NOT kidding around.
[QUOTE=nappingonthejob;7722493]
The cover that came with my CO J3 rides up and flips up naturally and I’m constantly fighting the cycle of “helmet wedgie” where it tries to ride up so far it falls off the back. My “show” helmet covers stay in place…although not sure how many more miles I’ll get out of my xc cover, it’s Lycra and getting totally shredded from the pebbly surface of the helmet. Whoever said those things will draw blood was NOT kidding around.[/QUOTE]
My CO covers outlast my helmets. You just have to get the satan ones. : )
I’m still old school. Satan cover with (now colored) rubber band. I use the head/hair bands that you can buy in multipacks at Wally World.
Bingo on one of those silly little things that drives me nuts!! It renders brim pointless and looks stupid. Trends will be trends.
But aside from my amused irritation, the beauty of eventing is that you can look as stupid as you want as long as you are following the rules. I don’t need a visor, my face does fine job of making me look stupid! 
I wanted a satin one but couldn’t get it in my colors!! The Lycra version turned out so pretty that I have resigned myself to its eventual replacement.
[QUOTE=alicen;7721268]
Do please take pictures.[/QUOTE]
I’ll be sure to get pic’s…Now should I wear it tilted up or down in the back? How about slightly skewed to the side?..I could also try the pompoms I could sew one on the top of a cheap cover, maybe some tassels…I really don’t think the rule book says anything about tassels not being allowed.
I wonder if tassels would get caught on anything? I see a test ride coming in the near future, LOL.
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[QUOTE=Horseychick87;7723147]
I really don’t think the rule book says anything about tassels not being allowed. :D[/QUOTE]
No, not yet.
[QUOTE=Horseychick87;7723147]
I’ll be sure to get pic’s…Now should I wear it tilted up or down in the back? How about slightly skewed to the side?..I could also try the pompoms I could sew one on the top of a cheap cover, maybe some tassels…I really don’t think the rule book says anything about tassels not being allowed.
I wonder if tassels would get caught on anything? I see a test ride coming in the near future, LOL.[/QUOTE]
Why not just go all out?
Hehe, let’s see if I can get tassels banned! I wonder if they would include me, or a picture of me as an example, I could be famous!
I love that cover Sticky! I could maybe even add some longer tassels for the mane, maybe even bejewel it a bit?
I have to quit coming up with ways to get me kicked out of shows, LOL.
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Tipped brims don’t bother me at all – they look great both ways on UL riders and kids. Lower level ear bonnets and the new (?) trend of wearing spurs tipped up at a 45 degree angle irk the heck out of me though. Occasionally the spurs are even canted above the rider’s ankle bone - they look uncomfortable and totally ineffective, but I’m seeing it more and more. Are the spurs more effective on a certain type horse this way?
I think the brim up looks stupid too. Can’t stand that look. My cover looks just like the one Appsolute posted as “back in the day” but in different colors. Striped with alternate stripe on the ribbon. Call me a traditionalist.
Actually, I modeled it after my friend/mentor Meika. I really liked the look and got one with different colors. I’m not a stalker, really.:lol:
And another thing I really detest are those ear bonnets. What is the purpose? Decoration?
[QUOTE=Mtn trails;7723927]
And another thing I really detest are those ear bonnets. What is the purpose? Decoration?[/QUOTE]
Or keeping the bugs out of the horse’s ears.
Thankfully there is no rule that requires you to use an ear bonnet.
[QUOTE=Mtn trails;7723927]
And another thing I really detest are those ear bonnets. What is the purpose? Decoration?[/QUOTE]
The ear bonnet trend started 10+ yrs ago as a discrete way to hide illegal earplugs on horses who acted up in front of crowds (at Rolex and other large events). You didn’t see bonnets at normal horse trials because there was no need-- no big atmosphere.
Then the FEI got wise and started checking under the bonnets, so no more earplugs. But somehow the bonnets remained (placebo effect?) and their use has increased as it’s become a “trendy” fashion accessory. It’s one more place to advertise a logo or show off colors. I personally think it detracts from the look of elegance of the horse in dressage, but I’m a traditionalist.
I suppose it could be helpful for the true purpose of preventing a fly from buzzing an ear, but let’s be honest…how often does that happen in competition? I can think of ONE dressage test I’ve had, out of hundreds, where a bug caused my mare to shake her head repeatedly and bothered our score. I chalked it up to one of those things that happens. I also tend to think ear bonnets hold heat in at the horse’s poll and I’d never use one on XC.
Trail riding? Sure, bonnets are a big help when your horse is swarmed by deer flies as you walk in the woods. But if deer flies are eating us on XC, I’ve got bigger problems. 
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Covers stay on/don’t fall down if the peak is tilted up.
[QUOTE=jane20008;7723367]
Lower level ear bonnets and the new (?) trend of wearing spurs tipped up at a 45 degree angle irk the heck out of me though. Occasionally the spurs are even canted above the rider’s ankle bone - they look uncomfortable and totally ineffective, but I’m seeing it more and more.[/QUOTE]
Spurs pointed up? If they’re not swan neck spurs, they sound illegal.
