Do you ride in a helmet?

I do not wear a helmet when riding. Never have, never will. Although I do think that children should wear them, and I have my son wear one when we are riding.

YES!!!!!!!!!! It's a good thing I do, too. I fell off a month ago, my helmet broke, and I got a concussion. I couldn't remember what happened, but apparently I took a dive when the horse I was riding fell to his knees, and I fell headfirst. It could have been a lot worse then a broken helmet and a concussion though.

Helmets are something that should just be a part of your riding routine. It's one thing if you're at a western show, but even then you could be wearing one of the hat helmets. I heard a story from my mom about a girl my cousin used to ride with.

This girl had 8 bad falls. She did herself a lot of damage to her back (Which had nothing to do with not wearing a helmet, but BODY PROTECTORS), and the last fall she had, she was not wearing a helmet. She hit her head really hard, and now has some permanent brain damage (She's not psycho or anything, but her coordination is REALLY off, and she's a little slower about things then she used to be) and a metal plate in her skull, as well as plates in her spine. She has to walk with a walker, and guess what? She's only 22 years old. She can't get a job because of her disabilities. Don't be stupid unless you want this to happen to you.

Since I do western performance, if I am showing, I kind of have to wear a cowboy hat (although it is not necessary...but my horse is super quiet.) But, when I am practicing on my horse, or working another horse that I am not familiar with, I always wear a helmet.

Yes, I do believe that helmets prevent injuries. For example; Once me and my friends were having a race full pin gallop across a field... well, my horse kind of swerved, so I fell off. If it weren't for my helmet, I would've hit my head very badly... but, that was a long time ago...

I don't blame you for mot wanting to ride without a helmet... I think that you should do what ever makes you feel the most comfortable so that you can enjoy your ride! :)

Helmets have saved my life many times! Plus, I know they've saved many other people's lives that have had worse accidents. Wearing a helmet became a habit for me ever since I was little. Of course I always wore one when I rode with my parents when I was little. Then, when I started taking lessons, it was mandatory. You have no idea how many times I wanted to ride without a helmet. When I stopped taking lessons at this one stable, I started boarding my horses there. I became really good friends with the owner of the barn's daughters-they taught me so much! But, they never wore helmets. They're a couple years older than me, so they were always sort of my role models. But, my mom made me and my dad was pretty strict about it too! It was super hard when I met this guy that was a gamer. I met him at the 4-H county fair and soon, we started warming up together and exercising our horses together after hours (or one of the only chances that we got to actually ride in the ring to get ready to compete). He'd never wear a helmet and I felt so stupid! But, again, my trainer and my dad was always there so there was no way that I could get out of that lol! I'm glad though. He ended up falling off at another competition, breaking his wrist and he got a concussion. He couldn't ride for about 2-3 months because of that concussion. Serves him right! I don't use a helmet when I ride in western pleasure/equitation, I know I probably should lol but oh well. I try to be careful!

I never did (growing up and learning how to ride I've never known anyone or ridden with an instructor who rode with helmets), but I just bought one to use. I only purchased my horse pretty recently and thought this time around I'd start wearing a helmet. Last time I fell I lightly hit my head and had a headache for a bit and seeing that I have bad headaches anyway, I didn't want that to happen again. I'm not sure what to do though, because I'm really more worried about my neck than my head as I have a problem with my neck. Is there a certain helmet that protects your neck/base of your head as well? I couldn't find one.

Yes!

I always do! Way more than half of the horse related deaths are linked to the riders not wearing helmets.

When I was 10, I was cantaring past my horses "spooky spot" and he bolted throwing out a buck, which sent me flying to the ground head first. I was unconsience for 10 minutes. My mother rushed me to the emergency room where the doctor proclaimed that I had a concussion. He also said that if I wasn't wearing my Charles Owen then I surely would have died.

I totally agree with you that being on a horse without a helmet is exytremely uncomfortable nd I have never done it!

Hope that this explains my point!

Happy Holidays! :]

i'm going to be honest and say that no, i don't generally wear a helmet. i grew up riding western in the 80s and no one wore helmets. when i was about 12 i started riding hunt seat off and on and of course was required to wear a helmet. but somehow when i got my first horse at the age of 16, i ended up not wearing a helmet most of the time. i don't think i even owned my own helmet until i was 20. i have one and i will wear it if i'm riding a horse i'm not familiar with or if i'm riding a horse that i know i might potentially be hurt on (a horse known to buck, rear, etc).

every single time i've come off a horse and had a concussion, i was wearing a helmet and i'm very grateful for that and so i know it makes even less sense for me to continue to not wear one. and honestly, if asked, i couldn't really tell you why i don't. there's not one specific reason.

i know i'm not a good example and i'm going to get thumbs down, but i'm just being honest.

I can see why your so worried about riding with a helmet, I would be if your accident happened to me I'd probly be just as worried. But me being a teen, I dont really care what happens. So im not so worried.

Do you ride with a helmet? - Yes, I show in jumping and eventing so its manditory at shows. But some times at home when Im just playing around and stuff I ussually don't wear a helmet. If it didnt matter fi you wore a helmet or not, Id still wear one at shows and stuff. But like I said, when im having fun and just playing around I dont bother to put one on.

Why? Why not? - I kinda explained above. Id wear oen just to be on the safe side, you never know what could happen.

Do you believe they can prevent injuries? - To a certain point. I;v heard SO many stories of helmets saving lives, but Iv also heard just as more stories about how a helmet didnt save their life, or broke apon impact and hardly protected the rider. There are a lot of crapy helmets out there, but even if you get the best it can only protect you to a certain point and if you fall on the helmet once, your supposed to buy a new one and not use it again,

So yeah. Basicaly I use my helmet when seriously riding, and I dont bother when Im just playing around.

=]

I ride in a helmet when learning something new on a horse like jumping, barrel racing pattern, poles, ect.

I only wear it when learning something new beacuse I don't have a "feel" for the new thing but once I've done it a couple of times i don't wear it any more.

I believe in some cases they can prevent injuries while in others they can only reduce the chance of an injury.

Always! I have had two bad accidents, one getting bucked off and another having a horse fall with me over a jump, where I landed and/or rammed my face into the ground. Both times I broke the bill of my helmet, and I can't imagine what I would be like today if I hadn't been wearing one.

Yeah, I always ride in a helmet. I just feel safer with one on. And anyways, I learned how to ride in a helmet, so now it's just a habit and my head feels... Naked if I don't wear one. Kind of like you said, I only ride english, and wearing a helmet is required in all the shows I go to, anyways.

I think that they can probably help prevent injuries. I mean, you can still get hurt, but I think that they can keep injuries from being too serious.