Your opinion on this...?

I'm astonished that, in this day and age, anybody taking money for riding lessons would let a student get on a horse without a helmet. Short term, it makes no sense from a liability standpoint. Long term, it develops a bad habit in students who may move up to more advanced riding.

Price out some inexpensive helmets for your brother or sister. The cheap ones meet the same ASTM standards as the "fashion" helmets. Deliver the message, once. "A word, to the wise, is sufficient." If your sibling won't listen to your expert and informed opinion, well, you've done all you can do.

I grew up back in the seventies in S. California and never even thought of a helmet. Where I live now, (Florida) I think the laws are kids under 16 must wear a helmet when on public roads or trails but don't have to when on their own property. All of the places that I've seen that give riding lessons of any kind require people under 18 to wear a helmet. I do see videos of families that go on trail rides from all over the country and no one (even the kids) have helmets on. If I were giving lessons to kids, they would have helmets on. One less thing to get sued over. In Florida, they have laws that protect people that are involved with equestrian activities but that still doesn't protect them from gross negligence.

One thing that really bothers me is that people don't take responsibility for themselves. Here are these parents, watching their kids get lessons. They know that there is a possibility of them falling off. They know that there is a possibility of them landing on their heads. But, if either of these things happen, they will want to put the total blame on the instructor. They should be getting these kids helmets whether the instructor requires them or not.

I've always worn helmets riding, especially when I was younger and taking once a week lessons for the first time. I always wore a helmet. When you're on someone else's horse and an inexperienced rider, you need to wear a helmet and protect your head. I think it's a good idea you didn't let the children on your horses (regardless of the horses' "brokeness") because even if it was their mother's choice for them not to wear a helmet, if they fell off, the mother would be likely to sue/blame you and your horse.

However, I do ride my horses occasionally without a helmet. I've never jumped without a helmet, but I have gone on a trail ride with my horses before without a helmet. My trainers have also gotten on my horses before and schooled them when they were being a problem that I couldn't handle.

My friends who play polo constantly ride without helmets when they are just riding/practicing on their own.

Gather together the current information on the risk of death or injury with and without helmet for whatever style of riding is happening. (Don't present the risk for jumping if they are only doing flat, because that'll be a reason to reject the data as inappropriate.)

Ask the parents if they are aware of the statistics. They will mumble. Ask again. Say, "Perhaps you would like to look at this stuff." Leave them with a single sheet of paper that spells it all out, including the cost of hospital care for a "simple" concussion.

It's possible they'll decide that THEIR kids will get inexpensive NEW Troxel helmets and will wear them. Perhaps they'll even see to it that the other students get helmets, too.

Lessons on lead-line, done as pony rides on 10-hh ponies at the walk, generally do not need helmets for the first couple of times, because of the close supervision. Other than that, I agree, helmets every time.

Totally aside: Can anyone tell me why my fingers always want to spell "helment" instead of "helmet"?

So, as a trainer, I myself ( me moi mi) never wear a helmet. It is my noggin and I just don't like it.

BUT

My students and children (my kiddos) must wear helmets until 16. After that if they refuse, they sign a liability waiver ( or their parents sign) i adamantly suggest they continue to wear a helmet, always. But... I have never had an issue with anyone refusing.

But never, EVER would a small child or under 16 get on a horse on my watch without a helmet. Period. The end. If parents have an issue with that, they can find another trainer.

Just explain to your family that even if the other students don't wear helmets you would strongly advise that they do even if the instructors there don't deem it necessary. It really shouldn't be something that even needs to be argued over. Minors at the very least should always wear a helmet, adults can always choose for themselves. Although that said in this country in all approved riding schools helmets are mandatory no matter what age you are.

Helmet every single time you get on a horse. No matter what. The chance of falling may be minimal but if it happens, is it worth having your head go splat?!

I would speak to the parents and suggest a helmet (with figures/stories/actual data relating to injuries and death as a reuslt of failure to wear one).

I would also speak to the barn (even if you do it anonymously) and just say you are astonished to see them allowing riders to ride without a helmet. Where I ride, we MUST dismount if we need to take our helmet off - the usual one is "can I take my jumper off" and it wont fit over the helmet. So the rider dismounts to do so since it involves taking off a helmet. From the riding schools point of view - it's not worth the risk.

I've seen an instructors personal facebook page and her cover photo is her own child on her pony without a helmet - I would not send a child to be taught by her. To me that is actively advertising the fact helmets are not important.

I grew up not wearing a helmet while riding and I'll probably never wear one as long as I live.

But I would probably require my kids to wear a helmet; because I KNOW first-hand the injuries you can get including head injuries.

Now as to the "old dead broke" horses.........I had one of those! 40 years old, dead broke, could do whatever the hell I wanted with her.......one day road her down the road and the neighbor at the end of the gravel road had gotten hogs.....my mare had NEVER seen nor smelled a hog......She turned on a dime and took off like she was a 2year old filly again; amazingly I stayed in the saddle and got her calmed down!!!

But my point is even DEAD BROKE horses can spook and if your not expecting it and/or experienced you can get hurt.

I'm just shocked and astonished! Most places require anyone under 18 to have a helmet on. Period. Wow.

I agree with you.