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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > General Gaited Horse Discussions > Misc. Gaited Horse Discussion > Helmets - Very important!! |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > General Gaited Horse Discussions > Misc. Gaited Horse Discussion > Helmets - Very important!! |
| Moderated by: crs trail rider | Page: 1 2   |
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| Helmets - Very important!! | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 04:24 pm |
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1st Post |
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sheilazav G.O.G Community Member 
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My daughter just bought a 4-year-old Clydesdale. She joined a draft horse forum for advice and sharing with other draft owners. They had a thread about a woman who was a member of the forum who just died from a riding related brain injury. Apparently she was riding her Shire. She jumped off while he was running (it is assumed he was running away with her). She landed on her feet but fell and hit her head. No helmet. Was put in a medically induced coma to help her body deal with the brain swelling. After taking her out of the coma, she passed away. Young, recently engaged woman. Apparently the horse is normally calm because she had plans to ride him in the Rose Parade. I am a live-and-let-live kind of girl and want everyone to make the decision that is right for them. Just made me so sad to think of this senseless death. If her story can save even one person from injury (or worse), it won't have been in vain. Helmets are hot and uncomfortable and leave us with hideous and laughable hair. But they do save lives.
____________________ The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood. ~Johannes Jensen |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 04:45 pm |
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2nd Post |
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TessieB Ranch Hand 
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Always a good reminder! Even on those steady eddies-might not spook but can trip and fall.
____________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for a gaiting machine! |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 05:01 pm |
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3rd Post |
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GypsySusan G.O.G Community Member 
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I always tell people that I wear my helmet because of my riding ability not my horse's problems. Helmets are hot and uncomfortable and leave us with hideous and laughable hair. But they do save lives. My helmet is very comfortable for me and I sometimes forget I have it on until I get conked on the head with a tree branch and don't get a scratch. With the venting on it, it's also cooler to wear than going without a hat when we're out riding in the desert without any shade. Can't do anything about the helmet hair but I proudly wear mine as my badge of endurance and activity - I'd rather be riding than sitting around complaining and doing nothing. Last edited on Tue Sep 7th, 2010 05:03 pm by GypsySusan ____________________ Susan http://www.gypsytrotters.com Phil 4:11-13, 19 Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One. |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 05:06 pm |
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4th Post |
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whattarack Pasture Boss 
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It makes me quiver to read when someone is fatally injured while riding a horse. Our instinct is and should be to try to learn something from the terrible ordeal. If only, if only, if only. If only we could have done something to change the outcome. I'm so sorry for her family and friends. They must be devastated. Thankf for sharing her story on this MB. I hope that your post will make a difference and maybe save a life.
____________________ Being Offended is Optional. |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 06:09 pm |
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5th Post |
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karenlexsc G.O.G Community Member 
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DH and I always wear helmets. While trail riding on our anniversary trip to Asheville, NC, they didn't require them, but had a big container of them. He and I were digging through them finding our size and ones we felt sturdy enough...most were like plastic with no brims, the guide encouraged us to come on, saying we didn't need helmets...can you believe? On a trail ride, up super steep hills, on totally strange horses, with children also without helmets???? OMG, we couldn't believe it! But we wore them. I feel like it is like playing "Russian Roulette" not to. I hate the helmet hair, especially since mine is naturally curly and so I look like little orphan Annie with wet hair afterwards! I just put on a visor and forget it.
____________________ Karen No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 06:35 pm |
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6th Post |
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stormzgaitzrgr8 G.O.G Community Member 
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Such a tragic story! I have found that helmets are necessary in our sport. I am guilty of being our barn's "Helmet Nag".. I have 3 and offer my spare ones vigorously to other riders. A helmet saved my life the one time my horse bolted on the trail.. I'll never ride without one because I don't want any family member sentenced to care for me if I should be brain injured. Everyone accepts that the horseback riding we love has risks associated with it. But will vanity keep us from mitigating those risks whenever possible? Oh, I hope not... I look forward to the day when climbing onto a horse without a helmet will seem as outrageous as climbing onto a motorcycle without one...(rant off) May G*d comfort this young woman's family and friends..
____________________ Tracey (Stormzgaitzrgr8) |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 08:14 pm |
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7th Post |
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Mountainhorse G.O.G Community Member 
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My Rocky is spook-free, but if there's a horse taking off, he has to follow, and it's problematic. Last year we trail rode with a friend, his horse reared up and dumpped him and took off rider-less. I was trying to control my horse, and he reared slightly and rammed my head with helmet in a tree, I thought I was fine, till a few days later I got a bad toothache, I had cracked two back molars from that little incident. A few months ago, we were on a trail ride with our usual, and some morons up front took off at a canter to get back to the barn. There were three of us left, so I thought maybe we can gait (pace) back, and Whiskey just bolted, I tried to pull him back (should have circled), and he reared up in a full canter and I flew backwards off his rear and landed flat on the ground, headfirst. I was dazed, and my helmet cracked. My helmet has saved me from a serious head injury twice.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 7th, 2010 11:42 pm |
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8th Post |
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crs trail rider Ranch Hand 
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WEAR YOUR HELMET!!!!!!! I know- to those who have posted I am preaching to the choir. I wear my helmet- and I went through several to find one that was comforable for me (and yes it cost but it was worth it) I hate hats. I really really do. But I wear my helmet. I have cracked a couple riding a horse that needed retraining (abused) and had a concussion even with one (mild - the other injury was much worse) I was a rehabilitation counselor, work in social services in a nursing home and ran adult day cares. I have seen what head injuries do to a person AND their family. I dont want a head injury that I can avoid. I wear one and make my daughter wear one. I wore one at the gaited jubilee instead of a western hat. Good thing to, she was a complete idiot. I read- and believe- the better and more experience the rider the more likely you are to have a bad fall- why? because we tend to ride less experienced horses and do more challenging things on our horses. I also read some comments on FB on why/when people where or dont wear helmets and was flabbergasted at several responses that said they wear one in the riding ring but dont see the point wearing one just trail riding. WHAT?????????? How many times does quail fly up under your horses nose in the riding ring? How many times would they step in a hole while cantering or trip on a rock sending you over their heads. I can only guess that they dont really "trail ride" just hack around the barn.
____________________ Its rarely the horses fault- Its usually a failure of the rider to communicate their requests in a manner that the horse can understand. Lisa |
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| Posted: Wed Sep 8th, 2010 03:18 pm |
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9th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member 
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I swear by helmets, being a Traumatic Brain Injury Surviver (with a rare form of epilepsy now, even the docters can't find!). Oh and for those that complain the Helmets are hot and uncomfortable. I have one word for them "TROXEL" , they are the leading company in helmets for equestrians and have designed some of the most FASHIONABLE and COMFORTABLE helmets in the industry. Even have one that looks like one of them fancy smancy velvet helmets but has several "vents" that are hidden. It's my favorite.
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Wed Sep 8th, 2010 09:17 pm |
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10th Post |
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ladysrider G.O.G Community Member 
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I've even seen one advertised in a catalog that looks like a western hat!
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14th, 2010 01:49 am |
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11th Post |
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Equinas G.O.G Community Member 
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SunnysMum, my older sister has suffered from the same thing, was broadsided by a driver under the influence. Thankfully, she is doing alright, but the effects are permanent. Her seizures are almost a sub-seizure, petit mal and are fairly well controlled medically. She is aware of certain changes, deficits in how she functions but is compensating very well. She would love to start riding and I have drilled her over and over that she must wear a helmet, cannot take the chance of losing anything else. If she ever tells me that she's started taking lessons, she'll wear a helmet if I have to buy it myself and glue it to her head. Linda
____________________ Linda |
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| Posted: Tue Sep 14th, 2010 02:09 am |
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12th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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That's great to hear she is doing well, I am currently unmedicated. I think my biggest concern is the majority of medications out there these days to treat the seizures. And sounds almost like what I have, the petit mal or sub-seizures maybe. They can't figure it out, but I digress. Most anti-convulsants will over time degrade people on a psychotic level. I'm looking for more alturnatives than something like the medications. Also what I recomend for your sister is specially if she's super seriously interested in riding. Get her an Australian Saddle, it's not always the best or most comfortable for the horse (but nothing is better than bareback). But it is the SAFEST for someone like her. I recomend that style saddle for anyone that has any kind of seizure condition, they provide more support and really hold you in. I know what it feels like after a seizures and believe me I've been greatfull for the puleies and deep seat.
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 06:20 pm |
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13th Post |
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TheBlaze G.O.G Community Member 
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I proudly sport my helmet every single time I'm on a horse! This is me on top of my 17.2 hand Perch/TB cross! Attachment: Riding Prince Self Portrait 081710.jpg (Downloaded 88 times) Last edited on Thu Sep 16th, 2010 06:21 pm by TheBlaze ____________________ ~Tina Wishes are horses, and I fly! |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 08:31 pm |
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14th Post |
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ZippyIcelandicGuy G.O.G Community Member 
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Cute pic, Tina - and cute helmet.  I always wear my helmet. Always. I ride tiny horses, some of which have have never even hinted at a spook. I don't care. I get asked a lot, "Why do you wear that helmet?" My answer is always, "Why not? I've only got one head - and I like the way it works." I have friends who are into extreme sports...they mountain bike, dirt bike, off-road motorcycles, etc. I ask them if they would ever do those things without a helmet and they say, "Of course not!" I say, "That's right - and your dirt bike can't even think for itself. My horse can." A couple of years ago, the US Icelandic Horse Congress began REQUIRING approved helmets at ALL sanctioned shows. I couldn't have been happier. It isn't always convenient, or comfortable, but eating my meals through a tube would be worse. ~Zip
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 08:38 pm |
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15th Post |
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TheBlaze G.O.G Community Member
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Thanks! I completely agree with you! I've always worn a helmet, so I don't mind them at all. I even ponied up the money for the cute one! I've fallen off, been thrown or bucked off plenty of times, and I'm glad I've always had my helmets on then too! There's was one time I didn't wear a helmet, in a parade in an Old West costume. I rode my safest horse, put all of the necessary training into him. And luckily the parade went off without a hitch. He was the perfect gentleman the whole time and took great care of me. But, I was terrified of something going wrong, which could have caused something to actually go wrong! I'll never do it again, no matter what the costume! I've seen someone sustain a life threatening head injury on a horse, not wearing a helmet. Luckily she did recover. But, she'll always have a brain injury. And she may never recover complete use of one side of her body. I'm not going to be that person. Horses are dangerous enough even if you are wearing a helmet!
____________________ ~Tina Wishes are horses, and I fly! |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 08:59 pm |
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16th Post |
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ZippyIcelandicGuy G.O.G Community Member
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Another point - I would recommend that anyone riding horses take a handful of martial arts classes. If you don't know where to look, they are always listed in the community education bulletin. I'm not suggesting you go out and become a karate master, but a practiced martial arts instructor (especially in Aikido or Jiu Jitsu) can train you how to gracefully react when falling. Learning this will greatly reduce your risk of injury from falling - I highly recommend it and have done it myself! ~Zip
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 09:04 pm |
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17th Post |
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TheBlaze G.O.G Community Member
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Very good point. I've been working with SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) stage combat for 8 years now with the Ohio Renaissance Festival. I've taken classes on falling and rolling on the ground as well as falls from high places. (I fell 6 feet from a scaffold into a fall bag! What fun! And how scary too!) But, I think the training helped out a lot the last time I fell of my 16.1 TB. He kicked out, I went up and over his head in a summersault and landed right on the top of my head and managed to safely roll onto my back instead of breaking my neck. Knocked the wind out of me good, and scared all of us. And I could see the crack and the dent right in the top of my helmet. After my lungs got some air back in them, I finished my trail ride, unscathed.
____________________ ~Tina Wishes are horses, and I fly! |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 09:11 pm |
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18th Post |
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stormzgaitzrgr8 G.O.G Community Member
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Very good idea.. I credit my chiropractor with saving me from injury when I had a bad fall. Huh? You might ask? When I am being adjusted by my chiropractor, I must relax even tho I know that the movement will hurt. Tensing only makes the situation worse. I had also read that falling injuries could be worsened by trying to brace oneself against an inevitable fall. So, when it was my turn to kiss the dirt, I reminded myself on the way down .. "Just let it happen.." and I escaped with little more than bad bruises. Since I came off on a rocky mountainside at a full gallop, this was nothing short of a miracle! (Plus, tho I was not in the habit of wearing one regularly, I was wearing my helmet that day. I'll never be without one again!) Here's hoping that will be the last occasion when I have to use that knowledge..
____________________ Tracey (Stormzgaitzrgr8) |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 10:48 pm |
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19th Post |
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SunnysMum G.O.G Community Member
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Here's a good exsample of a way to get people to wear helmets, we used to use it all the time at summer riding camps. Get two mellons, Usually the smallish Water Mellons are good. And a sheet since you will be dropping them on pavement. Take an student style helmet which is the easiest to wash. First Drop the Mellon with out the Helmet and then put a mellon in the helmet and drop it. Both from about waist height or if you want to get a good non-spooky horse, Do it from Horse Back. The one without the helmet will splat/split. The one with the Helmet wont. They really get the point then ;)
____________________ Chi ha tegoli di vetro, non tiri sassi al vicino |
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16th, 2010 11:16 pm |
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20th Post |
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slipslider G.O.G Community Member 
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That is great Sunny! I will have to give this one a try and demonstrate to the kids and more importantly the mom's with our 4-H horse club group. Not many of them are into helmets yet, but they are now required and so more and more are joining the helmet movement.
____________________ LaVonne Summertime Stables, LLC |
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