Helmets

[FlyingCowgirl]

Here is a very short story of a rider who had a fall on her horse while wearing a Troxel Helmet. I hope everyone takes a moment to read this.

It happened only 3 weeks ago.

www.troxelhelmets.com/safety/troxel-helmet-saved-my-life.php#content

[Tiki]

I wear my helmet you never know.

[FlyingCowgirl]

Just last weekend, I was trail riding and I got hit in the head with two big branches. If I didn't have a helmet on that would of hurt! Maybe I would of been more careful? Doesn't matter, I wear one always.

[wrightp]

As an Occupational Therapist who has worked with clients who've suffered terrible head injuries, I'd encourage everyone to wear one. Especially now that they are so much lighter and comfortable. There are a lot of areas of your body that heal without a problem, but your brain isn't one of them!

[Laura]

Here's my helmet story - or actually, Alexa's. It was Christmas break, and I worked from home at our first horse property we had bought out in Ford. Alexa wanted to ride, but I had a lot of work to do, so I tacked up Myth and she rode around the property. Our property was all enclosed and she had ridden Myth many, many times without incident, so I wasn't too worried about her.

Well, I'm sitting there working at the computer, which was by the living room picture window, and Myth comes galloping up around the house, in front of the window, with the saddle on sideways, sans Alexa! Crap -- I go out there, and Alexa was just sort of getting up, shaking herself off, and she had no boots on. Her helmet was cracked, she was scraped up, and the scariest thing was she didn't really remember who she was or what she was doing. She kept asking for her teacher, like she was at school. After about 5 minutes and lots of ice on her head as we were getting ready to head for the ER, she finally recognized her brother, and then slowly she remembered who she was and that it wasn't a school day. It took awhile before she remembered that she had even been riding, but to this day she doesn't remember what really happened.

We found one boot in the goat pen, one boot somewhere else, and both stirrups were found in different places around the property (English saddle - the stirrups release in the event of a mishap).

We think Myth probably spooked at the neighbors, who happened to be doing something with some big sheets of metal that were clanging around, and that she lost her balance and either flew out of the saddle with some force (judging from where the boots and stirrups were flung), or was drug for a little bit before the stirrup released. In any case, without that helmet, things would have probably been much worse than a mild concussion.

[FlyingCowgirl]

Scary story Laura, thank you for sharing! It's much more real when it's someone you know.

I know of a woman that lost her life being thrown from a horse no helmet, good old reliable horse too! Her daughter was under 10, I think. And her daughter has grown up without her mom. Very, very sad.

[andrea]

Wow Laura, that is terrifying!

I've had a bad fall on my head and I think I'd be a little messed up now, if not worse, if I hadn't been wearing my helmet. Not as bad as the link posted above, but my helmet was broken.

[wrightp]

Wow, Alexa is a lucky girl! I would have been a mess if that happened to Lauren! I once saw a fellow riding a horse in a parade lose control - it looked like the bridle had slipped off somehow. Anyway, he was trying to steer the horse away from the folks sitting on the curb and the horse bolted straight across an intersection just as a car was coming through. It spun the horses legs up in the air and the rider shot off onto the pavement. The horse, remarkably, was fine, but the rider hadn't had a helmet on and he was severely injured. His family would post updates periodically and encourage all riders to use a helmet. It was the most awful thing to watch - you feel so utterly helpless!

[Mustang~Girl]

oh man that is horrible about alexa! If i wasnt wearing a Helmet one time i pry would have gotten pretty severly injured but instead it cracked the helmet. Abby took off around the arena 2 summers ago after i first started riding her and she is a fast horse with a quick, sit on your butt kinda stop if she wants to be, and she bucked and went around the arena about twice and stopped infront of a pile of fencing, its that kind that is in squares with the heavy duty metal kind of wiring, well i did a sumersalt over her head and hit my head on the edge of one of those, if there was no helmet to protect me im sure it would have gone through my skull or something...
I was always told when i turned 18 i could do what i want and dont have to wear a helmet, but ever since then I ALWAYS wear a helmet, and i make everyone else where one too. I have gotten my grandparents into it to, and i make my dad no matter how much he hates it. i made him go buy one lol Why risk it??

The saddle goes on the horses back and the Helmet goes on your head, it should be a part of everyones tacking up routine!!

[northidahocowgirl]

I used to be an avid non-wearer. I was too good of a rider to wear one, lol. When I was thrown from my BOMB PROOF mare at 5 months pregnant and landed on my head in a gravel driveway, that changed my opinion. I am much more aware of my mortality.
As I have worked back to a capable rider from that accident (didnt touch a horse for over a year) I have been an avid helmet-wearer. My kids do not ride any horse, even the trusty pony, without their helmet, period. More recently, I have been going to events and riding in the indoor arena sans helmet, but only in the indoor where there is 8"of soft sand landing. I was thrown in there this last winter, bounced off the wall and rolled under the horse. I had some severe internal bruising and some re-arranged cartilage in my pelvis, but my noggin was ok. I find I am a more confident and aggressive rider without my helmet, which makes no sense,. When riding for time, I will go sans helmet in the indoor arena, but anywhere else, It just is not worth it. Besides it helps keep my hair from getting all tangled up.

[hkfarms]

Apr 12, 2010 20:12:19 GMT -8 northidahocowgirl said:

I used to be an avid non-wearer. I was too good of a rider to wear one, lol. When I was thrown from my BOMB PROOF mare at 5 months pregnant and landed on my head in a gravel driveway, that changed my opinion. I am much more aware of my mortality.

I thought the same thing the entire time I was growing up... got out of horses for a few years while at college and when I got back into them got a spooky mare that dumped in in a windstorm and I got a rope burn... was enough for me to start shopping for a helmet.

I also took into consideration my stirrups and bought safety stirrups. I couldn't afford the breakaways (and didn't like the sounds of them) so bought the Sidestep ones. www.sidestepsafetystirrups.com/

They are crazy looking, but so comfortable. And if you happen to come out of the saddle you don't have to go looking for your broken away stirrup.

[northidahocowgirl]

Those look awesome! My biggest fear is being dragged.

[wrightp]

Apr 12, 2010 20:12:19 GMT -8 northidahocowgirl said:

I used to be an avid non-wearer. I was too good of a rider to wear one, lol. When I was thrown from my BOMB PROOF mare at 5 months pregnant and landed on my head in a gravel driveway, that changed my opinion. I am much more aware of my mortality.
As I have worked back to a capable rider from that accident (didnt touch a horse for over a year) I have been an avid helmet-wearer. My kids do not ride any horse, even the trusty pony, without their helmet, period. More recently, I have been going to events and riding in the indoor arena sans helmet, but only in the indoor where there is 8"of soft sand landing. I was thrown in there this last winter, bounced off the wall and rolled under the horse. I had some severe internal bruising and some re-arranged cartilage in my pelvis, but my noggin was ok. I find I am a more confident and aggressive rider without my helmet, which makes no sense,. When riding for time, I will go sans helmet in the indoor arena, but anywhere else, It just is not worth it. Besides it helps keep my hair from getting all tangled up.

Just a note, not to sound paranoid, but a friend of mine got thrown into the gate in an arena and ended up with about 30 stitches in her forehead. It can happen anywhere.

[horsedr37]

I always were a helmet! I barrel race and I and only a very few other riders wear helmets when racing. I wish more of the racers would were helmets because no matter how good a rider a person is you never know when something could happen!

[FlyingCowgirl]

I love all the colors and textures of helmets currently. Makes helmet wearing a lot of fun!

[northidahocowgirl]

Absolutely about the different options! And if there is a texture/color you dont like, you can opt for a helmet cover.

I have thought about the western hat helmet, I need to try one on. The visor on the helmet is never enugh so I end up wearing a hat under the helmet and makes my head way bulky!