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Junior Member
 
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| We have a news item about helmets in upper-level drsesage competition in the August issue. Protective headgear has long been legal for all riders in USEF competition, but most riders opt to go with the traditional top hats. After Courtney King-Dye's serious accident this winter showed that even the best riders aren't immune to head injury, more dressage riders have been showing up in helmets at competitions. The typical argument against requiring helmets in competition is that it should be a personal choice, but the USEF and FEI already dictate what riders are allowed to wear at shows. Requiring helmets wouldn't be any more restrictive than requiring riders to wear breeches or coats of certain colors. Do you think the sport's governing bodies should require protective helmets for dressage riders like they do for hunters and jumpers? Would this extend to western and saddle seat riders? Why or why not?
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Advanced Member
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while yes, it may be a personal choice, people forget that when they fall and hurt themselves, it becomes other peoples problems as well. i see it like seat belts and helmets in motorcycles, people justify not using them because its just them that gets affected, but what if they get into a small crash where a seatbelt would have saved their life, now the person who ran in to them has to deal with that death for the rest of their life, or if a mom falls off a horse and gets brain damage, that kids has to deal with it, that why it think people should wear them.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 2/29/2012 6:44:49 PM
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Requiring dressage riders to wear helmets would be similar to the governor requiring people to wear their seatbelts in the car. I don't think they SHOULD be required, but wearing a helmet would be a good choice because you never know what could happen.
~ katie lou (:
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 10/31/2011 5:42:36 PM
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Honestly, I think those who wear helmets are more respectable and inspiring and classy than those who would sacrifice safety for vanity. I can tell that the riders who chose to wear helmets care more about their audience, as well. Those are the people that care enough about their lives. Those are the riders who care enough to want to be able to pass on their skills to the next generation, not throw a "picturesque" one time inspiration and die the next day. What is that saying to the pony clubbers? Oh, after you get to a certain level you will be so good and get to ride the best, well trained horses, you won't have to worry about your head! Yeah, right. Look at Ms. King-Dye. A grand prix rider. The horse just tripped. That's it. That's the WEG down the drain and an uncertain career as a rider. What a waste. tHat's months of recooperation so she can write and have control and strength in her body again. How long would it have taken for her to strap on her helmet? Was she like the kid in the lunchroom that won't eat her veggies because the cool kids aren't? How hard would it have been to take a few jokes like "big grand prix rider has to wear a helmet!" who cares! everyone should wear a helmet. Wouldn't you rather be able to ride horses for as long as you can with a helmet on on your head than ride with a true risk you could never ride again with one fall, but have the breeze in your hair. I say get a vented helmet. If you day no one will respect a top rider with a helmet you're wrong. I will. Kids will. Helmets aren't for jumping anymore. And those that can't see that obviously don't care that they are jeopardizing their riding careers every time they step into the'r irons without a helmet.
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New Member
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| While it may not be "right" the truth is that young riders will emulate what their "heros" do, and when dressage riders don't wear helmets, it creates this inner voice in young riders that tell them it's simply not "dressage classy" to wear a helmet. I will admit that when I ride dressage, I often don't wear a helmet, why, because I feel like riding on the flat is safe, but if the emphasis was on how technical each dressage move is, and the amount of muscle it takes for a horse to perform the movements, I believe people would respect the dressage horse more by seeing how much power it has. In my opinion, there should be a rule requiring helmets to be worn at all dressage events, because even if the profesionals don't feel like thye need them, the kids that watch them will become more comfortable with wearing them, helmets need to become "cool" and something that is shown to be "cool" by having even the best riders wear them, recognizing the fact that no matter how well we know our animals, they are animals and in times of stress, instinct will take over. Put the rule in place, not only for the safety of the riders, but to start a movement in making the helmet "cool" to wear.
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New Member
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I've lost two friends to head injuries. One was a world-class barrel racer whose horse stumbled- not in the arena but in the parking lot of a show. No spook, bullet proof horse, he just tripped and she went off and landed on her head.
The other was riding at home, in his outdoor arena, on a nice quiet mare. Brand new girth broke while he was cantering.
Every time I think that maybe it's too hot to wear a helmet I remember them and how nice it would be if they were still around to ride with.
Helmets should be required. Not wearing one when riding a horse is stupid, regardless of your discipline, how quiet your horse is or where you are riding.
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Starting Member
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Despite the fact that I am newly returned to riding after a nearly 35 year break, I have some very strong feelings about helmets, and the protective vests for our Hunt Seat, Jumping friends. I come to this from several perspectives, as a horse lover, as a mother who wants to be a good role model for my children, as a sister who wants to keep riding with my sister who is also my life long best friend, and as an Emergency Nurse.
As a mother I want my kids to know that they can do ANYTHING!!! That said, it is their RESPONSIBILITY to do so in a fashion that is safe and considerate. We make our kids wear helmets to play football, hockey, lacrosse, and even to ride their bikes. When I ride my bike with my kids I wear my helmet. It is an important part of our routine.
As a nurse, I read an article about a hockey coach for little people who slipped on the ice several years ago during a practice, fell over backwards hitting the back of his head and was killed. This was not during a game, his little players, all in the 6-8 range were in a circle around him listening, not milling about. He just fell down, except he hit the back of his head and died. All of those kids witnessed that. Had he had a helmet on, the little ones could have laughed cause Coach fell down and everyone could have gone on with practice. This was a fairly recent event.
I have taken care of untold sports injuries as my hospital serves 2 colleges and 5 large high schools. This equipment saves lives!!! Not only the life, but the quality of life!
As a rider, I think that anything we can do to make our sport safer is a good idea. There is so much wonderful technology available to help us! Individual riders would be foolish not to take advantage of it.
We didn't have helmets when I was a small child riding. How many children and riders were hurt back then?
Just like all sports with an element of danger involved there is a bit of fuss and ruckus when new standards are imposed, however as we get used to new rules and standards it seems that after a bit they are internalized and become part of our routine.
I was shopping through the helmets, they are light weight, and quite stylish. That said, even if they are butt ugly, it is my obligation to my horse, as well as to my family, friends, and fellow horse people to wear a helmet, and to do what I can personally to make our sport safer, even if my only contribution to the sport is that I maintain myself safely and teach my children to ride and event safely. It is my perspective that I do not have the right to not wear a helmet and possibly get hurt, upsetting my horse, my people, and becoming a statistic that hurts our sport.
I don't event at this time, I am working on relearning everything about riding from scratch, that said I always wear a helmet, and if and when I do start eventing, I will wear a helmet then as well.
I don't leave the house in the morning without brushing my teeth. It is a simple, automatic part of my routine. I don't get on my horse without a helmet. For me it is that simple!!!
Hugs all
Sal, aka Kiwi's Mom
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