Christopher Reeves & Helmets

shell · 03-21-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemoney08

you got to think to was he wearing a helment or a hunt cap? and if he wasnt using a helment at all ..he could prolly had been killed instead of what happened to him

He broke his neck, not cracked his skull. A helmet will not protect your neck.

kashmirjumper · 03-21-2006, 12:23 PM

I just quoted the same thing as you did. haha

I would like to be able to see a clip of it again. As tragic as it is, it's a good reminder of how extra cautious and perfect you need to ride while jumping.

Thrills · 03-21-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelingGirl

She REFUSED the helmet but used the mounting block...go figure.

This I don't understand..one has nothing to do with the other...I use a mounting block, but do not use a helmet.

Anyways..back on topic...

Yes helmets do protect you and save lives , but as Lindsayanne stated, so do seatbelts and they can't save everybody.

I don't think the size of his horse, or his postion jumping had anything to do with it either..it was just an accident.

It could happen to someone walking thier horse in the feld..wearing a helmet and a vest...having a horse stumble and them hitting a rock.

cowgurly02 · 03-21-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

This I don't understand..one has nothing to do with the other...I use a mounting block, but do not use a helmet.

Anyways..back on topic...

Yes helmets do protect you and save lives , but as Lindsayanne stated, so do seatbelts and they can't save everybody.

I don't think the size of his horse, or his postion jumping had anything to do with it either..it was just an accident.

It could happen to someone walking thier horse in the feld..wearing a helmet and a vest...having a horse stumble and them hitting a rock.__________________

Agreed. Accidents happen, even with helmets. And shell is right, a helmet will not save you from breaking your neck.

Also not sure how using a mounting block and helmet are related? I use neither on a regular basis (helmets never), but I have used mounting blocks before when available.

Quote:

The thread on the other board has taken on a life of it's own. Just a bunch of old cowboys hemming and hawing over helmets..."John Wayne didn't wear one" garbage.

Just going to point out, that's not "garbage". I rodeo, have all my life. You almost never see a helmet, except for on the odd bull or bronc. Most don't wear helmets though. Head injuries are very rare in those events, and almost no barrel racers wear helmets. The ones you do see wearing them are small children. It's just not an issue in some circles, and it definatly isn't is rodeo. Head injuries are far and few between, and I do not feel a need to wear one. If others want to, that's great! But for me, no. It's a personal choice, and people's opinions shouldn't be called "garbage".

Sandra-A1 · 03-21-2006, 01:30 PM

I agree that it was just an accident....
I would bet that he probably had fallen off before this one time....but it just goes to show that no one knows when you can come off a horse, or how serious injuries from that fall will or will not be.
You do the best you can to protect yourself, but have to realize that everytime you climb onto a horse the risk for serious injury is there.

kiddotan · 03-21-2006, 01:38 PM

Falling off is part of life with horses. I think helmets a personnel choice. I've always worn a helmet, like someone else said here I feel naked without it. My sister never wears a helmet and we both have had equal amount of concussions, both not supposed to ride again. Our concession to this is we don't ride trackwork anymore.
My helmet probably stopped me having a concussion this time, but it didn't stop me cracking my hip 5 weeks ago.
Like Sandra-A1 said, "but it just goes to show that no one knows when you can come off a horse, or how serious injuries from that fall will or will not be. "

Slowrider · 03-21-2006, 01:39 PM

I always wear a helmet! I figure that if I break my neck or back, there's a chance I could still live (albeit in a wheelchair, etc.) and still have my wits about me. But if I were to scramble up my brains....well, I just wouldn't want to live like that.

Of course, it's a personal choice. Riding horses IS dangerous. We all know that an accident could happen anytime, anywhere and might not be anybody's fault. I don't look down on people who choose not to wear a helmet. But I think it should be mandatory for those under 18. When they are old enough to be considered adults, they can choose for themselves.

Just my two cents.

No1Dazy · 03-21-2006, 01:40 PM

C.R. took a very common fall. (How many of us have fallen over the shoulder when the horse stopped at a jump, spun, etc? I know I have.) The difference was in his size and height. The momentum that would carry a smaller or lighter rider all the way over the top and make her take the brunt of the landing across the tailbone/pelvis was not enough momentum for him. He also lost some momentum coming into the jump--part of the reason his horse stopped.

kashmirjumper · 03-21-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No1Dazy

C.R. took a very common fall. (How many of us have fallen over the shoulder when the horse stopped at a jump, spun, etc? I know I have.) The difference was in his size and height. The momentum that would carry a smaller or lighter rider all the way over the top and make her take the brunt of the landing across the tailbone/pelvis was not enough momentum for him. He also lost some momentum coming into the jump--part of the reason his horse stopped.

I have done that way too many times. I used to own a horse when I was in junior high that, if you didn't prepare correctly, would just slide into the fence. He was a great teacher for learning how to stay with the horse, not in front of it!

Commanderkins · 03-21-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindsayanne

Man, when you're at an all out gallop jumping huge solid wood jumps there is nothing that's going to totally protect you!

It's equivalent to saying "Dale Earnhardt was wearing a seatbelt when he died in the Daytona 500, therefore, wearing a seatbelt won't make me any safer on my commute to work"

Sounds pretty stupid when you say it like that, doesn't it?

I fell Saturday and hit my head HARD. Even wearing a helmet it hurt. ouch. I KNOW I would have spent the day at the hospital instead of a horse show if I hadn't been wearing my helment.

What the hlllllllll Linds??? meow!!!!hahahahaha there is a HUGE difference first of all, Chris reeves was doing a hunter show, and I think the jumps were only 2'9" and not solid, meaning they fall when rubbed. and going 200mpr oin a car is quite different than jumping a puny hunter course! And yes wearing a seatbelt will make you safer on your way to work so, I guess what you said sounds kinda stupid.

03-21-2006, 12:23 PM	#12
kashmirjumper Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,083 Images: 1	I just quoted the same thing as you did. haha I would like to be able to see a clip of it again. As tragic as it is, it's a good reminder of how extra cautious and perfect you need to ride while jumping. __________________

03-21-2006, 01:30 PM	#15
Sandra-A1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,156 Images: 253	I agree that it was just an accident.... I would bet that he probably had fallen off before this one time....but it just goes to show that no one knows when you can come off a horse, or how serious injuries from that fall will or will not be. You do the best you can to protect yourself, but have to realize that everytime you climb onto a horse the risk for serious injury is there. __________________ "It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Dumbledore

03-21-2006, 01:40 PM	#18
No1Dazy Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 2,224 Images: 93 Blog Entries: 16	C.R. took a very common fall. (How many of us have fallen over the shoulder when the horse stopped at a jump, spun, etc? I know I have.) The difference was in his size and height. The momentum that would carry a smaller or lighter rider all the way over the top and make her take the brunt of the landing across the tailbone/pelvis was not enough momentum for him. He also lost some momentum coming into the jump--part of the reason his horse stopped. __________________ "Out of nothing comes nothing. We must at least try." ~Wolfgang May, 7/18/08

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03-21-2006, 01:38 PM	#16
kiddotan Full Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 25	Falling off is part of life with horses. I think helmets a personnel choice. I've always worn a helmet, like someone else said here I feel naked without it. My sister never wears a helmet and we both have had equal amount of concussions, both not supposed to ride again. Our concession to this is we don't ride trackwork anymore. My helmet probably stopped me having a concussion this time, but it didn't stop me cracking my hip 5 weeks ago. Like Sandra-A1 said, "but it just goes to show that no one knows when you can come off a horse, or how serious injuries from that fall will or will not be. "

03-21-2006, 01:39 PM	#17
Slowrider Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,989 Images: 116	I always wear a helmet! I figure that if I break my neck or back, there's a chance I could still live (albeit in a wheelchair, etc.) and still have my wits about me. But if I were to scramble up my brains....well, I just wouldn't want to live like that. Of course, it's a personal choice. Riding horses IS dangerous. We all know that an accident could happen anytime, anywhere and might not be anybody's fault. I don't look down on people who choose not to wear a helmet. But I think it should be mandatory for those under 18. When they are old enough to be considered adults, they can choose for themselves. Just my two cents.