[BestofPrincess]

I wear my helmet when I ride most of the time.... there are times I haven't and thats like sitting on my horse ect.... but I learned a few years ago to wear a helmet when lunging or working with a horse who is not focused, got run over when leading a horse in a ring

[Morgan 1]

Originally Posted by Celeste

because i've ridden for about 5 years and been thrown 3 times. one i landed flat on my back, didn't hit my head at all. another i got thrown into a wall against my side, and the third i fell on a jump and smacked my face into it. if i'm gonna get hurt by a horse, i'm gonna get hurt.

what i mean by "unpredictable" is a horse that i don't know very well, and i have no prior expirience with how they react to scary situations. different horses "spook" differently. i feel that if i'm on a horse that i know and trust and that horse knows and trusts me as well, and i have worked with that horse for a long time and am familiar with the way he reacts to scary situations, i feel that if i'm going to get hurt, a helmet isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

Celeste, I am talking about head injury and the purpose of the helmet is to protect your head, not the other parts of your body. Have you ever seen the aftermath of a head injury? It is not very pretty. A head injury can cause terrible damage.

[Lindsayanne]

A helmet can make a HUGE difference. Once, I was on a horse I had been riding for about thee years, that was totally bombpoof. We were cantering in a pasture and I lost my balance for some stupid reason (lost a stirrup or something) and went right off the side- my head landed squarely on a pipe hay-holder thing. I got right up and walked away but I still wonder what would have happened if I hadn't taken the stand and been the ONLY rider there who wore a helmet when I rode.

With helmets getting so high tech and comfy, there really aren't many excuses left.

[HappyJoy]

if i had a helmet i might wear it sometimes, but i know the risk of not wearing one. i don't do much but basic walk/trot/canter in my pasture for fun. i ride a safe horse. at this point with the odds against me getting a head injury i'm willing to ride without one. i know i can die a horrid gruesome death, but i choose not to wear a helmet.

[Morgan 1]

Originally Posted by HappyJoy

if i had a helmet i might wear it sometimes, but i know the risk of not wearing one. i don't do much but basic walk/trot/canter in my pasture for fun. i ride a safe horse. at this point with the odds against me getting a head injury i'm willing to ride without one. i know i can die a horrid gruesome death, but i choose not to wear a helmet.

The truth is you may not die but end up in a wheel chair for the rest of your life, or unable to communicate or be dependant on someone else for your most basic needs, feeding and going to the bathroom.

[HappyJoy]

[quote=Morgan 1]The truth is you may not die but end up in a wheel chair for the rest of your life, or unable to communicate or be dependant on someone else for your most basic needs, feeding and going to the bathroom.[/QUOT]

i know.

[Celeste]

well, my helmet is big, itchy, hot, and gives me a headache. i wear it when i ride, but in the future, on my own horse that i know and trust, on my own property, in familiar surroundings, i probably wont. yes, i know horses are dangerous 1200+ pound animals. yes, i know that there's always a chance that something can go wrong. but life in general is dangerous, and i really don't see how a helmet can make that much of a difference. if god wants me to split my head open and die falling off a horse, whatever. but to be honest, i'm more likely to get run over crossing the street than i am getting my skull crushed by a horse i've ridden every day for 10 years.

[Morgan 1]

The choice is yours to make.

[Morgan 1]

Originally Posted by Celeste

well, my helmet is big, itchy, hot, and gives me a headache. i wear it when i ride, but in the future, on my own horse that i know and trust, on my own property, in familiar surroundings, i probably wont. yes, i know horses are dangerous 1200+ pound animals. yes, i know that there's always a chance that something can go wrong. but life in general is dangerous, and i really don't see how a helmet can make that much of a difference. if god wants me to split my head open and die falling off a horse, whatever. but to be honest, i'm more likely to get run over crossing the street than i am getting my skull crushed by a horse i've ridden every day for 10 years.

That is the most rediculous argument I ever heard. God looks after those who look after themselves. He expects you to make good choices and he will look after the rest.

[*Psylocke*]

Originally Posted by Morgan 1

That is the most rediculous argument I ever heard. God looks after those who look after themselves. He expects you to make good choices and he will look after the rest.

I agree with you here....except that I am not religous BUT I agree that the argument has no grounds. No offence, but when ppl say things like that it sounds as though they hide behind their faith to avoid a real decision.

Thats IMO, but I see no reason that should even be brought in. A decision to wear or not to wear a helmet should be based purely on facts! I KNOW the risks as I said and I stick by what I said.



Psy