[Simply Azure]

I think it is dumb.

[monica-n-shiloh]

So do I. I always wear a helmet...it makes me nervous to ride without one. I wont get on if I dont have a helmet. Now, maybe this comes from riding a full size horse at age 4 and flying through the air with the greatest of ease and almost breaking my nose. The only reason I didnt was because I had a helmet on. I actually broke the rim the way I landed. better a rim then my nose IMO.

[Blistering Winds]

I don't wear a helmet. No real "good" reason, I just don't. I ride in a western saddle which is a little safer than riding an english saddle, in my opinion.

I've come off many times, and the way I have come down, a helmet wouldn't help me anyways.

But I have no issues with others riding with helmets. I am looking at getting an english saddle and when I start jumping, I'll be riding in helmet cause I know I'll be hitting the ground a few times.

It all depends on what you are doing and the equipment you are riding in.

[Dawn]

Personally, it doesn't matter what you ride, what you're doing, or what horse you're on. You wear a helmet. Coming off of a western saddle does not change your body position so that there's no way to hit your head. I've done it before.

[Blistering Winds]

No, never said it changes the body position. Just if your horse stops on a dime, you don't go head first over their shoulder because of the swell and horn. In an English Saddle, I've seen more hit the ground than ever in western saddles from just a sudden stop. That's the part that is scaring the **** out of me when I get an english saddle.

I honestly never wore a helmet until the first few weeks of school when they required them. After the few weeks, we got to choose based upon our riding experience.

Every time I've come off a horse, I have never hit where a helmet would protect me. Now come out with a Butt helmet, and we'll talk!!

I'm about ready to start wearing football shoulder pads cause thats where I hit 90% of the time when I have come off. Haven't in a while, but working with a new baby, so be ready for me to come on going ooowwwwww.....lol

I do believe in them, I just personally choose not to wear them. My kids probably will be made to wear them when they leave the arena areas or when they start doing the speed events and such.

I won't state my opinions on helmets out in the open because I do think kids need to wear them and I'm not going to fuel their arguments with their parents.

[Dawn]

Well, I've only come off over the front as you described once, I came no where near hitting my head. Every time that I've come off the side (as in from swerving or something like that) I've hit my head. At least one or two of those times being in a western saddle. Also, if you expect your kids to wear them, you need to too. Otherwise, you know that they're going to question it and find it acceptable not to.

[Simply Azure]

I think I started an argument.....

[Grey Wolf]

I think that most people that don't wear one don't for two reasons:

They don't think they'll fall, or if they do, it won't involve their head;

Helmets just don't look cool.

I am in the Risk Management business, and spend a lot of time looking at injury statistics. Here's the one that grabbed me: 80% of all horse-related fatalities involved head injuries.

Horseback riding is considered "high-risk" by insurance underwriters. The odds of injury are quite high compared to other sports.

I think a helmet is a good start, but most riders should consider steel toed boots, chaps, a vest and leather gloves too, if they want to avoid some of the more common injuries. Some think a vest is just for jumpers, but I'd wear one around fences, or on rough ground.

Australian saddles are a bit more secure than Western or English saddles, also.

[QHGirl]

I don't wear a helmet either, unless I am showing English. I have one, I did wear it on a trail ride once, but I knew the mare I was on was quite unpredictable, moslty hit my hip when I fell, so a helmet prob would not have helped. I am with the same lines as BW. Some are strongly FOR IT, and some don't wear it. It is really not any right to preach about it. I am sure when I have a child riding I prob will have a different opinion, but personally I don't feel comfortable wearing them. It actually makes me more nervous to have one on.

I don't wear them when I roller blade or bike either. Bad? Probably but that is the way I do it, and prob the way most do it.

[Dawn]

I fell once and came within an inch of hitting my ribs on a fence post. Luckily I just hit my leg. When I started riding, helmets were required no matter what. Where I am now, they're required if you're jumping. I don't feel comfortable getting on without one. I've fallen too many times and ended up with a cracked helmet (I think i've gone through 4 or 5 in 7 years.) I'm just not willing to take that risk.