Bit of a rant

[horsegirl]

I would never ride any horse no matter how safe without a hat and I wouldn't allow anyone else to ride my horse without wearing a hat but if other people choose to do it then in the end it is their decision and it doesn't affect anyone else. After all it's not as though they are going to waste precious hospital resources or claim disability benefits so hiking up the costs to the rest of us when they are injured is it? No....wait......

It's ok though we'll just hear the justification "I pay my taxes and NI......" assuming of course the brain damage isn't too severe.

 

[charliesarmy]

IMO its up to the rider what they do....BUT I will add as a child I did the most dangerous things but as a child you are oblivious to dangers... would I ride without a hat now absolutly not I value my life too much...But TBH the livery I used to be on it was in there T+C's no riding without hat's, no riding in the fields, I girl who persisted in ignoring these rules whilst riding in the menage got the menage locked up

when she carried on she was asked to leave..but YO's rules...

 

[PapaFrita]

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Calm down HH - freedom of choice and all that.

[/ QUOTE ]
True, but then people do have the freedom to comment, don't they? So I agree with HH... if you don't want the comments, put the hat on

That's why I don't post pics of me doing Parelli

[ QUOTE ]
I've seen the photo's you're referring to and I think they are utterly charming.

[/ QUOTE ]
Me too. I didn't even notice hats weren't being worn

but hardly anyone wears hats here...

Disclaimer: The Parelli comment was a joke.

 

[PapaFrita]

I agree with you. I actually don't care if people choose to ride with a hat or not (hardly anyone does over here anyway) but you can't expect people not to comment, any more than you can expect people not to comment on ragwort in a field, upside down bits, etc, etc if they feel strongly about it.
Personally, I wouldn't comment on the hat, but I would on a welfare issue.

 

[SnowPhony]

I have ridden without a hat countless times, often bareback with just a headcollar and leadrope, out hacking round the fields. I used to do this quite often with my mare and I trust her completely having owned her from a foal. Irresponsible? Very. Good fun though.

Had a bad fall in the summer however and I have no doubt that had I not been wearing a properly fitting riding hat I would be dead. You would think I would always wear a riding hat after that and I do. Other than one occassion when I sat on the chubby one bareback.

I can't say I'd never ride without a hat again. If I trust the horse like I did my mare I probably would on the odd occassion.