Do you always always wear a hat?

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I do generally, but yesterday I needed to ride my horse and couldn't find the bloody thing.

Was only in the school (not jumping), and I've never fallen off said horse in school in nearly 10 years.

I think I put myself at more risk crossing the road (also without a hat!)?

Thoughts?
 
I've got on Ned 3 times without a hat.

Twice for a photoshoot (though I did put it back on in between shots) and once because, like you I didn't have it with me, but that time I literally got on and then off again. The day before I had been doing mounting training and he did really well. I wanted to continue to see if he was still as good as the day before. He was :)
I would never leave the field without one on or go faster than walk though! I felt naked :O
 
Yes because I'm a "what if?" person :o If I were to have a photo shoot done it would be the only time I'd leave it off and only if we were standing still and even then I'd be wanting it over with asap ha ha!
 
Yes, but am sceptical at times. Hats are only as good as the situation they're in. I fractured my skull wearing one, and also had very bad neck damage as the hat didn't come off and practically dislocated my neck because a metal protusion caught under the strap. Freaky I know, but it made me think... i.e. the hat actually caused the injury.
 
Always always just as I always always where a seat belt. I've fractured my skull thru a hat but if I hadn't been wearing it I'd probably not be typing this now...
 
yes always and gloves and corret footwear. was drummed into me many many years ago (infact safety in general was) when iwas working pupil and now i feel "naked"if dont :)
 
Generally yes.
Especially grateful of it the other day (wearing my good show hat Ayr8) when my horse decided to deposit me head first into the middle of the road.
For such a lightweight comfortable hat it doesn't half do a good job! More upset that I need to buy a new one now :(
 
Yes. I have on one occasion, passed out while riding my horse. Landed directly on my head and was luckily wearing a hat ! Got away with moderate concussion and a few moments out cold in the sand . Expect the unexpected ! :p
 
jemima*askin said:
It's all well and good saying you generally wear a hat but wearing one not done up, like in the picture in the post below, gives you just as much protection as not wearing one at all. If you happened to come off it would probably hit the ground first.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...pics-of-my-cool-pony!&p=12261582#post12261582
Click to expand...

Totally agree, I had a sub arachnoid haemorrhage ( bleeding in the brain ) when I fell of one of the safest horses in the yard on a hack when I was 17.
I had undone the strap of my hat so it hit the ground before me!

Will never be that stupid again, I was lucky and made a full recovery.
The head injury consultant at what was then the Atkinson mawley said he saw more severe head injuries in horse riders than motor cycle riders .. Still find that hard to believe but that's what he said.

Always expect the unexpected!
 
Yes-- and the one time years ago I made an exception taught me a lesson.
I was dawdling around on a very hot summer day on a dead broke Quarter Horse-- did not want the hat on because it was so hot-- the horse shied at a bird, I was not paying much attention to him ( fault number 2!) as he was so quiet. I was thrown but with my foot caught in the stirrup ( scary!) and the horse freaked out and started to gallop out of the school to the barn. The stirrup finally came free and I was OK if shaken up. Have never gotten on without a hat since. And pay a lot more attention to what my horse is doing at all times since then as well!

ETA

And tragically, someone I used to ride with died from a head injury a few years ago. She had been riding and jumping without her hat and had a fall onto her head. Very sad loss of life.
 
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Always. You can still get head injuries even with good, well fitting head gear. I once got knocked out by a heavy fall whilst wearing my HS1 skull. Different sport but look what's happened to Michael Schumaker .... Just not worth the risk.
 
I've only not worn a hat when I've forgotten to change my woolly hat for riding hat in wintertime. It's happened twice and both times I was about half an hour into our ride and thought that my riding hat was slipping...gone to push it up a bit and then realised the reason for the slipping was because it was just made of wool, lol! Was bareback on one of those occasions too, must have looked like a real dare devil :D

I do generally always wear a hat, don't get why you would take the risk really.
 
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Saw a well known top event rider wearing just a woolly hat on a very frosty day riding and leading trotting downhill on a road. I was gobsmacked! Also think it sets the kiddies a really bad example as they look up to her.
 
Years ago when I was having regular riding lessons, I tacked up and rode the horse out to the manege to be met with my instructor who said something like "Haven't you forgotten something today?". I had omitted to put on my hat of course. I knew something felt different, but couldn't put my finger on it. :o

In general though, I always wear a hat for riding, and sometimes for handling on the ground too.
 
Yes, at home i always wear a hat :)

Although when i was working as a guide on a horse safari i didnt wear a hat, strange considering how fast we travelled :P
 
Yes. My last two falls were while jumping and on both occasions my head smacked off the ground with no lasting effects. (thank you hat!). I also wear it around my new horse while grooming/doing feet etc as he does tend to biff me with his enthusiastic, nosey big face.
 
Most definitely yes. I had a burst brain aneurysm which required brain surgery last year. After spending a long time recovering and not know if I would be left with any deficits, I know how precious my head is.
 
Yes. Have smashed two hats - one falling on to road and one being pulled over while leading on road - and I mean smashed as in bits of hat moving around. Still have my head though :)
 
lannerch said:
Totally agree, I had a sub arachnoid haemorrhage ( bleeding in the brain ) when I fell of one of the safest horses in the yard on a hack when I was 17.
I had undone the strap of my hat so it hit the ground before me!

Will never be that stupid again, I was lucky and made a full recovery.
The head injury consultant at what was then the Atkinson mawley said he saw more severe head injuries in horse riders than motor cycle riders .. Still find that hard to believe but that's what he said.

Always expect the unexpected!
Click to expand...

The reason for that is that coming off a horse involves a fall from a significant height to a dead stop whereas motorcyclists start off lower down and tend to slide. Motorcycle helmets also cover far more of the head than riding hats.
 
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