Do you ALWAYS wear a hat?

*looks at avatar* No I don't always wear a hat - funnily enough I do more often than not at home as I have to hack up the lane to get to the school and I always wear one when road riding is concerned...but that doesn't stop me from getting on unknown horses without one... the one in the avatar was a bit of an opinionated stallion in Tarifa - the ride guide refused to ride him so I said I would - he was great fun! Each to their own I say - but I deffo don't bother posting hatless pics if I can help it as I am fed up of the backlash.

Llwyncwn, Christopher Reeve WAS wearing a hat when he fell off........
 
I feel strongly that people should always wear hats with properly adjusted chinstraps.
It winds me up big time when I see people advertising horses for sale who are jumping and schooling without hats...soooo stupid of them, and frankly I wouldnr buy a horse from someone like that.

Also, I find it incredible that leading showjumpers ride in competitions with their chinstraps loose and flapping around. In my day the BSJA stewards would be onto you in a heartbeat if you pulled a stunt like that. Our leading riders should be setting an example to younger riders and to the muppets who dont know any better or think they are imune to spilling their brains all over the place! And the magazines shouldnt publish pictures of riders not wearing appropriately adjusted headgear...

Sorry about the rant (Personal hobbyhorse Im afraid)...I feel better now!
 
Ouch, Oooooh, errrrm. So he did. Its that bloody shiraz made me insinuate otherwise, hic
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Scvery schori hic
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Well, yes I do. I've been studying Speech and Language therapy at uni for the last 3 years. Traumatic Brain Injuries are not fun. They stuff up your life and your family's life. In many cases I would prefer to be dead. I dread ever having to suffer a Wernicke's Apasia where your understanding is perfect, but your expressive language is totally useless. You know you aren't saying what you're trying to either, making it all the worse. The frustration must be unbearable.

For that reason, I always wear a hat. No matter how safe a horse is.
 
Only in the last year or two have I started wearing my hat at all times when I am riding. Now its habit I don't even notice its there and it feels alien getting on without one.
 
When I was young - long time ago - almost no-one wore a hat, except at shows and in riding schools. We young girls galloped, jumped, rode on busy roads, all hatless (didn't want to ruin our hair). I also never wore a seatbelt.
Now I don't even park my car without belting up and would never even ride from field without a hat, just feel naked in both cases without that safety net.
Guess I was lucky I survived those bad old days with my brain, sort of, in tact.
 
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Yes, I always do wear a hat but there has been a couple of occasions when I felt ill when schooling so took my hat off. I would hate to be like poor Christopher Reeve and never be able to ride again, and to have someone else wipe my bottom
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However, I dont judge those who choose not to, as long as its not on my land
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he cant do too much riding now...he's dead.

ps he was wearing a hat....
 
Always. I've been riding for 43 years and have survived several bad falls - including being kicked in the head while on the ground - only because I was wearing a hat. Doesn't matter how good a rider you are, how bombproof your horse - things happen that you don't expect and that are out of your control.
 
Always!

When I was about 12 I was doing the usual kid thing of riding around at speed in the field without tack when my pony spooked and I came off. I ended up getting tangled in it's legs and all I could see were hooves flashing everywhere. How I didn't get kicked in the (hatless) head still amazes me 32 years later. At the time it was a big wakeup call for me and ever since then I've worn a hat.
 
For me wearing a hat is a bit like wearing a seat bealt - can't drive without my seat belt on - and can't ride without my hat on.....
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I feel strongly that people should always wear hats with properly adjusted chinstraps.
It winds me up big time when I see people advertising horses for sale who are jumping and schooling without hats...soooo stupid of them, and frankly I wouldnr buy a horse from someone like that.

Also, I find it incredible that leading showjumpers ride in competitions with their chinstraps loose and flapping around. In my day the BSJA stewards would be onto you in a heartbeat if you pulled a stunt like that. Our leading riders should be setting an example to younger riders and to the muppets who dont know any better or think they are imune to spilling their brains all over the place! And the magazines shouldnt publish pictures of riders not wearing appropriately adjusted headgear...

Sorry about the rant (Personal hobbyhorse Im afraid)...I feel better now!

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Steve D, I absolutely and utterly agree! It goes beyond the choice for personal safety - it is to do with public perception. Thank you!
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