Do you replace your hat after a fall?

[HORSE Mag]

Do you always replace your hat after a fall? Or if you drop it on the yard? Or do you see it as an unnecessary expense? Please let us know your views by voting in our poll and sending your comments to jennifer_hughes@ipcmedia.com.

If we use your comments in the next issue of Horse, you'll win a bag of feed treats.

The poll can be found on our homepage: www.horsemagazine.co.uk

(If the poll isn't about riding hats, press vote now and the new poll will appear)

Thanks
________

 

[foraday]

Yes always but also I replace every two years anyway even if it hasn't had a fall or a drop.

What was interesting was the information about Oli Townends recent fall at Kentucky and that Champion obviously looked at the fall and then the damage to the hat.

Yes as the author pointed out Oli being sponsored by Champion it is easy for him to get hold of hats as of course being who he is and being sponsored by them. One would argue 'And why not, they have worked incredibly hard to get where they are' agreed there!

But what about us mere mortals who are supposed to be 'influenced' by the 'stars' of riding and what they are wearing including gadgets for horses. I know someone who hasn't changed their hat for over ten years-competes regularly and has never been stopped or checked at an event either!

So why are hats expensive? In the trade catalogues a standard Champion hat is around £25 including vat! Yes there has to be a mark up for the Tack Shop of course no one can begrudge them trying to make a living with their increasing overheads-business rates, insurance, staff costs etc.

But isn't it ABOUT TIME that Champion and other hat manufacturers gave out a 'safety return letter/accident form' for every hat sold with a freepost return label so in the event of an accident or say 2 years expiry (or whatever they deem a suitable period of time) for the hat, send your hat back to them so that they can look into the type of accident, how their hat held up/damage to hat and the wearer what happened to them during the accident. The scheme could be furthered by the tack shop signing the return form to say that the wearer had purchased a new hat (same company) and the cost of it(obviously the wearer needs to keep the orginal receipt)-maybe Champion et al would like to send a cashback or incentive for people to join the scheme and send back the hat even if it wasn't damaged! Therefore their research can be furthered as not every accident is reported and certainly some people never change their hats.

On another note, wouldn't it be nice also if Point Two jackets were available at a price range we can afford. Again, all the BE Top riders have been given them free and certainly Oli received less injuries due to wearing it. Shame I cannot afford the £500 for it as it would have saved my lower back the other week when I fell from my eventer!

 

[Tinker_Belle]

I can't afford to replace my hat every time it gets a litle knock. I've never dropped it on the yard and I would replace it if I had a fall where my hat took the impact. Otherwise, I don't replace it for a few years.

I can't afford to. A good hat costs in the region of £50 and that's not a small amount of money to me so my hat only gets replaced if it suffers a bad fall or after three years or so.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I've had two falls in the last couple of years. I landed on my bum in one, and just caught the back of my hat on a dressage board on the other. I haven't changed it, but I suppose I ought to.

I was also wondering do hats have a use by date, so to speak? ie. if you ride every day, and you've washed the inside a number of times, does the foam start to compress or lose any of its properties which might make it less safe than when it was new ???

 

[FanyDuChamp]

I believe that that they should be checked on a regular basis. I certainly think that we have come a long way since I learned to ride, I remember having the same hat for a very long time and falling off, landing on my head and not bothering to check it was still okay.

However a hat is only good if it is kept in good condition, checked regularly and replaced when needed. A good BETA approved hat is expensive, maybe the industry should look at this, to save people thinking they cannot afford to replace their hats after an accident.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I believe that that they should be checked on a regular basis. I certainly think that we have come a long way since I learned to ride, I remember having the same hat for a very long time and falling off, landing on my head and not bothering to check it was still okay.

However a hat is only good if it is kept in good condition, checked regularly and replaced when needed. A good BETA approved hat is expensive, maybe the industry should look at this, to save people thinking they cannot afford to replace their hats after an accident.

How do you check a hat? In many cases, even after a serious high impact whack, it will appear to look no different than before.

 

[CeeBee]

I had 4 falls last year, all of which my hat took most of the impact, whether from the ground, or a hoof. I replaced it 3 times, but at £80ish per time (it may have been more - a Champion hat), I haven't replaced since the last fall. I know I need to though....

 

[CeeBee]

Oh, and meant to say the poll on the link you posted is about horse cruelty, not riding hats!

 

[E_Lister]

I have replaced my hat twice after falls. Both times the impact was taken to the head and I valued my heads future health at more than a hew hat would have cost!

I keep my hat on the floor so I can't drop it, because I can't afford to replace it if it falls. The only times I pick up my hat is when I intend to move it or wear it. Also my head is a funny shape meaning it is a long and arduous task finding a fitting hat so it is better to prize the ones I have!

I have never had to replace a hat due to old age, because I have not been riding long enough. Just as I am starting to contemplate getting a replacement, I seem to have a fall nasty enough to warrant a new hat.

I always buy properly certified hats, not because I compete, but because I value my brain. It is strange to me that there are still hats on the market not deemed safe by the governing bodies and it is saddening that it is easier for people to buy these sub standard hats due to their lower pricing!

 

[Archangel]

But isn't it ABOUT TIME that Champion and other hat manufacturers gave out a 'safety return letter/accident form' for every hat sold

That is such a good idea.

 

[NeedNewHorse]

I couldn't possibly keep replacing my hat as I have fallen off 17 times in two years of having my Mare and that's over £1700 worth which I would rather spend on lessons! (which I clearly need) I have replaced it once though but mainly for the air vent feature.

x

 

[Angua2]

That is such a good idea.

Agree.

My first hat was a second hand hat from the early '70 and I didn't replace that one until I went on a riding camp as a child and they were specific about the hat. I had that hat bought mid 80's for at least 20 years, when I can't remember why I got a new one in 2003, possibly as I had read the standards had changed. That was replaced after 3 years when after a fair few falls the actual shape of the helmet was not as it had left the factory... there were a few flat sides!! I still have the 2003 replacement! and I have possible dropped it, and had a few falls though

 

[FanyDuChamp]

How do you check a hat? In many cases, even after a serious high impact whack, it will appear to look no different than before.

I am not sure about other makes but a Charles Owen hat can be checked if you post it back to them, they will usually scan and inspect it to see if there is any damage at all. They will then repair it but only if the outer part is still safe. If the inside foam is damaged,they repair by replacing the foam with new stuff. It is quite cheap to get this done, especially in relation to buying a new hat. If the outer part has been damaged they won't repair, it would not ever be as safe again.

 

[posie_honey]

i replace mine after any fall where i hit my head
not worth the risk imho
OH dropped his hat from the kitchen table onto the tiled floor... he didn't think much of it... few days later he took the silk off and it was cracked really badly on the point of contact - if that had been my velvet peaked cap i'd never have realised - made me glad i change mine after every fall - as that is no different to falling off an hitting a stone/hard ground

 

[*hic*]

I replace mine and my daughter's hats after every impact with the ground. So if we fall and don't hit our heads it's not replaced. If it's dropped on concrete or hard / stony ground it is replaced.

 

[itsme123]

My local tack shop owner (certified fitter) once told me if you hold your hat with the inside facing up and gently push the sides in with base of the palms of your hands (where your hand meets your wrists, so your fingers are pointing down) it should have alot of resistance. If there's any squeaking, creaking or it gives way easily (ie feels like it's bending) then you need a new one as that shows the inner shell has broken or worn with age. I've done it on the children's hats and it's scary how easily they're broken and often even without having had a fall the hats can have little 'structure' when you feel for it in this way.

 

[Angua2]

My local tack shop owner (certified fitter) once told me if you hold your hat with the inside facing up and gently push the sides in with base of the palms of your hands (where your hand meets your wrists, so your fingers are pointing down) it should have alot of resistance. If there's any squeaking, creaking or it gives way easily (ie feels like it's bending) then you need a new one as that shows the inner shell has broken or worn with age. I've done it on the children's hats and it's scary how easily they're broken and often even without having had a fall the hats can have little 'structure' when you feel for it in this way.

Now this is a useful bit of information.

 

[little_critter]

My OH is a keen cyclist and was amazed that the riding hat industry doesn't have a crash replacement scheme. It seems many cycling helmet manufacturers will replace your helmet if you crash either FOC or discounted!
I replaced my hat when I fell off last year - mind you I did land head first and I didn't like the hat anyway. I had fallen off a few times previous to that fall but the hat didn't make contact with the ground.

 

[otter2]

no i don't! haha it's far too expensive! i bought my speed air last year and within a handful of times of wearing it i fell off.. i'm far too drawn to the floor to be spending over £300 on a new hat every time i fall! if it was a really bad fall i would, but i normally land on my feet or bum!!
i do get a new hat every year though

 

[JoJo_]

I emailed my comments to them and its going to be published with a pic of me on my mare Awesome!

 

[_MizElz_]

I don't replace mine after every fall, but I would if I knew I had had a substantial impact to my head. That said, I had a rotational fall several years ago and was still wearing that same hat until last year, so maybe I havent been as careful as I should have been...

For those saying 'I can't afford £300 every time I fall off' - you dont NEED to pay that amount of money. I have an HS1 which is apparently meant to be the safest hat you can buy (only hat on the market to have passed every test to the highest standard, I believe) - and you can get them for just over £100.

 

[charleysummer]

i'm getting a new one soon- i fell off not long ago in a very odd scenario- i passed out at a show whilst in the air over a jump! landed on my head and came round in the middle of the practise ring, it literally saved my life- i was really badly knocked out and woke up thinking i was paralysed for a few minutes, starting seeing stars and threw up. if my hat had been broken by head would have got the full impact of the fall and most probably killed me. shame they are so expensive really,