Do you wear a hat?

[pocket]

Hi all, just a little poll regards the use of hats. Everyone has different ideas about them and some yards make sure that everyone wears a hat whilst riding.

My own yard has no rules or regulations, however, I always wear a hat when riding especially out hacking. When I compete, I wear a beagler which obviously offers no protection if you fall and it comes off

Do you ensure that children wear hats? I often have little battles trying to encourage the kids to put hats on and usually fail

The reason that I'm doing this poll is that I had a patient come into my department who had fallen off her horse at canter, she was wearing a traditional hat, but had a nasty concussion, however, the hat clearly saved her life and is a lesson to be learnt.

I'll be interested in your views and thanks for taking the time to do it

 

[angiebaby]

You wouldn't be covered by your insurance if you had an accident without wearing one.

 

[ChestnutMonty]

I always wear a hat even when i'm walking my horse in hand when on box rest, etc and also when i'm lunging.
After my dad had 16 stictches in his head as he got caught with a kimblewick bit when horse reared when he was leading my old horse I always wear one! At the end of the day, its just not worth the risk not too - imo

 

[Abbeygale]

I have a wooly hat - does that count?

No seriously - always have hat on - I like to get my money's worth out of my hat - so wear it at all times. However, I usually buy a hat that is towards the higher end of the price range - firstly I can't put a price on how important that hat will be if I fall - and I always buy a hat that "looks" good too. I have no hesitation in spending the same amount of money again if I fall off.

What price can you put on your head if you fall?

 

[Tierra]

I always do.

I went through a stage where i didnt and to be fair, ive not fallen off now for over ten years but it will undoubtedly happen again

Perhaps its as ive gotten older im more aware of my own mortality

 

[BeckyD]

I wear a hat all the time - well: riding, lunging and loading. I have worn it to turn out on occasion too. Last year I was lunging and Ronnie got spooked and reared and caught the side of my hat hard with his hooves, knocked me sideways. Shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't had a hat on.

 

[vicm2509]

Always wear one when mounted. Although in the past I have been known not to if just plodding around or schooling my own horse. I would school my own horse on the flat without one, but I think the kids on the yard should be set a good example so I always wear one.

One thing I cant work out, prehaps someone can enlighten me, is, why on earth do some people put on a hat and not do up the chinstrap? Surely if they fell the hat would fall off their head, therefore making it pretty pointless having one on at all??

If I hit my head when I fall then I always replace it.

 

[sfward]

I have been known to not bother when dressage schooling, but that's the only instance where I wouldn't and only on my horse as I know her. And definitely not at the moment as I'm pregnant so would be irresponsible I feel!!

 

[KatB]

Yep always, BUT then go and wear a beagler at comps when my horse is on his toes and acting silly?!! Have been strongly considering just sticking with my Skull cap for all phases this season....

 

[_jetset_]

I always wear a hat when out hacking (GPA one), and most times I am schooling, but there are the odd times I have a baseball cap on and only when I get off I realise I have not had a hat on.

I wear a Beagler when out competing BD.

 

[Capriole]

set off on a hack a while back and couldnt place what was wrong, only got a couple of minutes away when i realised - no hat!, had to come back for it, nad it felt really odd not weraing one!

 

[Drummer]

We HAVE to wear a hat at our yard, even though we are mainly adults the yard owners would not let us ride without one which I think its great and more yards should be like this. Plus we are on a large yard/equestrian business with shop, feed barn so I don't think it would look very professional if we didn't wear them.

I didn't always wear a hat at the yard I was at before as yep stupidly other people didn't either so I got stuck in that 'trend'. But admitedly if we were allowed to jump on our horses in the field to bring them in or put them out then I would still do that without a hat stupidly.

 

[JessPickle]

have never ridden a horse without a hat on, feels wrong without and whne riding such a huge horse the distance I would be falling from would result in extensive damage!

 

[Apalacia01]

Have schooled a handful of times in the height of summer without one, but now wouldn't contemplate not wearing one! Too much on her toes! Don't wear it for anything else though (says she who has been kicked in head and fractured skull...you would think I would learn).

I also still have the same hat that I have had for about 12 years - haven't fallen off since then, and its 'head shaped' now. Would love to get a new one but I don't have the money. I do have a newer one but its too big and so only use it for competitions! (Between those of us who wear beaglers, and those of us who wear hats that we can't see out of...eugh!!

)

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

depends on who im riding - thats bad isnt it I will ride my older mare without one int eh school which i know is really naughty !!

I would never ride my youngster without one though i dont trust him !!

 

[Fransurrey]

I've fallen on my head too many times (must be a talent I have...) to risk nott wearing it. I once head-bounced off tarmac and split the hat. I kept it for a while, to show people just why they should wear one. Another hat that I replaced looked fine from the outside, but when I felt inside, I could feel dents where the bubble stuff had popped upon impact.

Explains a lot, come to think of it...

 

[viola]

I wear one in 99.9% of situations

In my teens and where I rode hats were worn mostly for competitions only

so I have plenty of very inappropriate pictures (cue: jumping with no hat on young horses). Very stupid it was and I make sure I have mine on - if I don't it will be on the flat on a horse I know well. But this happens very, very rarely.

 

[Drummer]

Hmmm same here KatB, I wear a beagler showing which is when my horse is normaly a bit more silly. But planning on getting a hs1 which I think I will start to wear for everything. A lot of shows I went to last year beaglers weren't allowed so will be more prepared this year as I can see that catching on.

 

[Cop-Pop]

By trendy new type do u mean the new pretty vented ones?

 

[darksided]

I always wear my skull.
I'd feel unsafe and uncomfortable without it.

 

[RunToEarth]

I wear a skull/velvet with all of the horses I ride apart from my mare by force of habit, unless siblings or younger kids are around as to set an example.

 

[Miss Tipps]

I'd never dream of leaving the yard without a hat - not only because my horse is a little insane when we go out alone!!! But because if ever I was in an accident involving another road user I would never want my injuries or death, to be on someone elses conscience when wearing a hat might have made all the difference to the outcome.

I always wear a hat for any fast work.

I wear a hat under sufference for any work in the school, because I know the YO would moan if I didn't.

I don't wear a hat for anything else; lunging, catching, loading etc.

I too have a 4 inch scar across the top of my head from a 'catching' accident years ago. At the end of the day, I just don't much like wearing a hat, I know its stupid if I analyse it, but there you go.

 

[susan_w]

The trouble is that the younger riders want to emulate the top riders, and you see a number of them riding without hats, so it becomes "cool"

The yard that we are at has a strict rule that everyone has to wear hats, but when people leave, the main thing that the teenagers seem to refer to is that they are then allowed to ride without hats at their new yards.......

My daughter is 18, and she's been brought up to know that she has to wear a hat, but she has been tempted a few times, when she hasn't had her hat on her and wanted to get on someones' horse. I'm sure she has done it, but she knows that I thouroughly disapprove.

 

[RunToEarth]

My parents often rode without hats at home, my dad sometimes even hunted without one.
I am 18 and know a lot better than to ride without one, I would never dare do anything constructive without one, however, having said that, I will often get on my old mare without a hat on to ride her down home, or around the farm, and she is the only horse I would ever entertain the idea on. Not because I am against riding hatless, each to their own, I just feel a little uneasy without one on, my mare is just the exception.

 

[meggull]

I always wear a hat when riding here but have recently been working in the states and didn't wear a hat- no one did. Funny as I would never get on without one here!

 

[ladyt25]

I am guilty of having ridden with just a cap on but generally cos I have either left my hat at home (so go past home to ouick it up) or I have got on and then realised have just got my cap on! i am also guilty of not always fastening the chin strap when riding my horse (although always fasten it if on my sisters bizarrely!)

I have fallen off without my chinstrap done up and to be fair the hat didn't budge at all to be honest but I have never actually cracked my head on the ground so haven't replaced a hat after a fall.

However, one thing that does astound me to be honest is how it is perfectly fine for riders in dressage, showing and even showjumping classes to not have to wear a hat with a chinstrap. Why is it allowed?! I would never not wear my hat properly at an event of any sort!

 

[asbo]

i wear a hat to ride, if my girls don't want to put a hat on, they don't get to ride

 

[Brontie]

Always, Even when im working and not riding.

 

[Orangehorse]

It is against the law for an under 14 not to wear a hat. Actually, would a 16 year old know that? Tell them it is the law.

I have ridden with a hat - both times it was a freezing cold day and I had my wooly hat on, and forgot to swop it with a riding hat and only realised half way round the ride.

Going back to the "if you fall off without a hat on you will be stupid for the rest of your life."

I had a McTimoney Chiropractor do me and my horse last week.
When he was treating my neck, the bridge of my nose was hurting. I mentioned this and he did something to the front of my face. He said that probably stemmed from when I fell onto my head, might have been 20 years ago. Yes, I have fallen onto my head on more than one occasion.

 

[Apalacia01]

Head scars from kicks are good ones! Mine is 1cm from my right eye....I was VERY lucky. Big chestnut mare...rusty headcollar = her bucking in my face. Eugh. Heads bleed...a lot...