Dr riders wearing protective hats...

They should just make it compulsory to wear a crash hat in all competitions. The FEI should be pressurised to make it compulsory too.

If everyone has to wear the same then fashion is irrelevant.

IMO it is no different to when safety belts were made compulsory. People moaned but got on with it and now it is automatic to put on the seat belt. I bet the same moans were around when motorcycle helmets became compulsory.
 
No teapot they did not (even though Kirsten did ride in the main arena with her helmet on in front of the judges, as there was a 10-minute break just before her test and she was allowed to go in there to complete her warm up). However, trust me, for an European show to see such a high-profile rider like Patrik wearing a helmet was still a HUGE shock!
 
only_me said:
But you could be sensible & try to manage the risks.
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This is it for me, it's about minimising the risks without compromising your enjoyment of the sport.

Personally I will always wear my hat and that's my choice though I do think my Mum would have sold all my ponies within about 7 minutes if she saw me riding without one!
 
I also believe in free choice, but we have to recognise that many of the free choices people make will be quite stupid and it's the responsibility of their friends, families and role models to try to get them to see that so they can change their choices.

Meanwhile the choice to compete under the auspices of an equestrian federation is also a free choice which people are free to reject. If the federation takes a responsible attitude towards what happens under its roof then that's part and parcel of the choice to participate.
 
ok so I measured my HS1 this morning round the outside which comes to 74cm. sadly hats are only made up to 65cms. I was going to see if you could get a top hat to fit over your normal riding hat (like a hat silk)!

Sadly it won't work! come on hat companies invent one!
 
I spoke to an ex Intensive Care Consultant this week, was actually amazed that he thought that riding was good for you:eek: (think its the first hospital doc who has ever said this to me:)) BUT only if you wear a safety hat to minimize the risks and body protector when necessary.

Having worked on a Neuro unit, a Neuro ITU (the devastation caused to the patient and their families by head injuries is heartbreaking) and seeing Oli Townends hat after his fall in Kentucky not wearing a crash hat makes no sense to me at all.
 
I just judge people who don't wear hats - they are clearly less intelligent than the ones that do so if they have an accident - well - obviously the stupid gene will make itself extinct. It's just natural selection. ;-)

(of course I'm partly joking - though not entirely - I do write the hatless brigade off as a bit thick. I'm sure this doesn't affect their lives greatly though)

I think it looks weird to not wear a hat and I think the new hats look great for dressage - so much more attractive than a silly top hat. No wonder the general perception of equestrianism is what it is...
 
dominobrown said:
Yes well riding is high risk sport, maybe body protectors should be compulsary. Maybe children shouldn't ride then. Maybe horses shouldn't hack on the roads. Maybe xc should be banned. Maybe cars should be limited to 60mph. Maybe moterbikes should be banned.

Life is high risk, thats what makes it what it is. I agree with wearing a hat but you can't force people to be wrapped up in cotton wool whether you agree with it or not. And even with all this protection, seatbelts, laws people still get killed.
You can't make a law for every hazard.
People should (and must) be able to assess risks for themselves and think for themselves.
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I have not read the whole link so sorry if i am repeating :)

I think the problem with the "elite" riders not wearing hats encourages the younger generation to follow suit. I was working for a sj and i always used to wear my hat (even walking the horses in the warm up) untill i got to a really big show with all the big names there, i felt a tit riding in my hat, i took it off the next day and felt even more of a tit for doing that, i would rather be a tit without brain damage!!!
 
Unfortunatly I don't think it would be possible to design a protective top hat.

Think about the shape of your riding hat. If fitted properly it should shape down and protect the entirety of the back of your head. A top hat doesn't cover the same area, thus couldn't really be made to offer the same level of protection. Also because it is tall, the protective powers at the top of the head would probably be minimal. I really can't see how it would work. But kudos to anyone who manages it!

As it stands I've always been for free choice. I don't believe that we should be forced to wear protective gear for anything. I have a brain and can use it.

I wear a hat all the time at home btw, and in competition. I think my Fiona's hat looks very elegant.

As it stands I've never come across the opportunity to wear a top hat in competition so I haven't ever actually thought about whether I would or not. I think it'd be an on the day decision for me.
 
Incidentally, I was reading the Italian rulebook yesterday and it clearly states on there that a helmet is prohibited in competitions at Advanced Medium and above -- if you wear a tailcoat (compulsory from Adv Med onwards in Italy), then a top hat must be worn. You cannot wear a tailcoat and a helmet in a competition arena. Doesn't this contravene FEI rules and, can a national federation's rules overcome FEI rules?
 
FrodoBeutlin said:
Incidentally, I was reading the Italian rulebook yesterday and it clearly states on there that a helmet is prohibited in competitions at Advanced Medium and above -- if you wear a tailcoat (compulsory from Adv Med onwards in Italy), then a top hat must be worn. You cannot wear a tailcoat and a helmet in a competition arena. Doesn't this contravene FEI rules and, can a national federation's rules overcome FEI rules?
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i'm pretty sure that FEI rules supercede National rules if it's an FEI competition. e.g. it would have been possible for Theodore O'Connor to have competed at Badminton or Burghley even though he's below the B.E. height limit for adult eventing. so, he wouldn't have been able to do a National competition, but he could do an FEI competition.
i could be wrong on that though...

the Italian rule is very silly imho. :( :( :(
 
Yes that must be true, I think I have read something similar. I don't think I will be competing under FEI rules for a while, yet ;) so I guess the top hat will be compulsory for me.

There are loads of silly rules in Italy, Kerilli -- the compulsory tailcoat at Adv Med level is one (only country in Europe, as far as I know...surely it's just there to give more money to manufacturers?!). Obligatory metal spurs in all classes, on horses of any age, is another one!
Both very hard to justify too :(
 
oh, the obligatory spurs thing drives me nuts too. a friend had an electric horse at 4* level, the last horse in the world to need spurs, but had to wear them. i don't think 'blind' spurs are allowed (the ones with nothing at the back at all, just a 1/2 loop of metal), which they should be. and if your horse doesn't need spurs, if you can give an accurate enough aid without them, all well and good, surely?!
ALL classes? even a Preliminary or whatever they call their lowest level? Sheesh.
 
Well exactly! Yes at all levels. Including on 4 year olds in YH classes!!

I would understand it if the rule was actually the opposite (i.e. no spurs allowed in Prelim/Novice level tests), as surely *anybody* should be able to ride any horse in a test containing only walk, trot and canter and basic lateral work without spurs... But why make them compulsory? What is the reason behind it?!
 
Just to throw something else into the debate (and for the record while 95% of the time I do ride with a hat I'm not in total agreement with taking away a freedom of choice not to wear one)....

People often chose to wear a top hat/beagler for vanity reasons - which I would to some degree include myself with but from the opposite side of things - I would be absolutely mortified if I had to have my lovely thick, long hair shaved off because I'd damaged my skull sufficiently to warrant surgery/stitches and more-so if it left me with scarring meaning it would leave bald patches.

Just another thought on the matter!
 
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kerilli said:
to show up those who have an unstable, uncontrolled lower leg, because they'll inadvertently poke their horse and might be sent into orbit? ;) ;)
makes it more interesting, maybe...
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Actually this is a very good point and might well be the reason. Even so, a judge should still be able to recognise an unstable, uncontrolled lower leg without having to rely on the presence of spurs!
 
Unfortunately I think it will take quite some time before top hats become banned by the FEI, if ever. It is 'traditional', and some riders may think that's one of the reasons that they shouldn't banned.

Something needs to be done at a national level before it will reach the FEI, and that may be slow to happen with BD and similar organisations globally.
 
Does anyone know how many riders have had injuries at affiliated dressage shows OR FEI shows, which could have been prevented by wearing a correct riding hat?

I have honestly heard of no incidents in the past couple of years, over here anyway. You cannot force someone to wear a proper hat on their own property, you can only recommend and advise, although the bulk of accidents would happen at home for dressage riders.

Even over here, if you are over 16/17 you don't have to wear a riding hat if you're on public roads?!? How ridiculous is that?
 
I feel really vulnerable with my top hat on. Have taken to warming up in the normal one and then just wearing the top hat for the test, I feel naked and weird with no hat on.

Thing is you are more likely to be injured riding at home and I am amazed how many people ride without a hat. I just reckon Courtney KD rode a lot better than me so why risk it. had a cracking fall off my dr horse in the arena at home a few years ago - he bucked me off and I halflanded on the fence, with my elbow and head taking the hit. The impact cracked my hat open (had to buy a new one) and I had concussion for 2 days. Pretty glad I was wearing a hat.
 
it was quite impressive kerilli - I gave it a squeeze and heard it crunch ominously and move rather a lot - figured it was knackered but cut the velvet off to take a look ... it had a big vertical crack about 15 cms long on one side - totally cracked right through the shell. It was the latest standard as well. Very very glad it wasnt my head!!
 
Saratoga said:
Be interesting to find out if all those who fully support wearing a hat at all times also wear a hard hat with tails, and a fully harnessed hat instead of a beagler. If safety it paramount, top hats and beaglers should also be banned.
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Totally agree with this. Top hats are utterly ridiculous IMO, and beaglers look horrid - all thin and flimsy. I always wear my hat when riding, and on the two occasions I did CIC* level, I was one of only very few who wore a normal harnessed hat and show jacket (no top hat and tails).
 
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