Fixed peak hats

[JenJ]

I know hats are a controversial subject on here, and I'm not suggesting anyone 'should' do anything, I'm just sharing my experience.

I almost always wear a hat, as I consider myself safety conscious (had too many broken bones to be complacent!) and for visual preference chose a fixed peak hat to wear. I had seen they were banned in certain competitions, but had never really understood the danger of wearing them.

Until Tuesday. My young ex racer took off and I couldn't stop her. Running out of uphill field before a slippery slidey downhill turn I chose to bail out in the hope she would be able to sort herself out without me on board (she did). I have no recollection of it, but it seems my plan to bail out didn't extend to how I'd land, and I came round an hour or so later to be surrounded by paramedics and friends all looking very concerned.

Was extracted from the field by a fire crew, blue lighted in the ambulance to a specialist hospital and had X-rays taken of my head, chest and pelvis, plus a ct scan. Initially they thought I'd broken my neck, but further examination the next day revealed it was ok. What I did have though, was a small bleed on my brain (listed on my discharge notes as a 'small left frontal lobe traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage' if any medics are reading...).

I'm so relieved that I was wearing a hat, as although I fell onto soft mud, given that it was forceful enough to give me a brain haemorrhage, I dread to think what the effect would have been if I was hatless. However, as the bleed was in my frontal lobe it was most likely caused by the force of the fixed peak hitting the ground and pushing back into my skull. If I had been wearing a skull cap with a silk on, I may well have escaped all injury.

Now I'm not for a moment saying that everyone who wears a fixed peak must go out and buy new skull caps, but please note my experience.

I am going out and buying a jockey skull cap and a silk with flexible peak before I ride again. I was lucky - I just have a banging headache, nausea and dizziness, but I won't push my luck by riding in a fixed peak hat ever again...

 

[Bayneddie]

So sorry to hear of your accident, sounds quite frightening. Hope you're better now.

I absolutely know where you're coming from though. I fell off my bouncy 17.2 horse after landing a jump having already lost my stirrups (so I thought I'd got away with it) but then he suddenly ducked right and I went out the left side exit. My fixed peak on my hat broke my nose, I've never seen so much blood from such a small orifice in my life. Went straight out and bought myself and my 6 year old daughter new skull caps and silks. Would never ride in a fixed peak again, but there are so many alternatives now - it doesn't have to be a beautiful hat or a plain, ugly skull. I've got my eye on a nice Casco like Carl Hester - comes with a flexible peak but (I think) looks better than a skull.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Hope you're feeling better now JenJ. Sounds nasty.

Interestingly, I did know about the dangers of fixed peaks and when I was riding my lively 4 year old after backing, I did wear a skull cap for exactly the reason you mention.

However when my 14 yr old mare decided to have an out of character moment, I came off face first onto tarmac and the peak saved my face. Guess it depends on the angle of the fall.

 

[Bazzel]

That sounds awful, I hope you make a full recovery soon.
I have taken to wearing my skull cap for all competitions now as it is smarter and my peak has had one too many falls to be considered safe, but I will say it saved me twice from a broken nose when an old horse had a tendency to buck me up his neck and rear, although obviously I would rather a broken nose than a severe head injury.

 

[happyclappy]

hope you are feeling much better now. i also wear a peaked riding hat but always use one with peak that quickly comes off on impact

 

[Cortez]

A very long time ago, a friend of mine died as a result of wearing a fixed peak hard hat (she broke her neck after landing face first). I very rarely wear a hat at all, but if I do I ALWAYS break the peak before I ride.

 

[JoClark]

oh wow, glad your ok.

I have a Charles Owen showjumper, maybe ill get a skull cap for hacking etc and keep my other one for flat work.

Cortez that's awful, you never would have thought

 

[Templebar]

I wonder if there is any difference as to the length of peak. My old hat had a very big peak but my hat now has a very short peak, just enough to keep the sun out of your eyes. I wear a skull cap for competing and recently wear it most of the time as now worn in its comfy.

 

[Fransurrey]

I'm another whose fixed peak saved her face landing on tarmac. I read about the 'dangers' after that, but given my fall, I decided it was all swings and roundabouts!

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

I'm glad you are relatively unscathed

I would never wear a fixed peak for XC, yet wear one everyday for other things - go figure However, not taking away from your experience, but I was of the understanding that the new peaked hats had to have peaks that detached or crumpled on impact now? I know mine is very stiff foam, rather than the old fibreglassy plastic stuff they used to be.

On a side note - there is a lady on the yard I am on that looks like a character straight out of a Ginny book, complete with 1980's skull cap with chin strap. I cringe, but guess better than nothing!

 

[pansymouse]

OP, very interesting you should say that because I came off a couple of weeks and think the peak was responsible for the damage to my nose and like you for the first time I'm considering a scull as my replacement hat.

 

[Darremi]

Poor you. That sounds traumatic.

Always thought the fixed peak hats looked a bit dangerous.

Not used one for ten years simply because I found the peak completely impaired my vision for jumping and XC!

 

[Cheshire Chestnut]

I'm following this thread closely because I am just about to purchase a new hat and have no idea what to go for. I have had a fixed peak hate for a while now, however I need a new one and don't know what to go for. When I bought it, there didn't seem to any stories surrounding them so it never even crossed my mind about the potential hazzards - I think I bought it because it was in the sale and fitted well.

There seems to be many arguments both for and against fixed peaks (con - neck, head injuries, pro - saving from serious facial, front head injuries). Interestingly, my dad has been a paramedic for 38 years and said that 90% of the horse riding accidents he attends are caused by the lack of a hat, or an ill fitting one that has slipped or caused a head trauma by being too big and the skull has rattled around inside it.

Suppose whatever I end up decided on, the most important thing is that it fits correctly. Any advice welcome though

 

[weebarney]

I thought fixed peak hats aren't really fixed anymore?

 

[RunToEarth]

JJ - I saw your updates on FB - have you had to cancel your trip away now?

I had a bad fall a few years ago and the fixed peak broke my nose, but the low rise on the back prevented a lot worse! It is all swings and roundabouts - head injuries are not fun!

 

[Goldenstar]

I thought fixed peak hats aren't really fixed anymore?

Me to ,just had a look at my hats with peaks non of them are hard enough to cause an issue when falling .

 

[legend22]

Look at ProTector Hats, these have a peak but am sure you can use then XC etc. They are also a very high safety spec. Worth a phone call as I have always found them very helpful.