Following on from some recent chats about hats...

F

Flicker

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2007
Messages
4,004
Visit site
...I just wanted to say that on Saturday I had one of the worst falls I've ever had, warming up for Dressage! It was worse than one I sustained coming off at full pelt gallop and certainly more serious than anything I've done showjumping. Probably because I was less attuned to the potential for falling off, and also because I was only riding in a snaffle, with no handy martingale strap to hang onto.
Basically my boy got overexcited with another spooking horse, had a tizz and threw me. Big style. Cue 3 hours in A&E having everything x-rayed from my pelvis to my neck.
Fortunately nothing broken.
What I would say though, is that if I'd not be wearing my hat, I would probably by lying in Walton Neuro Centre taking my lunch through a straw right about now. I banged my head hitting the deck with enough force that my chin strap has actually bruised me and I have taken a chunk out of the inside of my cheek. The hat was covered in arena surface.
I just wanted to say that we think Dressage is a 'safe' sport. It is, to a point. But accidents happen. Horses are unpredictable.
Please, please, don't be lulled into thinking 'oh, it's only Dressage, I'll be ok' and not ride with a hat. Trust me, if you could see my hat, and the state of me hobbling around now, you would probably change your mind.
If my accident, and this post, changes one person's mind about wearing hats, then it won't have been in vain.
WEAR A HAT DAMMIT!!
 
Amen to that statement.

Glad to hear you are ok though.

I have had 3 falls in the last 6 months and on every occaision hit my head hard and thank the heavens each time for my hat.
 
Well said, totally agree with you.

Also – OUCH!
shocked.gif
I hope you recover quickly. I’ve always said dressage is far more hardcore than showjumping, anyway
wink.gif
 
I had a bad fall a few years ago warming up for dressage.

I managed to find arena surface inside my hat afterwards!!!! It was a fully fastened fitted skull cap too!
 
Thanks for posting this, and I hope your bruises are better soon
smile.gif
I have been shot down in flames on here before because I have queried the sense in event riders doing their warm ups and dressage in Pateys (which are about as much use as no hat at all). 2 of my friends have permanent injuries having fallen off (sensible horses, doing nothing in particular) while wearing Pateys.

I've always said (and it's certainly been true in my own experience) that the worst falls happen when you are least expecting it
frown.gif
 
Glad your ok and none the worse. As others said, Pateys and Beagler hats, are they the same? Such a waste of time, Ive been at dressage before now and seen people wearing these hats and have thought they may as well not bother and all for the "look" What a waste of time these hats are and they are not up to British Safety standards, by wearing a sensible hat you have proved a valuable point. Hope you recover well.
 
Pateys are the really expensive, made to measure ones, whereas Beaglers aren't, but same difference really, no harness and not made to absorb impact when you land on your head
frown.gif
 
Ouch! Have a hot choccy and a hug hun. Hope your hobbly bits get better soon
smile.gif
.

I'd be dead if it weren't for my hat. A silly fall. Just one of those silly things.

Yup, if you want to wake up, if you want to ride your horse again, WEAR A HAT!

grin.gif
 
I was thrown on a road last year out hacking on a perfect gent of a horse. Was completely unexpected and my hat was cracked right through. That would have been my skull.

I also have no doubt that my friend would be dead after her fall Sunday had she not been wearing a correctly fitting hat. She was headbutted and then kneed and kicked in the head on the way down. I thought she was dead and if in any doubt it confirmed that I'd never ride without a properly fitting riding hat.

She however has absoloutely no recollection of her accident and then her flight in the air ambulance is is quite annoyed at the fact her memory has gone as she's never been on a helicopter before! I however, wish I had no memory of it as it really bloody scared the life out of me seeing her like that. If it wasn't for a riding hat I am certain I'd have watched my friend die on Sunday. Just isn't worth the risk no matter how safe you think your horse is!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top