For those of you that don't wear hats....

By eck i hope you feel ok soon! What a horrible accident!!!

It's only 8 weeks or so since my beastie fell on the road, complete freak accident and something that couldn't have been predicted or prevented! I wasn't injured badly though, although there is a dent in my hat where i hit the concrete!

These idiots that decide not to wear a hat are selfish....yes they're the ones at risk physically but they won't be the person dealing with a traumatic accident situation or nursing anyone in a vegatitive (sp) state.

I've had to look after a disabled (and slightly mentally not quite there anymore) person and although that person could walk, it was not easy, it was heartbreaking and it was restrictive on a lot of levels. For someone to take a risk that might put them in that state permanently for NO GOOD REASON (well, apart from looking "dead" cool :rolleyes:) is just beyond me.
 
Here here! Well said! I hope you make a speedy recovery!

Theres this IDIOT who I see riding on the road during morning rush hour without a hat. I know him and I've pulled him up on this before and been given sarcastic answers but its crazy!
 
Poor you, hope you feel better soon and please will you give your Mum a quick hug from me - you probably frightened her half to death :)
 
You were very lucky, depending on how you look at it that is, all the best to a speedy recovery, lets hope at least a few people who don't normally wear hats when they school start to do so from reading this.
 
I am really sorry to hear about that and do hope that you feel well again soon(ish). There's lots of good advice on here as well.

My daughter can be a bit silly over not schooling in a hat, and her mare although well behaved, can be a little bit silly in the winter and I have been known to drag her off her horse and shove a hat on (yes, literally) her. Since she had a fall at Portman horse trials earlier on this year which caused her HS1 to crack in two, which just gave her a bad head for a few days, she has changed her tune.

I always wear a hat, I am a bit evangelical about it and I thankfully have never had an accident like yours. It makes my blood boil to hear comments on this forum like 'my head, ny problem', or the one that makes me see red big time 'Why should I wear a hat, my horse has never bucked, reared or spooked'. There is always a first time.
 
I think after the recent death in the SJ world, people should be more aware of wearing a hat - that horse didn't rear, buck or spook - it went down - nothing could be done to predict that. Luckily the rider wasn't hurt, but instances like that are what you wear a hat for on a 'bombproof' horse.
 
Sounds awful, poor you. And totally utterly agree with you - everyone should wear a hat. Even if you cant be bothered to wear a hat, at least do it for your friend and family who would end up looking after you if you ended up with severe brain damage.
 
oh my lord. how awful that must have been for you in the moments before and also for the standers-by and agree with poster who said give your mum a hug (when your allowed!) I really do hope you are ok, take things slowly.
I have worked on a trauma head injuries unit- saddest few months of my life. Not for the people with the TBI but for those who have to pick up the pieces of someone elses accident.
I would never dream of riding without a hat even on my little 12.2 pony! My OH cycles and i never liked him going out without a helmet on (excuse was head gets too hot in summer) after that work i dont let him out of house on his bike without a helmet on! I dont want to have to spend the rest of my life looking after him because eh made a stupid choice.
New hat for xmas anyone??
 
there are a million reasons to wear a hat, and no reasons not to wear them, so i always wonder why?!! my yard manager does not wear a hat when schooling, it drives me insane every time i see her ride i just want to scream JUST PUT A *******ING HAT ON!!!!!
 
Poor you.. What a fright! Wishing you a speedy recovery!!

On another note, just plonking a hat on isn't always good enough... It needs to fit with a tight chin strap! The story being that a couple of years ago my daughter was riding her then baby pony. She hates having the chin strap tight and it was oldish so the lining had completely expanded and probably a little loose. Bird flies out of hedge and pony goes completely nuts.. Bucks and bucks, she falls off... Underside of the hat lands on the fence, so rips hat (and a lot of skin) off her head... Luckily the damage was fixable... A bad concussion but unfortunately for her some bad scarring to the side of her face... So always make sure your hat fits properly! I'm totally for BD banning beaglers and such like!
 
Get well soon, people who don't wear hats are idiots in my eyes, an animal is still unpredictable and can spook or say have a heart attack and drop dead, so what happens to your head then when it's smashed off the floor..??? Who is left to pick up the pieces after your death through being a total irresponsible fool..?? Or look after you due to brain damage..?? You nearest and dearest. It's a very selfish act and makes my blood boil. If you not responsible you shouldn't be allowed to own a horse. Rant over :-) - ps hope OP has a speedy recovery, let's hope it opens some people eyes.
 
With regards to not wearing a hat, check out this article and how different it could have been if it had been normal auction and the rider hadn't been wearing a hat
http://www.eurodressage.com/equestr...ion-rider-falls-horse-and-knocked-unconscious
Now she was riding a horse the previous month that sold for 900K (Euros), so not an amateur rider by any means, this is the first time riders have worn hats during the auction, makes you think.
 
Ouch :( Sorry to hear about your terrible accident - wishing you a speedy recovery!

In 2009 I broke my back falling off my previous horse - doing a 'safe' excercise. Lateral work in walk in the school. The horse wasn't new to me, there was nothing different that day to any other day. I was simply plodding round the school asking for the odd leg yield when my chap tripped, spooked himself and pelted off flat out towards the arena fence. I stupidly thought he would stop before the fence but didn't expect him to spin 180 degrees and dump me on the fence.
My head hit the vertical post fist then my back hit the horizontal rail then I blacked out.

When I got to A&E I had numerous x-rays to determine what was broken - considering how bashed my hat was (mum had taken it into a&E with us) the Dr's couldn't believe I only had concussion and not a more serious head injury. Sadly the same couldn't be said for my back with 3 broken vertibrae..

Now I don't even get on ANY horse without a hat (previously i wouldn't have put one on if i jumped on my horse in the field/stable etc). The consultants told me again and again while i lay in hospital for weeks that without my hat I would have been dead.

A correctly fitting hat with a 3 point harness is an absolutely essential piece of kit. Anyone who chooses not to wear one is taking un-necessary risks. I'm very glad BD are bringing in the hat rule and for those who so bitterly oppose it, I actually think the Charles Owen Fiona looks nicer than my old beagler!

So again speedy recover to OP, and the rest - please wear a hat. You might not be as lucky.
 
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