Hat or no hat?

PonyFeet10

PonyFeet10

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 September 2010
Messages
858
Location
Cheltenham, Glos.
Visit site
Ok, so I know many people don't agree with this but I do ride my own horses without a hat when I'm schooling in the field or exercising them around the fields. However I ALWAYS wear a hat when hacking on roads and at competitions (as there are always rules) and when I jump them at home. On the odd few occasions I have jumped at home without a hat on my very trustworthy jumping mad pony (who never stops at anything!)

Ok, so be honest!!!.. Do you or do you not wear a hat? If not where do you ride and what do you do with your horses?

Alex.
 
Absolutly always a hat. They aren't uncomfortable so I see no reason not to protect my head. Would hate to put my loved ones through the stress if I had an accident due to me not taking reasnoble precautions.
 
i never use to:eek:
when i was younger i used to ride western and also travell around the country doing rodeo shows and a bit of trick riding, i would have looked siily in a hard hat instead of my stetson.

then i grew up and had a family,:rolleyes:
now i always where one, i was happy i had one on earlier in the year when a new mare i brought threw me off with avengence,:mad: my head still heart a day later :D and that was with a hat on.
 
I love my kids to much not to wear a hat, I would like to see them grow up and for them to have a mum not a DEAD ONE and just a picture off me as a memory.
 
Can someone PLEASE explain to me why they think its ok to ride in a school or round the field without a hat on, but on the road they wear one? Your head DOESN'T suddenly become undestructable when you ride in said school/field, you are just as likely to suffer as serious an injury or worse.
 
mcnaughty said:
Rediculous post - sorry - your choice - safe or brain damaged/dead.
Click to expand...

^^^^^This - you've got to be supremely arrogant or monumentally stupid not to wear a hat. It was instilled in us as children (many moons ago now) that you didn't get on a horse without a hat.

I really have no time for people who use the argument that they haven't fallen off for x number of years / ever or, they trust their horse 100% etc.

When the worse does happen and you crack your head just stop and think about those who will be left looking after you / attending your funeral.
:mad:
 
PLEASE wear a hat AT ALL TIMES.

I can't stress this enough. I was hacking with a very dear friend of mine who trusted her horse enough not to wear a hat, and one day, something spooked her horse and it bolted, she came off and hit her head on the GRASSY TRACK we were on. I had to watch her die in my arms from a brain hemmorage (sp).

I don't want anyone to go through this. Anyone who rides without a hat is selfish and stupid. Sorry for harsh words but that day haunts me 15 years later. It goes to show that it doesn't matter what type of ground your on, if you fall with no hat, you could end up with brain damage or worse.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT, PLEASE DON'T TAKE RISKS. X
 
Ok everyone, I wasn't looking for an argument and as I am new I haven't seen any of the 'old' threads on here. I was merely asking what other people did as I was curious because I know most people do wear helmets. Also I am not using the excuse that I have never fallen off (because I have many times) or that my horses are 100% as I know they are not! Sorry to cause an argument and any mod is more than welcome to delete this post if they like. All I asked for was 'be honest, do you or do you not wear a hat and if not what do you do with your horses' not I don't wear a hat I want an argument about it. Again sorry if I upset or offended any body.

Alex.
 
I dont think you have offended anyone, its just this discussion has been done many times before and always gets very very heated with lots of people being really quite rude to others expressing an opinion.
 
benson21 said:
I dont think you have offended anyone, its just this discussion has been done many times before and always gets very very heated with lots of people being really quite rude to others expressing an opinion.
Click to expand...

Ok, thankyou! I just feel really bad now as I only joined yesterday so don't know what's been said already :( was just trying to start a nice convo not a mad one lol. Sorry again people!

Alex.
 
wear a hat, I recently fell off in a menage and fractured 2 ribs my head hit the floor and I saw stars even though I had one on. I would hate for my head to be in the same state as my ribs.

On another note my RI once slapped me round the head for getting one without a hat and said ' it would hurt alot more if you hit the floor'
 
Alex, could you explain to me the reason why you DON'T wear a hat? What is your reasoning?

I'm genuinely interested - not wanting to start a fight. xx
 
I never used to wear a hat when I was young (14) - a police man stopped me told me to get off the pony and escorted me back to the stables (had been hacking up from the fields) asked the YM to have a 'friendly' word with the liveries about being sensible! I see his point and after that I have ALWAYS worn a hat.
 
flamehead said:
Alex, could you explain to me the reason why you DON'T wear a hat? What is your reasoning?

I'm genuinely interested - not wanting to start a fight. xx
Click to expand...

Hello flamehead, I just want to make it clear that I have ONLY ever ridden without a hat on two of the horses I own (no other horse) as I feel I trust them and I do know them from the tip of the ear to the end of the tail.

However I am going to admit I have been very stupid to do so and some if the replies I have had have really knocked me to my senses! I just seem to get on and go without even realising/bothering I guess. From this moment on I will make sure 100% my hat is worn by me when I ride any of my horses and I'm not just saying it to stop the argument. So I thank people for their responses and I hope it influences others too!

Many thanks once again, Alex.
 
Also I forgot to add that another reason I asked was because it's not by law that any one over the age of 14 (please correct me if I'm wrong) has to wear a helmet when riding which also made me curious as to how many people did / didn't wear one :)

Alex.
 
I have a very well mannered mare who had a bad back last winter. She bucked me off twice in a very snowy month. I am still feeling the after-effects of those falls (well physio discharged me yesterday). Prior to that I think it was over 20 years since I had fallen off. It can happen to any-one, on any horse, on any ground, no matter how experienced they are.
I had a Clydie mare who once refused to move away from the mounting block when I had inadvertently got on without my hat (pure oversight, I certainly didn't intend to ride without).
OP I'm glad to hear that you've seen sense.
 
I'll start out by saying that I am PonyFeet10's dad so I very much have a vested interest in this thread.

She rang me up fairly unhappy that it had kicked off like this as she is new here and has no prior knowledge of what has gone before, then explained what the thread was all about. Naturally, my first thoughts were to say that was a daft thing to own up to (and more importantly to actually do!!)

After a good conversation to discuss the merits of what has been posted (and me bending her ear as a parent), she accepted this is really putting additional unnecessary risk into the pastime, so I for one am very pleased she posted this up and got a bit of a shoeing for it - (sorry Alex)

That said (and in mitigation to the train of thought), I'll add my own experiences to the mix.


Sometimes we do things which defy all logic. We live in our comfort zone with the things we do, and don't always stop to consider the consequences of our actions. I don't think there is anyone alive who doesn't to a degree operate in this way, be it anticipation of the behaviour of others around us when we drive through junctions or when we step onto a pedestrian crossing with cars approaching and expect them to stop and not run us over.

We can discuss how we can help to mitigate against a serious accident, but when they do happen, you really really really are in the lap of the gods as to how it pans out.

I ride large cc motorbikes on the road as well, and my friend was nearly killed (right) in front of me last year when a car coming the other way did a U-turn when we were doing 60 mph (the driver who caused it was a consultant doctor so no dummy, as was his wife in the passenger seat fortunately, as was another car driver following them by chance). my friend ended up in intensive care and a 7 hour operation through the night to repair the many major breaks he sustained despite wearing all the right kit and full body armour.

Had my friend not have had the riding skills to steer towards the back of the car in the very short distance he had to manouver (just clipping the bumper), the bike would have gone right through the side of the car (ford focus) and killed all of its occupants outright (including the drivers 3 year old son sat in the back)

My friend was wearing all the right gear, the bike was 100% up together with good brakes, tyres but circumstances overtook him and he ended up with life changing injuries.

However, whilst it didn't put me off biking as this really is something in my blood, it really shook me up, and did make me re-evaluate everything I do when motorbike riding on the road to reduce the risks.

I ask myself - How can I reduce the risk to me as a rider, how can I make myself more visible to others with high viz reflective clothing or backpacks so there is less chance they will say 'sorry mate, didn't see you', always riding with full body armour in full leathers even when it is ridiculously hot in the middle of summer, getting brighter headlights and daylight running lights on the bike, riding more defensively etc etc.

To live life is to take risks though, and we have to be honest that whatever gear you wear on a horse when you ride, from a riding hat to body protectors, to point-two air jackets, there is still a risk that it can all go wrong and the worst could possibly happen.

If we thought that deeply about the risks of life, we would never do anything at all - but I do agree 100% that jumping on a horse without the basic protection of a hat is something you or those around you could live to regret and absolutely not worth the risk :)
 
As someone who went to too many bikers funerals in her youth, I agree with the comments about bikes and the need to assess the risk, not just of equipment but ability and sense!
I always wear a hat, was made to even in the days when they were made of cork and were of doubtful protection :) We must all know that riding is a risk sport, but we can make the outcome of risk less catastrophic, by ensuring that our heads are protected to the highest standard of safety available and while not suggesting that we should all be totally risk averse we can make the risk level more acceptable.
 
My mum was telling me today about my daughters old teacher being killed in a horse riding accident, she wasn't wearing a hat. She was out for a ride in the school. Not sure of details, I presume horse spooked, not sure. But the fact she died should be enough to make anyone realise they are dicing with death and I really cannot see how someone could be so foolish.
 
When I was a kid (now 38) we never wore hats, never used to bother much with saddles either lol. We'd tear around full gallop without even one thought to safety.
But then most kids were the same with ponies back then, it was crazy.

I'm now a mum myself and my daughter has never been on a ponies back without a hat, she also has to wear a body protector out hacking and for jumping - which she absolutely hates but I stand firm on the rule.

Horse riding can be a dangerous sport, I broke my leg in 9 places in a riding accident, have been knocked unconscious from a fall when I landed on my head also.
So to me its absolute madness to get on a horse without the most basic protection of a hat x
 
Always wear a hat and body protector.
They fit they are comfortable, and i like being able to walk and talk and being alive, and if i spend 5 secs of my life putting my kits on so what it makes me happy and a bit more safe if i fall
 
Thankyou so much for your constructive posts! I always wore a hat when I was lightly backing my colt earlier this year for obvious reasons that he's young and unpredictable. I just didn't know what it was with the other two though.. I mean I have said before I would trust my life with my pony Jessie and in one way or another I really have been! Thanks again, these were the replies I was more looking for lol :D

Alex
 
I'm glad you've realised the importance of wearing a hat at all times Alex.

As a parent, I can only tell you it gives your parents peace of mind to know you are protecting yourelf.
Good on your dad for giving you a kick up the rear, he obviously loves you very much and I'm sure you'd agree, its not fair giving him the worry x

Back in my day, the importance of hats just wasn't understood, my Mum knew me and my sister were lunatics on ponies, but it was deemed as kids just having fun.
Thanks god the world has wised up and we now understand the risks x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top