How old is your hat?

[only_me]

seriously people!

How old is your hat, and when did you last replace it?

Do you replace it every time after a fall or never? or just after a big fall?

I bought a new hat at start of year as I fell off the week before and my hat flew off me when I fell whilst schooling

Was just thinking that we are always told that we should replace it every time we fall, but tbh I fall too often and couldnt afford replacing it every time

you?

 

[mazziek]

i have 2, my skull cap is about 6 months old i have not fallen out dropped it (touch wood) so it doesnt need done. My sj hat prob needs replaced as i have had 2 falls in it, although i can out side door on my butt! but i have dropped it few times, so i shall prob be replaced it at xmas! i watched the fredricks programme they did a special on hats and they showed a hat cut in half and where it has been dropped and the damage to the shell makes u think! if u have landed on it i would def replace it, better to be safe than sorry u only have one head

 

[Ladybird]

2 years this xmas, had a few bumps and it's a fairly ugly hat so may replace in the new year

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Like you O_M, I had a nasty fall last March - hat flew off my head before I hit the ground. Couldn't ever trust that hat again so I got a new one.

 

[PucciNPoni]

Since owning my hat, I've never fallen (well, once but I landed on my feet). I have had it bashed by branches while ducking under really low ones.

However, just on the basis of smell alone, I'm thinking time for a new one (once I start riding again, maybe).

 

[DW Team]

Hat is 2 months old replacement for one that I had my fall with when bashed my head hard. Saddler advised that due to the way they are made these days they should be replaced after any fall or being dropped.

 

[Ashgrove]

Had a fairly bad fall last summer, so hat was replaced then.

 

[peanut]

Confession time

I've had mine forever

but fortunately haven't fallen off too often

 

[Depp_by_Chocolate]

I got it last year but I don't really like the hat and I'm sure it doesn't fit properly but I was told it does so I want a new one.

 

[flintmeg]

its almost a year old as i came off on christmas eve, very kindly a child jumped out of the hedge in front of the spooky horse and we both had a close inspection of the road! so had to get new hat for christmas!

 

[milliepops]

I have 3 hats - my everyday one was replaced in May this year but the one I used before that was about 5 old and well battered

.
The other 2 are a similar age but only get worn for competition, and have never been bashed etc so I'm hoping they are still OK

 

[SNC]

I have just replaced my hat after my fall. The hat looked fine but after an overnight stay in hospital with concussion I replaced it anyway. Incidentally the docter said that my hat was probably the only thing that saved me from serious head injuries.

 

[Vikki89]

I have had my hat over a couple of years and have had falls in it

, 1 fall which was 2 weeks ago which i did hit my head.
I know i really need to get a new one

 

[algy666]

About 2 years old, have only fallen off once since then (I think). It was to replace my skull cap which I'd had for 7 years and had been dropped, kicked, and landed on

 

[zoeshiloh]

I have four hats

1) Everyday skullcap left at yard, about two years old. Had a fall last year in it, but didn't reaplace it... probably should have but don't use it much.
2) GPA hat, 6 months old, used as an everyday hat but leave it in my car as don't trust people enough to leave it at the yard. I leave my old hat at the yard to use incase I forget this one.
3) Show/dressage hat with leather harness, about 5 years old but never had a fall in it and only used for shows.
4) Beagler - about 20yrs old but just used for in hand stuff.

 

[scrumpygus]

I have 7 hats! I compete in different disciplines though so have different hats for different occasions.

 

[millitiger]

i don't think you can assume your hat is safe and up to standard just because you haven't fallen off.

i thought the padding degenerated over time and stopped being so effective?

my skull cap was bought in July this year and i replace every year.

 

[sillygillyhorse]

My skull cap I use every day is probably about 3 years old and I have just ordered a new hat for everyday use. Velvet hat I wear show jumping is brand new as previous one was nicked with my lorry, hat was a year old.

I have a 7 yo GPA which stays in the car but will go in the bin when the new everyday hat arrives. I do try to change my hat fairly regularly and always do after any fall where I hit my head. It can seem expensive but you only get one head.

 

[gillianfleming]

Oh dear, i have loads of hats but the one i used to all the time was 7 years old this year, was a charles Owen J3 and i bought it when it first came out.
I have another that is about 3 years old that i use as well but have just bought a new hat to wear all the time.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

My tack rm's full of hats but i only seem to wear one or two regularly!

older GPA is approx 5 years old and is hacking hat.
new GPA is approx 3 years old and does clinics and shows when i think baby pony is going to be full of it!!! (and riding clients horses that are a bit quirky)
Beagler is approx 5 years old and only does shows when baby pony is feeling chilled!
Top Hat is about a year old and thus far has only made an appearance at the area festivals!

TBH i rarely, if ever, wear a hat at home,when schooling on the flat. when i start jumping baby pony one of the GPA's will get a bit more use.

 

[Sessie]

This has just reminded me how much i need to buy a knew hat. I've had it 2 years and fallen off 7 times, 3 times i've hit my head quite hard.. shall go look on the net now

 

[Kat]

Oh dear, I'm feeling ashamed, my only hat, a champion skull cap is I think 8 years old.

I've asked for a new one for christmas!

The skull cap before that got replaced because it was no longer at current safety standards.

In 20 odd years of riding I've only had four hats I think....... I was one of the first people on our yard to have a skull cap though!

 

[kerilli]

i replace a hat after it has a significant bump, either from a fall or from me dropping it.
yard hats - HS1 - about 18months old. undamaged afaik. all falls in it have been onto my bum! LG100 - about 8 months old - as new.
comp hats on lorry - HS1 and LG100 - about 8 months - 1 year old, all undamaged. beagler, and top hat - ancient, about as much use as a cardboard box, but look lovely and only worn when i'm sitting on a very trustworthy one...

 

[pixie]

*cough* its probably over 8 years old now

Its my second hat since I started riding almost 15 years ago

I've only fallen off a couple time since I got it, and never hit my head. I always seem to land on my bum or hips, and now have dodgy hips :S
I should probably think about replacing it soon

 

[Henbug]

I don't normally replace after a fall (far too expensive and generally unecessary) but in last 8months ish have had to have 2 new hats (

) because both times I fell off and got knocked out. Figured my hat was probabley pretty damaged each time so had to get a new one, the second time it rattled afterwards so that helped to persuade me aswell

my previous one lasted ages.

 

[KatB]

My SJing/dressage hat is about 1 yr old, and has never been fallen off in.

My XC/everyday hat is about 2-3yrs old and will be replaced shortly

But have never fallen off on my head in it!!

It has just grown a bit and need to get a smaller size

 

[Faithkat]

I've still got my original velvet hat purchased when I was *ahem* 6 years old (which is well over 50 years ago). It wouldn't meet modern safety regs (you can bend it!) but my son uses it when showing in-hand as it's a much neater shape than modern hats, i.e. doesn't make him look as though he's got encephalitis.

Also have modern one though wth all the correct PAS kitemarks.

 

[tabithakat64]

I hack in a ten year old CO skull cap, I need to throw it out as I fell on it last year and it's a bit smelly.
CO Gr8 hat two years old, only worn for lessons at the moment, never dropped it or fallen off in it (touch wood).
CO Showjumper XP used for showing and dressage brand new and only worn twice.

 

[gina2201]

Mine is about a year old, decided that it was about time to replace it....not fallen off with it (yet!)

 

[vam]

Got a GPA which is about 6 years old and was worn everyday, only ever fell off on my butt.
As i've got no horse and will be getting a new one in the new year i thought id better get a new hat so just brought a PROtector. Wouldnt of been able to afford it if i still had a horse though.