KEEP YOUR HATS ON!

Didnt see your post until now, minesadouble - but similar sentiments.
Im only in my early 20s but I "inherited" the hat I rode around in at home from one of the older boys at the yard. it was one of those greenish velvet(ie very very faded and very very old!) ones with no safety standards whatsoever and certainly had nostraps. wore it for everything from backing to jumping to cross country - very silly of me I know. We did have skull caps or sj hats for Pony Club and SJAI but never wore them outside of those competitions. Even when we first got GPAs we all tied the straps up (ala Michael Whitaker).
These days I wear an upto standard skull cap as I mostly ride rcehorses. Always close the straps out of habit. Still have the GPA but rarely use it.

Yes, I did (naively)follow the example of the showjumpers I admired but that was an option on the yard i rode at - most yards these days will not under any circumstances allow anyone (young or old) to ride without proper headgear and rightly so. These days I have much more common sense.
 
For the what it's worth, I also wish they'd keep their hats on!

I do agree that is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child does not ride without a hat, however I can't imagine this job is made any easier when said child turns around and says '[insert adored celeb name here] does it!'....
What does the parent say then? '[Celeb] is stupid!' ???

I think when somebody puts themselves in the public eye, be it a showjumper, a footballer, a popstar, an actor, they do take on a responsibility to act in a responsible manner, especially when in full view of their adoring public. It may sound far fetched but I think it's similar to a child's TV presenter going to work, presenting a kids programme out of their face on drugs... it doesn't paint a good picture! Kids are impressionable. It doesn't hurt the celebrity riders to warm up with a hat on so I don't see why they can't do it when at a show... when at home, fine, it's their call, but I just don't see a reason for them not to set a good example.

ETA: Yes it's true that if we never did anything dangerous we'd never do anything at all but surely the idea, with such a dangerous sport, should be to minimise the risks where possible?
 
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I do agree that is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child does not ride without a hat, I can't imagine this job is made any easier when said child turns around and says '[insert adored celeb name here] does it!'....
What does the parent say then? '[Celeb] is stupid!' ???

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(Celeb of choice) doesnt have your mother,if you want to ride you put a hat on and do it up.
Simples
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My Daughter (nearly 13) always wears her hat and has very strong views on people that don't but she also looks on these riders as professionals and wouldn't just copy them because of who they are. It's just excepted that THEY do it and she wouldn't want to by choice.

Our YO, who she looks upto always wears a hat and hi-vis and thats a person she see's as a every day normal rider, who also competes and thats the kind of person who sets an example for everyone else in her eyes.

I don't mind that these riders take there hats off as a mark of respect but have brought my daughter up to ride safely.

I do think its down to the parents to make sure the kids are following safety precautions.
 
Admittedly it's a bad habit of mine not to always wear my chin strap fastened...
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I know - very bad!
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It's not a fashion statement reason at all for me - it's because I can't stand anything touching my neck - I start gagging! Weirdo eh
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But I always ensure it is for jumping at all times
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When I was younger, I was so oblivious to what other people did. I am my own person and do as I like regardless of what bad habits other people have. Celebrities never made any sort of impression on me. We did as we were told... end of... no back chatting saying 'celebrity' does it!
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Unfortunately some youngsters idolize people and mimic everything their idol does! This is where parents can only do so much! A girl at our yard was not allowed to ride without her body protector. As soon as parents weren't there she would take it off! xx
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It is considered polite for presentations which i dont see any problem with and cant see a rule ever being put in place as after working for several international riders i was the only one who used a hat at home so they will obviously do the same at shows.
 
Even when not riding it can be a good idea. Other day when loading horse I thought, do I wear a hat, nahh, then thought hang on, loading, horse hates loading, ok. I felt a bit daft, why I have no idea

Glad I did, got a nice couple of clonks on the head
 
It doesn't bother me at all the show jumpers doing it and for the presentation it is good manners. In the show hack classes quite traditional for the man to remove his top hat and salute the judge whilst trotting and bring horse to halt and why not, you only do it if your horse is well enough schooled. Like others I was a child in the era of Harvey and David etc but I wore a chin strap from the age of about 12 (was one of the first to do so I think). Watching them never made me think I didn't need to.
 
quadrille rules re hats

Riders may wear modern or period costumes. Judges may inspect linings of jackets, skirts etc. Period or military costumes should look authentic throughout, including footwear, hats, wigs, gloves etc.

It is recommended that costumes are designed which allow riders to wear protective hats when mounted, in line with rule G22.2. However, riders who opt not to wear a hard hat during dress rehearsal and the judging phases only, will be required to sign a disclaimer prior to the competition.
 
I have absolutely no problem with riders removing their hats as they leave the ring. It's tradition. This health and safety crazed country makes me mad enough as it is.

Parents seem to enjoy passing the buck to the media these days. If your child is copying everything they see on the TV, then it may be necessary to check your parenting skills are up to scratch and that they respect that your rules come first, or, perhaps they are too impressionable and should not be allowed to watch the TV, full stop. There are far worse things accessible to them than riders without hats.

Kids should then also be banned from watching Westerns etc, as these riders do not wear safety headgear. Oh, and make sure you do not allow them to watch the closing ceremony at Olympia tonight, as most of the riders in fancy dress will not be wearing it either.

And what about dressage in top hats? Or is that okay, because it's dressage...
 
I am sorry but if parents cant teach kids right from wrong then they shouldn't have them.... My father swore (& still does) like a navvy when I was growing up I knew they were swear words and would never dared say them (in front of an adult)...

Do as I say with kids all the way
 
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I am sorry but if parents cant teach kids right from wrong then they shouldn't have them.... My father swore (& still does) like a navvy when I was growing up I knew they were swear words and would never dared say them (in front of an adult)...

Do as I say with kids all the way

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please please please come back and repeat that once you've had kids. If you do, I'll give you a medal for being THE most perfect and successful parent ever. PMSL.

It's a bit like someone who's never ridden a horse saying "if I had one it wouldnt ever wear anything but a snaffle".
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besides as you say, you never did it infront of a adult, but sure as hell bet you repeated it infront of your friends....
 
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I am sorry but if parents cant teach kids right from wrong then they shouldn't have them.... My father swore (& still does) like a navvy when I was growing up I knew they were swear words and would never dared say them (in front of an adult)...

Do as I say with kids all the way

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I think that is a rather sweeping statement, have you never done anything 'wrong' despite being told that you are not allowed to? I think a parent can try and teach a child right from wrong until they are blue in the face, but kids will be kids and will break rules and do things they are not allowed to and things that may be 'wrong' because they want to, peer pressure, influence from media, etc if they are that way inclined.
 
The reason they do that, is because it is an FEI show and the FEI rules say that a hard hat only has to be worn in the ring while jumping. The BSJA and all the other assocations in Britain are one of the only to have the rule about wearing hard hats all the time.

Maybe we are becoming obsessed with health and safety as in the olden days hats were worn without straps etc. They are pros they are least likely to fall off.
 
I posted this separately later but I will add it here too.

I just wanted to explore what 'choice' means for those few individuals who claim wearing a hat is a matter of individual choice.
At heart it is but I would suggest only after you have checked with the following people and made sure they don't mind:

Your parents and family who may have to look after you for the rest of your life.
The people who may suffer financially if you are a breadwinner.
The people who may lose out on your contribution to life, financial and individual.
Your children, if you have them, who may see their parent impaired and who may have to become carers themselves.
The state which may have to support you.
The health professionals who may have to keep you alive or may have to ask your family for permission to cease efforts to keep you alive.

You can choose not to wear a helmet but you can't choose the nature of your head injury and your 'choice' may well leave many other people with no choice at all.
 
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I have absolutely no problem with riders removing their hats as they leave the ring. It's tradition. This health and safety crazed country makes me mad enough as it is.

Parents seem to enjoy passing the buck to the media these days. If your child is copying everything they see on the TV, then it may be necessary to check your parenting skills are up to scratch and that they respect that your rules come first, or, perhaps they are too impressionable and should not be allowed to watch the TV, full stop. There are far worse things accessible to them than riders without hats.

Kids should then also be banned from watching Westerns etc, as these riders do not wear safety headgear. Oh, and make sure you do not allow them to watch the closing ceremony at Olympia tonight, as most of the riders in fancy dress will not be wearing it either.

And what about dressage in top hats? Or is that okay, because it's dressage...

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I totally agree.
I always wear a hat but I believe that individuals are responsibile for assessing their own risk and making their own choices.
If these riders were jumping the course without their hats on then I think you would have something to complain about but I think this is just making a mountain out of a molehill.
 
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