No hat required if child being led?? Eh??

chickeninabun

chickeninabun

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Just looking through some local show schedules and came across the following:

MOUNTED FANCY DRESS – RING 2
FREE ENTRY ON THE DAY
ROSETTES TO ALL ENTRANTS
A KEEPSAKE TROPHY TO THE WINNER
AND CASH PRIZES TO FOURTH PLACE
SPECIAL PRIZE FOR THE MOST UNDERSTANDING PONY
Kindly donated by XxxX
To be be judged by the Show President, Mr Xxx Xxx This class is open to children aged 14 years and under.
The horse/pony may be led and/or ridden.
If ridden we recommend that a hard hat to a recognised BSI standard be worn.
(If, however you feel that the creative effect would be ruined by a hard hat, then we ask you make sure that the pony is led by a
competent handler)

I have highlighted the "offending" bit. Is it just me, or is this just not right??:confused: Surely we should be encouraging everyone to wear hats, not giving them an option at a public event:confused:.
 
I thought it was illegal for anyone under 14 [or 16 now?] to not wear a hat done up....or is that just on roads?

For a shows rules and regulations, I think it's pretty disgusting tbh. I know hats are personal choice etc, but you cannot possibly class young children into making that decision?

I'm not sure how they're getting away with that for insurance as ours specifies hats must be worn whilst mounted on a horse at all times throughout....
 
EEjits!!! Lots of ponies all dressed up in flapping/ noisy/ glaring costumes, but it'll be ok if someone has hold of it????????????? I couldnt hold a 12hh if it really wanted to go!!
 
I think that is disgusting! Its just spreading the belief that if you dont like how you look in a hat you shouldnt where one!! And at a public event too! Im lost for words actually
 
Binky01 said:
I thought it was illegal for anyone under 14 [or 16 now?] to not wear a hat done up....or is that just on roads?

For a shows rules and regulations, I think it's pretty disgusting tbh. I know hats are personal choice etc, but you cannot possibly class young children into making that decision?

I'm not sure how they're getting away with that for insurance as ours specifies hats must be worn whilst mounted on a horse at all times throughout....
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Last time I heard, it was just for road riding. And I agree about the show insurance to, its usually specified in their policy.

I absolutely agree with you, its disgusting, setting a bad example and was going to say the same but you beat me to it!. Young children cannot make an informed choiced (although I'm in the 'wear a hat' camp) and NO ONE can keep ANY animal under control 100 % of the time. A horse has the ability to injure and maim even if it never has in the past, no matter how long and wonderful that past is.

Here we go again. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. :mad::rolleyes:
 
MissSBird said:
Well it's the riders/parents choice. Seems perfectly acceptable to me!
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Agree, I did lots of fancy dress as a 3/4 year old without a hat and lived to tell the tale.

I don't believe it is illegal for anyone to ride without a hat, horse show organisers can impose any rules they chose, or not in this case!
 
Exactly, personal choice yes...but at a show of all places, it really is unacceptable tbh and that's what really got me.

I wear my hat most of the time, but will hold my hands up and admit I don't all of the time. Again. Personal choice! I used to be a case of 'oh it's a quiet one, so it's fine'
However, after having the last falls I've had on these 'quiet' ones with no hat. One being the kids mare rearing and flipping over on me out of the blue in the school. Then off HAIRY of all horses, where I actually hit the ground that hard onto a stony ploughed mound and split the two parts of my hat cleanly seperate.....that thinking has gone straight out of the window. I do still ride without one sometimes, but it's the situation at the time where I've had to get on and take over the ride there and then. If I had a hat on me, then obv, I'd put it on.

But anywho....that's me going off on my own thoughts for hats in general and personal choices.


For a show and a childrens class especially, it is completely disgusting.

I'm sure they'd be stuffed if a major accident happened and they were left fully liable...
 
I wonder how their insurance would stand up if a little kid had a accident? You should make sure little kids wear hats all the time , mine never get on there pony without a hat. You never know what could happen and at your local show a few years ago a RAF plane went past low and fast, iv never seen so many lose ponies and kids on the floor. You only need one kick in the head or something and it's game over .... And for what fancy dress. Disgusting and hard hats should be on at all times.
 
I think anyone that rides without a hat is an idiot. Whether you want to ruin your life or not, is your choice, but you ruin so many other peoples lifes. Stupid, STUPID people.
 
How the **** they managed to get the insurance issues with that sorted?!

If i was judging that class, i wouldn't care how cute or 'effective' they looked with out a hat, i'd be placin the ones that had one on.

Yes hats are a personal choice, over the age of 14/16, but the kids in the fancy dress arent old enough to make that decision. I don't always wear a hat (99% of the time i do) but it's my choice that i'm old enough to make, I wasn't allowed to get on with out one before i was 14, and tbh i still get in trouble with the YO if she catches me without at 22, But i always make the kids wear one. And telling them that it's ok to ride with out because it might 'looks better' isn't setting them a good example.

I just hope that the parents are sensible enough to think of their kids safety overe the possibility of a red rossette.
 
mm, that used to be pretty standard for fancy dress classes round here, at least in the not too distant past I think might have changed now. Though it might be normally worded more like the organisers strongly recommend the wearing of an appropriate standard hat. Or words to that effect.
 
ester said:
mm, that used to be pretty standard for fancy dress classes round here, at least in the not too distant past I think might have changed now. Though it might be normally worded more like the organisers strongly recommend the wearing of an appropriate standard hat. Or words to that effect.
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I think the BRC Quadrille has similar rules too.

I rode as a five year old in a fancy dress class without a hat...... looking back I'm amazed my mum let me..... :eek:
 
Putting to one side the insurance implications of injuries incurred if not wearing a crash hat, I don't believe it is actually "illegal" not to wear a hat. I do not think that anyone, child or adult, can be prosecuted for not wearing one.
 
I used to ride regularly without a hat I know think how lucky I was never to have fell :)
Anything can spook a horse/pony and just cause its being led doesn't guarantee the rider wont fall :(. I led a pony in a show ring pony was good as gold at home but got into the ring and done leaps and reared :( my daughter fell off even though I had hold of pony
I would never allow my daughter to ride with no hat. It may be parents choices each to there own but I could not live with the guilt if my daughter or son done damage that poss could of been prevented by a hat :D as well as the cost to the health service.
Not all leaders are going to be responsible, how many numptys do we all know or post on forums just like this and its unbelievable.
I think its irresponsible but that is just my opinion.
 
Ditto above.

Sorry, I think 'illegal' may have been the wrong word to use...I was coming from the insurance point of view that it would be nulled if an accident was claimed for with the rider not having a hat on. In ours it does anyway, it's a pretty standard part for insurance for shows and yard/employers insurance etc, or at least I thought it was! Clearly not though in this case.
 
Creative effect? Hmmmm. I would rather see hats being required for all, then everyone is in the same boat as regards making their hats fit with the costume, for example by modifying a hat silk for the desired effect.

I wouldn't be too impressed by a parent that let a young child take part in a competition like this hatless, I would think them really quite irresponsible. I have been pushed all over the place by a 14hh pony that really wanted to go somewhere and I am no wimp! It would only take a misplaced spook for a child to be hurt, personally I wouldn't think it worth the risk and would insist that hats were worn.
 
marmalade76 said:
Agree, I did lots of fancy dress as a 3/4 year old without a hat and lived to tell the tale.

I don't believe it is illegal for anyone to ride without a hat, horse show organisers can impose any rules they chose, or not in this case!
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Many moons ago when I entered fancy dress classes at the local pony shows no-one ever wore a hat and we weren't led either. I have also lived to tell the tale.

I know we have become a lot more safety conscious these days but I do think this is a fair statement. It is perfectly possible for the adult leading the pony to be able to keep a hand on the leg of the child to give them support.
 
I saw a child with no hat on being led on a horse at Smiths Lawn last year - they just leading it up the horsewalk back to the lorry after it had jumped. Next thing the horse spooked and bucked - and the child was straight on its head in the sand. Luckily no major damage - but does seem like an unecessary risk
 
Binky01 said:
Exactly, personal choice yes...but at a show of all places, it really is unacceptable tbh and that's what really got me.

I wear my hat most of the time, but will hold my hands up and admit I don't all of the time. Again. Personal choice! I used to be a case of 'oh it's a quiet one, so it's fine'
However, after having the last falls I've had on these 'quiet' ones with no hat. One being the kids mare rearing and flipping over on me out of the blue in the school. Then off HAIRY of all horses, where I actually hit the ground that hard onto a stony ploughed mound and split the two parts of my hat cleanly seperate.....that thinking has gone straight out of the window. I do still ride without one sometimes, but it's the situation at the time where I've had to get on and take over the ride there and then. If I had a hat on me, then obv, I'd put it on.

But anywho....that's me going off on my own thoughts for hats in general and personal choices.


For a show and a childrens class especially, it is completely disgusting.

I'm sure they'd be stuffed if a major accident happened and they were left fully liable...
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Now this I really dont get... you have fallen off horses you considered safe enough to ride without a hat? You have fallen off with such force that your hat was split into 2 bits? yet still you choose to get on a horse sometimes without a hat??????????? are you NUTS??? I hope a loved one isnt the one to find you with you head stoved in and brain leaking everywhere!
 
I said most of the time I will and do. I cannot stand riding without a hat and just last weekend refused to get on a horse to warm up at a show as I didn't have my hat. 99% of the time I do. However, as said, there have been one off times where I have had to hop on and just haven't had a hat there as I never planned on riding. Ie, last week. My horse was taking the mick when I was giving a lesson on him and rider just couldn't quite get him together, so I hopped on for 5-10 minutes and showed her what to do to get his buttons right. Her hat didn't fit me and I wasn't walking ten minutes back to the yard just to do a quick demo on how to get his buttons right. I am fully aware of the risk, but choose to take it if the occasion deems I have to and have no other choice. These occasions are few and far apart however.
 
Spudlet said:
Creative effect? Hmmmm. I would rather see hats being required for all, then everyone is in the same boat as regards making their hats fit with the costume, for example by modifying a hat silk for the desired effect.

I wouldn't be too impressed by a parent that let a young child take part in a competition like this hatless, I would think them really quite irresponsible. I have been pushed all over the place by a 14hh pony that really wanted to go somewhere and I am no wimp! It would only take a misplaced spook for a child to be hurt, personally I wouldn't think it worth the risk and would insist that hats were worn.
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^ Baaaaaaa :p

Kids are perfectly capable of gtting hurt in thei own child proffed home,hell mine has even managed a head injury walking down the street :o the idea of a child being allowed on a horse hatless simply to make a costume look pretty is IMO bloody stupid and reckless.

Even the most bombproff pony can have a bad day,and it only takes one fall to do serious damage....
 
Personal choice or not, I highly doubt the Insurance Company covering the Show would be happy, nor accept any claims that arises from this class, if the rider decides not to wear a hat.

idiots.
 
Totally unacceptable - and I can't go along with the "I used to do it and I was OK" ****. It is NOT safe for a child to be on a pony without a hat. People didn't use seat belts in the past, and we didn't all die; it used to be acceptable not to wear a helmet on a motorbike; it was not illegal to travel a small child in the back seat of a car without a proper seat or restraint, and most of us survived.

BUT Just because we USED to do something, does not make it right or safe. That is the most idiotic reason for being allowed to do something.

And for a FANCY DRESS CLASS!!!! How the hell can it be SO important for a child not to wear a hat for something so utterly unimportant in the general scheme of things.
 
I was thinkin bout this when i was down the yard, and wondered how exactly is being on a lead going to prevent a child from falling off....all it will stop is the pony taking off (and thats provided the leader is strong enough and holding on correctly) the pony is still able to rear, buck, spook, spin and make the attempt to take off, any of these things could cause a child to fall.
 
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