Riding hats - Is it true....

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mickey

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that peaked hats are thought to provide a safety risk that jockey skulls do not?
I have heard that if you land on the peak of a hat you may well break your neck??
 
Well out hunting last season, (at the second last meet I think...) I flew over Castle's head after jumping over a gate in bogland (it wasn't his fault, he landed where there was very deep going and stumbled and fell and I literally went flying), and I was wearing a velvet peaked hat... I landed face first onto a rock, and the peak actually prevented me from smashing my nose. If I was wearing a skull cap with a silk I would've been f*cked tbh...
 
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I remember falling on my face when peaks were more solid and not been able to get up as my hat peak had dug into the ground and pinned me there.

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Sorry I know it isn't funny but loooooooooooooooooool
 
I alwasy thought, especially XC, that if say, a peaked hat got a tree stuck under it, it couldn't just pull out like with a skull, it would just pull you back?
I am probably wrong
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I ride in both but prefer the peaked hats! Had a very bad horse that used to try and come up and hit me in the face the peak saved me everytime! If i remember rightly research was done in to Body protectors and thought to be dangerous as they can rise up and break yoor neck in a fall, but we still have to wear them xc!!
 
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I ride in both but prefer the peaked hats! Had a very bad horse that used to try and come up and hit me in the face the peak saved me everytime! If i remember rightly research was done in to Body protectors and thought to be dangerous as they can rise up and break yoor neck in a fall, but we still have to wear them xc!!

[/ QUOTE ] That makes me feel better about not using one for hacking when so many people say that is taking an uneccesary risk
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I read that years ago peaks were rigid and therefore a risk, but the modern ones are designed to crumple and absorb impact - much like the crumple zone on a car. I tested it last Christmas Eve. I came off initially hitting the deck with my foot, cracking a bone and damaging tendons and ligaments (big ouch!), then I landed flat on my face. The peak and the front of the hat crumpled, my face was fine and I didn't even have a headache! I was so impressed that I went out to immediately buy the same model
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On modern peaked hats, I thought the peak was designed to bend so as to not break noses / push your head back. ?

jencash - Cant ride in peaked hats for what? Im assuming you mean XC? Isnt that already a rule?
 
About 20 years ago that was true! Modern hats have the flexible peaks, having fitted hats I think there is a much grater danger of not having the right size hat on in the first place! Its amassing how many people want the trendy hat (as apposed to the more traditional one that fits them)
 
I always rode in my peaked hat but swapped to a skull when I started riding my youngter. I knew I was going to have some tumbles and felt safer without the peak- I have seen some nasty falls wher people hurt their necks

I suppose its luck of the draw ( or lack of it)
I must say I do prefer my skull now though!
 
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