Riding without a hat

[Cash]

Thought it would be interesting to see results.

 

[Cash]

P.S Hope poll options are ok, thought that covered most bases?

 

[catdragon]

I never ride without a hat. The ONLY time I did was when I was in Maui, I took a day trip riding western I hadn't packed my own hat and the ranch didn't supply them for anyone... so if I ever do it again, I'll take my own hat!

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I used to ride to field ect without a hat but i would never ever ride without a hat now

 

[Dogbetty141]

Never have never will! my life is worth more than that! You just never know what will happen! Think of all the people who would be devastated if you died for a stupid thing like wearing no hat!

Liz

 

[superpony]

When i was a carefree teenager i used to ride back up the field in a headcollar and no hat. I started wearing a hat when i realised that was stupid. And a few years ago i had a nasty accident out riding. If i hadn't been wearing my hat i probably would have been dead. So I never ride without one now, it really brought it home to me.

But I don't have anything against people that ride without a hat, its individual peoples decisions.

 

[charlie76]

Uh oh, here we go!
At home I ride in a skull cap as I have to as we are a BHS approved riding school.
When competing (dressage) And when having lessons away from home I ride in a beagler which is basically no different to riding in a baseball cap,therefore I haven't voted.

 

[Cash]

When competing (dressage) And when having lessons away from home I ride in a beagler which is basically no different to riding in a baseball cap,therefore I haven't voted.

Dammit, knew I'd left out a 'beagler' option

 

[251libby]

I vote, have done but wouldn't now because I occationally hope on without a hat on the way back from the field but would never school, hack or jump without one it's just too risky. On our yard you cant ride without one either which I think is good as there are alot of impressionable young children around but loads of people ride without it done up....whats the point of that!!

 

[zoeshiloh]

I can count on one hand the number of times I have ridden without a hat - I wont lie and say never. I rode to the field twice bareback in a headcollar wearing a baseball cap before I thought about it and realised I had nearly no control if the horse did do something. I sat on a horse once, started to ride out of the yard thinking "I'm forgetting something" remembered it was my hat, got off and went and got it. I did ride my trainers GP stallion without a hat though... I'd just popped in to see her on my way home from work and she was just about to get on him (she had ridden about ten horses that day) and she asked me if I would ride him instead... I didn't have a hat with me, and she doesn't own one (apart from her show hat) there was no way I was going to say no to sitting on him (plus I'd known him for a few years and knew he was as safe as hatless can be).

Now I would never ride without a hat - I have worked on some top dressage yards and actually been laughed at by other staff/trainers for wearing a hat, but IMO it isn't worth the risk. I've been knocked unconscious falling off whilst wearing a nearly brand new hat, in an arena, so I would hate to think what could have happened!

 

[FionaMc]

As others have said, I used to quite often be found galloping around the field/paddling in streams etc. bareback in a headcollar with no hat. No chance of it happening where we are now, although I'll be honest, if I had my only place I can't guarantee that in weather like this I wouldn't be tempted to have a hatless meander to the field.

 

[Kat]

I'd like to be able to say no never, but in actual fact I did ride hatless when abroad. It wasn't a riding holiday, I was on a package holiday with my parents, I was about 11, I hadn't got any riding gear with me when someone at the hotel organised an unofficial trip to go riding. The centre didn't provide hats and no one wore them. I rode in normal trousers and shoes with nothing at all on my head.

Nothing went wrong but I wouldn't do it again I don't think.

I took my hat with me when I went on a riding holiday to spain a few years back as they didn't provide hats. I was slightly concerned when I rode in the USA as I hadn't got any gear with me but they provided hats for clients so the issue didn't arise. In the UK I would always make sure I had my hat with me if I was likely to ride.

 

[Carys]

The only time I ever had was on a western holiday in USA - rode in a stetson (but used a hard hat doing same over here !!). Felt odd at first but after first ride didn't think anymore about it. Wouldn't even consider it in UK.

 

[charlimouse]

Similar to Charlie76. I always wear my HS1 at home, and also for all lessons. BUT when I do dressage (and it is allowed) I wear my Beagler, but only on certain horses, and never with a young horse, or unknown horse. Therefore I havnt voted as there wasn't really a suitable option!!!!!!!!

 

[Captain Bridget]

I have ridden without a few a few times whilst riding western in Canada but I felt incredibly safe. I have also ridden to the field in a headcollar, trainers and no hat but that was literally a minute or so.
I would never hack without a hat here because of the roads and things, in Canada it was plains, wooded areas, nowhere near roads. It's not really an excuse, but I knew what I was doing, I understood the risks.

 

[Toffee44]

I have only once ridden without a hat and it was a pure accident. I was in a rush and was literally gonna have a quick trot and canter around the set aside next to the yard. Anyway got half way round and thought my head was cold....no hat.

 

[zandp]

I've done it twice as an adult, once in France riding Western - didn't know I'd be going riding and so hadn't taken it. A few years ago I was schooling my older horse, all through the session I thought something was wrong but couldn't work out what. Another livery came over for a chat and asked if I normally rode without a hat.. I'd totally forgotten to put it on.

 

[teddyt]

For those who have mentioned that they have ridden abroad without a hat for various reasons...
I knew a girl who died due to head injuries following riding on a beach on holiday without a hat and consequently falling off.

People drive without a seat belt just as people ride without hats. Its not until they learn the hard way through personal experience or someone they know that they take notice.

 

[monkeybum13]

I voted "never have and never will" although I can only vote for the first part as I have never ridden without a hat, but in the future I may do, for example wearing a beagler wouldn't count as a hat as if you fell it wouldn't do much.

 

[Sheri]

I have ridden in and out to the field without a hat and prob still would!

However and this is where I totally contrdict myself

I would never actually 'ride' without a hat and I don't think horse magazines should print pictures of people who do

 

[Puppy]

I have done on a very few occasions, but I wouldn't now. I've spent the last year and half trying to get over a head injury, I sure as hell don't want another one!!

 

[millitiger]

I sometimes used to ride Pilfer on the flat at home without a hat but haven't done that for a good 5 years now.

i always, always wear my hat now for riding.

 

[otter2]

i've not worn a hat when riding my friend's 13.2 back from the field, but that's the only time i've not worn any form of hat.
when i went on a ranch holiday i only wore like their style "cowboy" hats
but apart from those 2 exceptions i always have and always will wear a hat!

 

[jessicabeau1]

I dont wear a hat simply due to the fact that I get bad headaches and my head gets too hot and I cant focus with any hat on my head!!

 

[JessnGeorge]

I used to, occasionally, up until about a month ago. I was driving to the horse (we're on a private estate) and saw my stepson riding his quad bike with no helmet. I therefore jumped out of the truck and told him in no uncertain terms to put it on. I, then realised I had left my hat at home and obviously because I had told him off had to go back and get it and wear it (would have ridden without otherwise).

Cut a long story short, the horse had a bucking fit and I fell off and knocked myself out. Won't be riding without one again.

 

[VioletStripe]

I have done once at my friends yard, on her own pony, only to take down to the field though! xx

 

[RSL]

The way I look at it is, If I was to lose my life, where would my horses end up? Not something I am willing to take the chance on, they mean far to much to me.

I won't lie, when I got my first horse I used to always ride without a hat, round the roads in just a head collar and lead rope, I was 13 at the time but then I grew up, I wouldn't ride without a hat now, If I did its down to me forgetting I didn't put it on!

 

[Lexie81]

nope, don't do it and wouldnt do it. Even as a kid/teenager we were under the watchful eye of a very responsibile YO who would never have allowed us to go without. Plus my parents would have actually killed me, they always warned me they would sell my pony if they ever caught me without one.
It's just not worth it. riding is dangerous as it is, why make it more so?

 

[NeedNewHorse]

QR; Hell no, would never ride without a hat... I actually fall off regulary with my horse (unfortunately) so just would never risk it. Plus I just wouldn't feel safe, like getting in a car without the seatbelt on - Just doesn't feel right.


I saw a chap the other day riding down the road near where I live with no hat.. And I just thought what a plonker. I really just do not see the point!

x

 

[Izzwizz]

I dont wear a hat simply due to the fact that I get bad headaches and my head gets too hot and I cant focus with any hat on my head!!

Maybe if you got a properly fitting hat you wouldnt have a headache. You would have a bigger one if you knocked yourself out by falling off. If your head gets too hot get yourself a Champion Ventair hat, lets air through to cool your head.!! If you cant focus with a hat on your head then maybe you need glasses. Better still dont ride without a hat on then you wont cause anyone any unnecessary work eg Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics. Never heard such feeble excuses for not wearing a hat.!! What about your family if the worse were to happen eh??