Riding without a hat?

jacket potatoes or roast potatoes?

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JustKickOn

JustKickOn

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I don't "get" why people do it??
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IMO I think it's dangerous. People can say "Oh I trust this horse with my life", yet that doesn't mean the horse could spook causing people to fall.

Anybody know any reasons why people do this??

ETA- with the poll. Sitting on in a stable, contained area doesn't count. I mean 'riding' as in moving about, even riding down to field ect ect.
 
I am an adult, it is my choice whether I wear a hat or not and there are some occasions when I choose not to wear an approved hat. I only have to justify that decision to myself and my family.
 
FFS isnt this done enough?
WHy does this kind of thread always pop up every couple of months!

BTW i dont ride in my hat unless im on the baby. My decision and i request it to be left that way!
 
No. I cringe when I see it.
I don't care how experienced you think you are, how much of an armchair your horse is or how far away the tack room is - it's stupid, dangerous and downright daft.

That said, it's thier life, their skull and their choice, but I will have zero sympathy when their head gets trampled into the floor and theirbrains are spilling out of their ears.
 
i havent, to be honest its like me getting in a car without my seatbelt, it doesnt feel right and i do it automatically.

sometimes i do trust the horse i ride, but never totally. at the end of the day they are wild at heart and are unpredictable, and i quite like my head thank you very much
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same here - i only wear a hat at comps or doing something new or road work, once again my choice and it is my fault if i come a cropper and kill or hurt my self
sorry!! xx
 
i dont get how people get all defensive about not wearing a hat......its your choice so what? you do what you like, im not hear to judge anybody!
 
Sorry GlamourDol just starting a discussion.

A woman riding in the menage opposite the holiday home last week prompted my thoughts. I did say IMO (in my opinion). I fully understand that it is somebody's decision and they can justify why they do it, but I'd prefer to be safe than sorry.
 
Yep i ride without a hat. If i am on a young horse or one of the hunters i may decide to wear a hat. Otherwise i do not.

My choice, and funnily enough a 100 years ago no one wore EU approved hats, and no that many people got there
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head gets trampled into the floor and theirbrains are spilling out of their ears.


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Lou x
 
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i dont get how people get all defensive about not wearing a hat......its your choice so what? you do what you like, im not hear to judge anybody!

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Maybe because other posters feel free to declare that it is 'it's stupid, dangerous and downright daft.' That kind of comment could provoke a defensive reaction from most people
 
I used to ride without a hat on a lot, but someone had a go at me about it, and said something that made me change my mind and wear one from then on.

I gave them the usual thing about it being my own head etc, but they said I was being selfish and if I ended up with brain damage who would look after me then?
Sorry but I just couldn't stand the thought of being brain damaged, in a wheelchair with someone having to look after me 24/7.

I wear a hat all the time now. I have a small child to think of and a life that I quite like thank you...........
 
I've never ridden without a hat but for those who do - it's their own choice, not my place to go and give them an earful of abuse. They'll live the consequences of their actions.

It's when people ride with a hat and done up chinstrap but the damn thing's so loose that the hat's moving around & the chinstrap looks like it could strangle someone. But again rider's own choice.

The ONLY time I do cringe is when I see people riding on the roads without a hat (but that probably comes from having a friend who's come off on the road before)

This is in reference to the OP - if you were riding at a level of dressage (could be BE or BD) that required you to wear a top hat - would you refuse to do so?
 
I think it's dangerous. But that is what I think. I don't really think it's stupid as it's a persons choice ect but the danger factor is always going to be there for me. I always wear a seatbelt ect smoked once and been put off for life, do drink wine but not in excess and have a healthy diet.

I started the thread purely to start a discussion. No offence/aggro was brought into it by me. Apologies if people thought so.
 
And I agree 100% with you.....if you choose not to wear a hat then that is up to you! I'm not here to tell you, you should and do not need to know the 'how's' and 'why's' as to why you don't!
 
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This is in reference to the OP - if you were riding at a level of dressage (could be BE or BD) that required you to wear a top hat - would you refuse to do so?

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I doubt I would ever get there, I wouldn't refuse and would do the test, but would probably be very wary and concious (sp) of the surroundings ect. I really wouldn't know what I'd do unless faced with the situation in RL!
 
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Just made me think of something at, Hickstead the other week we watched Wayne Channon warm up his horse for the GP without a hat on. He put it on just as he went into the arena! Is that allowed?

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Yes! At internationals you do not have to warm up in your hat!
The only people who are required to, are ponies!
x
 
Yes I have ridden without a hat, but I don't think it counts when your feet are touching the ground....

Seriously, it's a personal choice, though I wouldnt ride 'properly' without a hat. I think it's a bad impression to give off to youngsters who may think it's 'cool'. Riding minus a hat does not mean you're a better rider and therefore less likely to fall off. It just means your family will have to spoon feed you and wipe your bottom for you for the next 50 years should your horse spook (and they're ALL capable of spooking and cathcing rider unawares).
 
well I do do dressage in a beagler, which is only freally for display. I do ride in a hat for the significant majority of the time, as TBH I find it really, really wierd to ide without one (I feel naked!)
 
ooops i remember i rode without a hat once, when i went swimming on a shetland pony
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i was 15 at the time, and 7 and a half stone so yes, he could carry me!
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ooops i remember i rode without a hat once, when i went swimming on a shetland pony
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i was 15 at the time, and 7 and a half stone so yes, he could carry me!
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I'm 26 and a 'bit' heavier than that
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. IMO it's easier to sit on the pony for a short while and demonstrate how to do something rather than spend hours trying to describe it.
 
well i have ridden with out my hat many a times.like others have said i'm an adult and the choice is mine. also after a friend mum came off a horse with an approved hat on and ended up having her life support switched off IMO they dont always save your life. i do wear a hat now more often but thats because its a yard rule. i tend to wear a baseball cap in the dominican republic when i'm on a stallion tearing around the mountains.however if my nephew is with me i will wear one as i'm not a hypocrite.so wont make him wear one if i'm not
 
Actualy....... just remembered I rode Halfpass's horse Murphy to the field the other day bareback in just a headcollar and rope and NO HAT
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When we got to the gallops I started to have a trot on him and he started bucking!!!

I managed to stay on him though..........just!
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But it IS interesting to find out why people choose not to wear hats.

Not in a 'you've got to explain yourself' way but in a 'different viewpoint that I'd like to understand' way. Eg, do you find a hat uncomfortable / too hot / too heavy / don't want to mess up your hair / like to feel the wind in your hair / like to feel a bit daring / like to be nonconformist...

There must be a reason that's worth risking your brain for?
 
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