Nancykitt
Well-Known Member
I don't understand it - if he wears a hard hat for XC and showjumping is he happy that he doesn't look a pillock in those two disciplines? Why is it just dressage where he thinks he would look a pillock?
Definitely his choice, but I do feel he would have been better off not sharing that comment, given that he is a role model to many youngsters. Sometimes people say things in conversation without really thinking, and I do hope this was one of those occasions.
He seems to forget it wouldn't only be himself that would be affected if he fell off and injured himself, his family, his groom's, his owners, his horses. It seems to me quite a selfish decision he has made and a very thoughtless comment.
The dressage team may have looked like pillocks, but at least they came home with a medal!
I'm another who thinks he in particular looks faintly ridiculous in a top hat. I also never get the disparity between dressage and xc, in xc all everyone talks about is safety, yet in the dressage they seem to forget all of that and don't even wear a proper hat.
I also agree with you SF about WFP (and all tall men, if I'm honest) looking ridiculous in a top hat. It makes them look like they need rollerskates
Her maj hasn't just had a recent brain injury though..
His head his choice, but not the best choice of words IMO, especially when many would think they look more pillockish in toppers anyway.
Could someone please show me where I can get hold of a copy of the contract that riders have to sign to say they will become roll models when they reach a certain standard? Just can't find it online anywhere
I may or may not disagree with his comment but I can see how he could feel the dressage was significantly low risk when compared with what he has to tackle the next day. Each of us has to decide the level of risk we are prepared to accept and act accordingly. If parents feel his actions / statement send the wrong message to their kids then it is their responsibility to explain to the kids the folly of WFP.
His choice as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of top riders school at home hatless, we still wear toppers for evening performance showing.
In addition WFP is the same age as me and when I was riding as a child hats were useless anyway and it was more usual to ride without than with for adults.
When I was showing LR and FR in the 70s when you bought a new riding hat the first thing you did was cut the strap off! Times have changed massively since then.
Riding a dressage test without a hat will be statistically far far safer than driving 100 miles on a motorway and we all do that. You may say it's an unnecessary risk but it's his risk to take and I don't think he should be judged for that.
I'd also be pretty peeve if I had been involved in his medical care over the last year .
The dressage team may have looked like pillocks, but at least they came home with a medal!
.....
...... Improve yourself and get a horse suited to your ability.
I agree,what has happened to freedom of choise everyone is going on about!
No, wearing crash hats with tailcoats is not a breath of fresh air, it's b****y ridiculous. Yes, horses can go splatt at any moment, but it is far more likely when engaged in running and jumping, and it is each person's choice as to what he/she opts to wear whilst riding unless venue or competition rules require a hat to be worn. I detest the nannyish insistance by the hattists that everyone join in because it's good for you and if the ickle kiddies see someone without their heads enveloped in a giant bubble of styrofoam they may rebel and want to ride with the wind blowing in their hair. People who choose to ride without head protection have often survived (see Queen)! But most of all, they have weighed up the consequences and decided that they will take the risk. And doctors, nurses, etc. are probably quite used to seeing people with bits hanging off due to all the things that happen in life. If I wore a crash helmet whilst driving my car I would also have less likelihood of a head injury if involved in a crash, but I choose not to do that either.
People who choose to ride without head protection have often survived (see Queen)!
No, wearing crash hats with tailcoats is not a breath of fresh air, it's b****y ridiculous. Yes, horses can go splatt at any moment, but it is far more likely when engaged in running and jumping, and it is each person's choice as to what he/she opts to wear whilst riding unless venue or competition rules require a hat to be worn. I detest the nannyish insistance by the hattists that everyone join in because it's good for you and if the ickle kiddies see someone without their heads enveloped in a giant bubble of styrofoam they may rebel and want to ride with the wind blowing in their hair. People who choose to ride without head protection have often survived (see Queen)! But most of all, they have weighed up the consequences and decided that they will take the risk. And doctors, nurses, etc. are probably quite used to seeing people with bits hanging off due to all the things that happen in life. If I wore a crash helmet whilst driving my car I would also have less likelihood of a head injury if involved in a crash, but I choose not to do that either.
Do you also drive without a safety belt? Do you look both ways crossing the road? Are you in general someone who doesn't care for their own safety, or is it just that other people think it's a good idea that you dislike?