Dressage The big debate- top hats vs helmets for fei dressage

[shortstuff99]

I'm not sure if anyone has seen the petition signed by numerous top riders to allow the use of top hats for fei dressage again (after the new ban). It has caused quite a stir online with a lot if people thinking they should be banned. What are your thoughts? For me I think it should be personal choice but I can see why it can be complicated.

Article here https://eurodressage.com/2020/10/26...-retain-choice-top-hat-grand-prix-competition

 

[milliepops]

yeah I can't get too exercised about it all tbh.
I *loved* it when i got to the point where I could wear a top hat (dressage, wore one eventing years ago) and I did and would continue to do so now and then until it's banned.

As many have said, while safety hats aren't required by the FEI for western disciplines, I am not sure that it makes sense to mandate them for dressage.
People who want to wear a safety hat will and do - and there are some riders that mix and match depending on horse/environment. I don't think there's any stigma to wearing a safety hat now, it's totally normal, so it's not as though you need the rules to steer people that way.

if the FEI had a consistent approach then I'd get behind it happily. But it's either essential to mandate hard hats, or it's not...

 

[Goldenstar]

I would personally not wear a top hat now .
However for dressage I think it should be the rider choice .

 

[shortstuff99]

From what I've seen online everytime everyone mentions the western riding that seems to get glossed over.....

I know it is a risk, but surely a rider who has managed to become skilled enough to make it to fei GP can surely know the risk of wearing a hat or not on the horse they're riding.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I know it is a risk, but surely a rider who has managed to become skilled enough to make it to fei GP can surely know the risk of wearing a hat or not on the horse they're riding.

https://www.horseandrideruk.com/news/courtney-king-dye-in-coma-after-fall-from-dressage-horse/

 

[Nicnac]

I was quite surprised to see the number of riders at Pau still in top hats during dressage. Personally I wish all disciplines would ban the topper. You can get a serious head injury in any fall and the consequences of a brain injury on loved ones can be devastating.

 

[Cloball]

From what I've seen online everytime everyone mentions the western riding that seems to get glossed over.....

I know it is a risk, but surely a rider who has managed to become skilled enough to make it to fei GP can surely know the risk of wearing a hat or not on the horse they're riding.

I wonder if the intention is to create a positive impression for younger less skilled riders rather than suggesting that GP riders aren't skilled and self aware. I absolutely agree it makes no sense to have one rule fore dressage and another for Western though!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If you are an adult, then I believe it should be a personal choice in all situations. If you are a minor then it should be mandatory in all situations, public and private.

The only person who will be killed/severely injured is the person who made the choice, it's not a difficult choice to make and I would have very little sympathy should the outcome not be positive.

Although saying that, it would have an adverse effect on the NHS which isn't ideal.

 

[Goldenstar]

Lots of things have adverse efffects on the NHS .

 

[ycbm]

Where do you go from there, though? Has anyone ever been injured by wearing a top hat in a dressage test?

 

[Mule]

Meh, rodeo riders don't even wear them. I'm sure dressage riders will be fine. Anyway, they are great for protecting against skull fractures but they do nothing to prevent concussions. So they help but not as much as a lot of people think.

 

[BBP]

I don’t think the top hat does much for the perception of dressage as a sport. You don’t get given a choice for Olympic skiing, cycling, skeleton. All PBR bull riders born after 1994 now have to wear them.

 

[BBP]

Duplicate

 

[Mule]

I don’t think the top hat does much for the perception of dressage as a sport. You don’t get given a choice for Olympic skiing, cycling, skeleton. All PBR bull riders born after 1994 now have to wear them.

I think most non horse riders don't believe dressage is a sport anyway.

 

[shortstuff99]

It would be interesting to see the stats on accidents while competing dressage at fei competitions. With skiing etc I imagine even if given the choice most would choose to wear a hat as the likelihood of an accident is quite high.

 

[TPO]

I thought the FEI was maki g helmets mandatory for all sports excluding vaulting (I personally dont think of vaulting as an equestrian sport but that's just me)? When did reining and driving get excluded?

 

[Equi]

I’m an avid supporter of helmets as even the top teams can have accidents. I like a top hat on a man though I will admit.

 

[daffy44]

I cant get too stressed about it either, if the FEI want to be serious about safety they need to make safe hats mandatory across all disciplines. Personally I wore a top hat when I first got to that level, and I was so chuffed! But the reality is that my proper safe hat is actually more comfortable, and I'm perfectly happy to be wearing it with my tails. I'm sure accidents while actually at GP dressage competitions are very minimal, so I'm happy for it to be the riders choice, but I do see the responsibility of top riders to set an example to their younger fans.

 

[belambi]

I thought the FEI was maki g helmets mandatory for all sports excluding vaulting (I personally dont think of vaulting as an equestrian sport but that's just me)? When did reining and driving get excluded?

They didnt.. helmets in reining have always been required for all junior and YR levels, and are compulsory for reiners from This Jan.

 

[AUB]

I’m definitely pro helmet.

 

[conniegirl]

The only person who will be killed/severely injured is the person who made the choice, it's not a difficult choice to make and I would have very little sympathy should the outcome not be positive.
.

And what about the family of the injured person, a partner who has to give up thier life/career to care for someone with major brain damage? Children who lose a parent either due to severe brain damage or death? Parents who lose thier child?

dieing or suffering a major brain injury does not just effect the person choosing not to wear a hat.

 

[TPO]

They didnt.. helmets in reining have always been required for all junior and YR levels, and are compulsory for reiners from This Jan.

Thanks, I thought that but the dressage article indicates otherwise (& I was too lazy to investigate myself ?)

So does that negate the dressage riders argument if all sports will be wearing a helmet from January?

If reiners swap their Stetsons for helmets will dressage riders swap their top hats?

 

[Curly_Feather]

I would love for equestrian disciplines to be seen as a more serious sport, and not an exhibition. So to that end, I am all for getting rid of top hats, stock ties and jackets.

 

[Cloball]

Meh, rodeo riders don't even wear them. I'm sure dressage riders will be fine. Anyway, they are great for protecting against skull fractures but they do nothing to prevent concussions. So they help but not as much as a lot of people think.

I'm not sure I understand your thinking of massive head trauma Vs concussion?

 

[Mule]

I'm not sure I understand your thinking of massive head trauma Vs concussion?

What i meant was that the most serious brain brain injuries occur when the brain moves violently and crashes back and forth against the inside of the skull.

Unfortunately helmets and wearing seat belts in cars can't protect against this because the damage is internal. A person doesn't need to hit their head for this type of injury to occur. Anything that causes the head to move at high velocity can cause it.

So the helmet protects the outside of the head, the skull, but we can't protect the brain. This is what happens in shaken baby syndrome. There isn't any impact with an external object but the internal impact causes the damage.

Obviously protecting the skull is a very good idea but unfortunately we can't protect the brain itself.

 

[TPO]

What i meant was that the most serious brain brain injuries occur when the brain moves violently and crashes back and forth against the inside of the skull.

Unfortunately helmets and wearing seat belts in cars can't protect against this because the damage is internal. A person doesn't need to hit their head for this type of injury to occur. Anything that causes the head to move at high velocity can cause it.

So the helmet protects the outside of the head, the skull, but we can't protect the brain. This is what happens in shaken baby syndrome. There isn't any impact with an external object but the internal impact causes the damage.

Obviously protecting the skull is also a good idea but unfortunately we can't protect the brain itself.

Theres a lot of research going into CTE. NFL players appear to be the worst affected and then fighters (boxing, mma).

The crux of it is repeated blows and taking constant damage. Horse falls arent really in the category.

It's more than one fall from a horse can be fatal or life changing. The helmet is to minimize the risk of such an injury.

There has however been a lot of new technology like MIPS to address the concerns that you've raised re "brain rattling".

More and more PBR riders are wearing helmets now too. I'd say well over 50% at the finals. These are the "toughest guys on the planet" too.

 

[Mule]

Theres a lot of research going into CTE. NFL players appear to be the worst affected and then fighters (boxing, mma).

The crux of it is repeated blows and taking constant damage. Horse falls arent really in the category.

It's more than one fall from a horse can be fatal or life changing. The helmet is to minimize the risk of such an injury.

There has however been a lot of new technology like MIPS to address the concerns that you've raised re "brain rattling".

More and more PBR riders are wearing helmets now too. I'd say well over 50% at the finals. These are the "toughest guys on the planet" too.

I have read that mips technology has no proof of efficacy and isn't expected to by medical professionals not involved in its development

 

[Mule]

The more serious of concussions can cause something called diffuse axional brain injury (extremely serious) so concussions aren't always the mild ones we regularly hear of. This injury happens with one incident rather than repeat ones.

 

[TPO]

I have read that mips technology has no proof of efficacy and isn't expected to by medical professionals not involved in its development

Not my area of expertise and I've only read what's been available to the mainstream about it.

The fact that manufacturers are looking into improving safety and developing technology to keep riders safer could only be a good thing I would have thought?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I feel like I look silly in a top hat. So there's that.

My insurance does not cover injuries sustained while riding a bicycle without a helmet. So I'm not sure if they'd push back on riding a horse without a helmet. Either way, I don't plan on finding out.

I'm usually all for your life, your choice, but this choice does have an effect on others. Especially when your a "big name at the top of the game" so to speak.

A majority here (Germans) are fond of the top hat and don't want to be told what to do. That stance is pretty popular.