The Great "Wearing a hat" debate - Freedom of choice???????

its automatic for me to wear a hat. it never occurs to me not to wear one but im just curious what the reasons are for non - hat wearers--what are your reasons for not wearing one, apart from it not being law or freedom of choice? just out of interest.
 
Yes to freedom of choice!!

Sometimes I wear one, sometimes I don't. Depends what I'm doing.

However, now that you've reminded me that for insurance purposes I should then maybe I'll rethink my options...

Also, did you know a hat is supposed to be replaced every two years??? Ridiculous!
 
Although, yes if is of course freedom of choice, it is not the family/friends freedom of choice to look after the vegetable left behind when disaster strikes.

Body protectors are slightly different IMO - if you have a "regular" fall and land on your body then 9/10 you come away bruised and battered but not squished, its only when solid fences and the possibility of a horse landing on you, obvs the protection a bodyprotector gives in invaluble...
However, if you have a regular fall and land on your head, with no had, im afraid 9/10 your braing will be turned to scrambles eggs :o
 
better half said:
The horse world gets left behind in so many ways, I heard the cyclists hats are safer than most horse riding hats.
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No. Cyclists hats are safer for cyclists. Horse riding hats are safer for horse riders. Both hats are built to standards suitable for their sport and may be just as safe as each other *for use in those sports*. I dont think the horse world gets left behind at all in terms of safety. Riding hats are constantly changing to make them safer and safer.
 
moneypit1 said:
Says who? And what about lungeing and working with horses on the ground. What about the top showjumpers who do not wear hats unless competing. It is complete *&*%&£$, when was the risk assessment done? Where are the published results? We all have the ability to assess risk, albeit in our own way that is unique to us. We react on that. Person one will think that getting a horse in from the field requires head gear and body armour, person two thinks that sj up to 3ft needs the same. Be realistic. We are all individuals with separate needs. There will always be the wild card.
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Forgive me for being thick, but I don't actually understand the point your making :confused: In my last post I was referring to not wearing a hat while riding a horse which is what you talked about in your original post (I think) - you don't need to sit & do cost benefit calculations for hours to see that this is not a good idea. Drawing the line when it comes to risk in other situations is something that requires judgement and common sense (and maybe some sums if you are doing something like running a nuclear power station), and takes into account the individual circumstances.

I don't agree with board brush sweeping rules that mean that people have to take precautions that aren't needed, nor do I agree with people taking unnecessary risks that might kill or maim them. Top showjumpers can do what they like, but that doesn't mean that I can't have an opinion and think they are behaving stupidly and setting a very bad example if they don't wear hats. I think I'm being realistic, I wish I understood why you don't :o
 
benson21 said:
Thing is, we all wear seatbelts when in our cars, to guard ourselves against injury in case of an accident.
Motorcyclists all wear helmets when riding motorbikes, to guard themselves against injury in case of an accident.
So why dont people wear hats when riding their horses , to guard themselves as above?
There seems to be so many valid reason to wear a hat when riding, but there doesnt seem to be too many valid reasons not to. Other than it might mess up a hairstyle or make a head hot!
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I remember when seatbelt laws came in & people were very unhappy about them. Some people were insistant that seatbelts were dangerous because you could get trapped by them and this was more likely to kill you than going through the windscreen of your car in an accident :confused: Same with laws for motorbike helmets, there were some seriously cross bikers. People don't like to be told what to do, even if it is in their best interests. I suspect that this is a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' argument, whatever happens someone is going to be complaining about it :rolleyes:
 
I wear my hat, I feel weird riding without it, and I don't think I could cope with the guilt if something went wrong and I sustained a head injury. My family would be inconvenienced, at best! :)

The people I know who tend to go hatless are those who have an over-inflated view of how talented they are.
 
If people don't wish to wear a hat than on their head be it!!! Ha ha.
Seriously I will never ride,lunge,long rein,clip without a hat and either does my young son he's already had this drummed into him.
MY REASONS = I love my son with all my heart and so should any parent so why would you risk your little ones???
And for me I don't won't a little lad growing up without his mum and I want to see him grow up so wouldnt do risk anything to risk.
 
tallyho! said:
Yes to freedom of choice!!

Sometimes I wear one, sometimes I don't. Depends what I'm doing.

However, now that you've reminded me that for insurance purposes I should then maybe I'll rethink my options...

Also, did you know a hat is supposed to be replaced every two years??? Ridiculous!
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Champion suggest their hats are replaced every 5 -6 yrs which after that time the materials start to break down and could reduce safety
 
Mavis Cluttergusset said:
The people I know who tend to go hatless are those who have an over-inflated view of how talented they are.
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The people I know who tend to go hatless *are* very talented riders. I cant say Ive felt they have an over inflated view of their talents though. I know a lot of people who wear hats who are awful riders but think they are amazing riders so I think this may just be a perception thing?
 
Personal choice at home for folks.

Are the potential consequences really worth the risk of not wearing one? No

Sometimes I think people think they are being clever when they ride hatless but when they are paralysed or at worst dead its not clever and selfish for the loved ones left behind.

It is a dangerous sport to start with, if you saw a motor biker without their helmet on what would you think of them?
 
jaypeebee said:
The people I know who tend to go hatless *are* very talented riders. I cant say Ive felt they have an over inflated view of their talents though. I know a lot of people who wear hats who are awful riders but think they are amazing riders so I think this may just be a perception thing?
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Guess you don't know the same people as me then :)

The professional riders I have worked for in the past always wore a hat. Not that I care either way, it doesn't bother me in the slightest!
 
My Mum died when I was 10. I had to attend my own mothers funeral and have to live my entire life without her. She will never see me get married, or have my first child, get my degree etc.

It is heartbreaking even now that I have lost someone who should have made a huge impact on my life, but cancer is something she couldn't have helped. If she had died because of a riding accident, where she felt a hat was "undesirable" and had landed on her head I'm not sure I could ever have forgiven her.

I am not a mother, but if I ever have I child I hope to minimise the risk of riding as much as possible so that my child doesn't have to feel the world wrecking devestation of losing a parent due to their own actions.

Horse riding is a dangerous sport, yes, the best way to avoid the risk would be not to ride, but then I couldn't drive, walk outside or do anything, everything has a risk and if sensible safety precautions are made I feel most things can still be enjoyed.

P.S. I ride with a hat without fail and high viz whenever I am on the road. I don't wear a BP but this is due to the very low level of riding I do (hacking and light schooling).
 
flamehead said:
ELister, what a lovely post. I'm so sorry to hear about your mum.
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Thanks :) I try not to play the "my mummy died, pity me" card if I can help it. It just so happens that my argument for wearing safety equipment is based on how I felt the day my world was torn apart.

Can you rephrase "lovely" to eloquent or thought provoking though please ;)
 
I agree with freedom of choice - I always wear my hat when mounted - my choice, but I hate wearing a hat for turning out, groundwork etc - again my choice.....as for body protectors, I think if they became law I'd have to give up riding!! I just CANNOT find a comfortable position when wearing one, I can't move with the horse at all!!! But other choose to wear one and that's just fine by me!!
 
People who ride without a hat may indeed be talented...or not.

But they are not very intelligent IMO so maybe wearing a hat would make little difference if they were to fall and break their head.

No sense no feeling as they say...

Body protectors wont necessarily stop a broken bone so a different scenario IMO. If anything they can offer IMO a false sense of security.

But each to their own...

ETA MY OH just commented that they may need their heads examined! :D Quite apt!
 
Like Benson, I cannot understand why anyone WOULDN'T wear a hat? - the only excuse I've heard is 'it's personal choice'. So, what? You chose not to wear a hat as a statement, simply 'because you can'?!

They are not uncomfortable. They are not restrictive. And the newer hats aren't heavy or hot. So the ONLY reason I can see for not wearing a hat is vanity, pure and simple. You either don't like the way they look, or you don't like the impression they give about you (i.e they say you're an 'inferior rider').

Or is it, as Spinal Tap said, you're using it as a form of rebellion, digging your heels and and refusing to put a hat on because other people told you should wear one?

We chose to wear or not to wear protective equipement on a 'risk assesment' basis, weighing up the negatives (restrictive, uncomfortable etc) with the benfits (may well save you're life). And since hats basically have no negatives (unlike body protectors) WHY do people still decide not to use them???!!

Personally I think people who ride without a hat are arrogant and selfish - 'too good a rider to fall off' and don't seem to give a damn about the affect their decision may have on others. :mad: Becauses there is NO GOOD EXCUSE for not wearing a hat for riding.
 
Personally, i think if you don't wear a hat you are being incredibly selfish and irresponsible. If you fall off and god forbid end up needing care for the rest of your life do you expect your loved ones to pick up the pieces and give up their livesto look after you without mentioning the burden on the NHS.

Yes, horse riding is a risky sport but putting your hat on reduces the risk does it not?
 
Why does this one keep coming round again and again?

Hat = sensible
No hat = stupid.

Choice, yes but only once you have checked that all your family and friends are happy to care for you for the rest of your ruined life and that your children will be happy potentially seeing their parent reduced to an invalid.
And if you still think its ok to ride sans lid then fair enough selection will cull you out eventually and the herd IQ will rise.
 
Thought I'd post this again. This was the result of a stupid fall from the safest horse in the universe, onto tarmac from a feeble canter. My hat got knocked off my head before I hit the ground. To this day I can't remember if I'd done the strap up. A&E told me they didn't know how I hadn't fractured my skull and been killed. I narrowly avoided having to have plastic surgery for the dead tissue in the center. Moral of this story? Fine, wear a hat, don't wear a hat but if you think you're invincible and don't need a hat, have another look at my photo.

Image006.jpg
 
I am a great believer in freedom of choice. I always have and always will wear a hat and I don't like that people don't wear them, but that is their choice. However what worries me is the youngsters that are coming into riding.

I believe the top riders(and all riders for that matter) should be setting an example as kids look up to them. (I applaud Emile Faurie, he has a no hat/no ride policy on his yard now)

We have a responsibilty to the people/children coming into riding to set the best example possible, that riding is fun but safety is paramount.

People lead by example and although the majority of people take their safety seriously, the select few that don't (in particular high profile riders) are encouraging a lack of respect to the new riding generation about safety.
 
I get the whole "freedom to choose thing" but....I have yet to hear the reason why people choose not to wear a hat. I would actually be genuinly interested in what reasons they state and why they choose not to.

I can think of situations like - just popped on this schoolmaster in a lesson to demonstrate something (instructor) or when I was a kid we walked the ponies in from the field bareback. But I would like to hear the reasons that people have who ride regularly without a hat (i.e. they don't just pick it up out of habit with thier tack)

I wouldn;t dare get on my anything now without a hat (although if I ever get the chance to ride in a evening performance at the showing champs I will wear a top hat - it'll be a minor miracle if I ever need to make that choice tho!!)
 
See my point about not wearing a hat is I dont want to have to pick YOUR smushed head off the floor/road- and I wouldnt expect you to have to see/deal with mine (hence i wear a hat) purely selfish but hey ho
 
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