The importance of hats....

[Karran]

Germany is very similar to Holland in few wearing hats. I always remember as a youngster being the only one wearing a hat and the weird status quo that everyone carried a whip and wore spurs. Bizarre.

And Spain. The first time I went to the yard carrying my hat, the owner nearly wet himself laughing at me Only the youngest children seem to wear them there.
I just can't imagine not wearing one. I did so for a small 30 minute walk on a western horse out by the Grand Canyon and I felt so horribly exposed and unsafe the whole time.

 

[Archangel]

I agree and I am always astounded by Western riders not wearing one... It would be interesting to know the statistics for injuries where a hat was not worn.

This is an interesting point. When I was riding in Hungary I was offered a choice of Western, McClellan or English saddle. There was a titter when I opted for English as "You English make me laugh, these little saddles when the horse swerves you just fall off - but with Western and McClellan you are much more secure" As we were galloping along with me in forward position and him sitting upright laughing I think he had a point. The old fashioned hunting seat with legs forward was probably really quite secure.

Of course if both horse and rider hits the deck then it doesn't matter what you are sitting on.

 

[OldNag]

This is an interesting point. When I was riding in Hungary I was offered a choice of Western, McClellan or English saddle. There was a titter when I opted for English as "You English make me laugh, these little saddles when the horse swerves you just fall off - but with Western and McClellan you are much more secure" As we were galloping along with me in forward position and him sitting upright laughing I think he had a point. The old fashioned hunting seat with legs forward was probably really quite secure.

Of course if both horse and rider hits the deck then it doesn't matter what you are sitting on.

Mmm I remember riding in a McClellan saddle on safari, years ago. It did feel extremely secure but I remember it was as incredibly hard could have done with a seatsaver!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Having decked it on the road last year with my last horse when she went down if I hadnt had my hat on my skull wouldnt have been as intact. Took a chunk out of my favourite skull cap and ripped my hat silk.

Small price to pay when it was the front of my head that would have taken a face first splat.

HOWEVER I do believe that its everyones own individual choice. If they can live with themselves then why then heck is it any of my business

 

[AmyMay]

HOWEVER I do believe that its everyones own individual choice. If they can live with themselves then why then heck is it any of my business

It is your business, it's all of our business - because who do you think is going to pay for the care (and possible lifetime care) of someone who receives a bad head injury from not wearing a hat? You and me.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

It is your business, it's all of our business - because who do you think is going to pay for the care (and possible lifetime care) of someone who receives a bad head injury from not wearing a hat? You and me.

Then who pays for the care of the alcoholics, the drug abusers (prescirption and non) the mentally ill the physically disabled through no fault of their own?? Yes we all do but that doesnt mean we have the right to police their lives, tell them what to do or slate them for making decisions that we wouldnt make.

Thats what gets me sometimes if people didnt post about not wearing a hat you would be oblivious and therefore wouldnt mind as much so why not instead of being nasty to people and calling them uncaring/stupid etc why not just shrug and leave it alone.

You cant change peoples will and personally I dont think you have any right to impose your own on others.

This isnt aimed specifically at the OP its just a general observation on the way people on forums think they have a right to police others

 

[WeedySeaDragon]

HOWEVER I do believe that its everyones own individual choice. If they can live with themselves then why then heck is it any of my business

The unfortunate thing is though if someone ends up with brain damage because they didn't wear a hat it's everyone else who has to live with it. However blasé I might feel about my own safety I will take all reasonable precautions to reduce the likelihood of my husband, my mum and dad and my sister having to cope with me as a vegetable for the rest of my life.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

The unfortunate thing is though if someone ends up with brain damage because they didn't wear a hat it's everyone else who has to live with it. However blasé I might feel about my own safety I will take all reasonable precautions to reduce the likelihood of my husband, my mum and dad and my sister having to cope with me as a vegetable for the rest of my life.

Missing the point why should I concern myself with it, go on a forum get all het up about it and really have a go at a complete stranger??

Its their choice and as I said if they can live with it then why does it impact me in any way???

 

[Littlelegs]

With adults I tend to think its their head, but drives me mad seeing little kids riding without. Yard my friend is on there's a 6yr old who's mum, who has had horses long enough to know better, let's her ride bareback from field without. What makes it worse is kid wears bp & hat & is still on the lr for anything else but is off lr in just a headcollar & mum walking behind from field. Mums excuse is that pony is a saint (it is but not the point). 6 is not an age to decide whether to wear one or not.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I hope you're not too sore this morning DS.

Just be prepared to get checked out by a physio when the worst of the bruising etc has disappeared. When I landed on my head on the road a few years ago, several months down the line, it was discovered that I had trapped a nerve in my neck, which was causing all sorts of problems. Colleagues called an ambulance when I collapsed at work. Physio soon put it right and sorted out several riding related issues which had built up over the years.

 

[NeverSayNever]

The unfortunate thing is though if someone ends up with brain damage because they didn't wear a hat it's everyone else who has to live with it. However blasé I might feel about my own safety I will take all reasonable precautions to reduce the likelihood of my husband, my mum and dad and my sister having to cope with me as a vegetable for the rest of my life.

i agree ^^^ i wont ride with someone if they arent wearing a hat. Their choice not to wear one... my choice to prefer not to be the one on scene to scrape them off the road if the worst happened.

Then who pays for the care of the alcoholics, the drug abusers (prescirption and non) the mentally ill the physically disabled through no fault of their own?? Yes we all do but that doesnt mean we have the right to police their lives, tell them what to do or slate them for making decisions that we wouldnt make.

You cant change peoples will and personally I dont think you have any right to impose your own on others.

i dont think you can generalise and lump in the disabled and mentally ill with drug abusers and alcoholics , (although granted the later in some cases is a result of the former). I do object to my taxes being used to pay for the treatment/rescue of those who are deliberately wreckless, or who wont take reasonable precautions, like wearing the appropriate safety equipment when engaging in a high risk sport eg riders who dont wear hats, idiots who go up mountains in their addidas trainers without having checked the forecast and those who choose to fill their bodies with crap.

 

[OldNag]

With adults I tend to think its their head, but drives me mad seeing little kids riding without. Yard my friend is on there's a 6yr old who's mum, who has had horses long enough to know better, let's her ride bareback from field without. What makes it worse is kid wears bp & hat & is still on the lr for anything else but is off lr in just a headcollar & mum walking behind from field. Mums excuse is that pony is a saint (it is but not the point). 6 is not an age to decide whether to wear one or not.

This^^^ ... mine are allowed to ride bareback (on lead rope) to/from the field but never without a hat and BP, same as they would with tack on. I've a friend who lets hers ride hatless bareback (albeit on the lead) and it makes me cringe. The daughter is not very secure and the pony does sometimes spook... Mind you with the state of the ground at the moment she's probably more likely to drown if she falls off, than get concussion

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

i agree ^^^ i wont ride with someone if they arent wearing a hat. Their choice not to wear one... my choice to prefer not to be the one on scene to scrape them off the road if the worst happened.



i dont think you can generalise and lump in the disabled and mentally ill with drug abusers and alcoholics , (although granted the later in some cases is a result of the former). I do object to my taxes being used to pay for the treatment/rescue of those who are deliberately wreckless, or who wont take reasonable precautions, like wearing the appropriate safety equipment when engaging in a high risk sport eg riders who dont wear hats, idiots who go up mountains in their addidas trainers without having checked the forecast and those who choose to fill their bodies with crap.

Im not lumping them just using randomly picked examples of imposing your will on people that neither need it nor want it

Just makes people want to disregard you more when you do that.

I wear a hat, even if I was going western id wear one, wouldnt care if the cowboys/girls were snickering up their sleeves at me id wear it , but I dont agree with a mass hounding for not wearing one. Nobody else business what you do in your own personal life IMO

 

[AmyMay]

Then who pays for the care of the alcoholics, the drug abusers (prescription and non) the mentally ill the physically disabled through no fault of their own?? Yes we all do but that doesn't mean we have the right to police their lives, tell them what to do or slate them for making decisions that we wouldn't make.

I'm not sure there is much comparison tbh (if any).

 

[Ranyhyn]

Good point about not riding with those who don't wear hats, had never thought about being the one who had to witness that! I wont be riding with someone without now either because I would actually vomit my insides out, if I had to see something like that.

 

[NeverSayNever]

i dont agree with 'mass hounding', however I do believe I have the right to voice my opinion, be peeved about the use of my taxes, and then politely agree to disagree - I have friends who choose not to wear hats, they know how I feel about it but I wouldnt badger the point.

 

[DragonSlayer]

This isnt aimed specifically at the OP its just a general observation on the way people on forums think they have a right to police others

Good, because this was not a thread to state that all should wear hats. Each to their own, I was drawing attention to the fact that I certainly agree with wearing them, after landing on my head last night. It was not to publically declaim anyone who doesn't want to. The purpose of this thread was to have my hand patted and lots of sympathy, because not only did I land on my head, I was also in a puddle...

 

[NeverSayNever]

Good, because this was not a thread to state that all should wear hats. Each to their own, I was drawing attention to the fact that I certainly agree with wearing them, after landing on my head last night. It was not to publically declaim anyone who doesn't want to. The purpose of this thread was to have my hand patted and lots of sympathy, because not only did I land on my head, I was also in a puddle...

*pats DS hand* and hopes your arse isnt too wet

 

[OldNag]

Good, because this was not a thread to state that all should wear hats. Each to their own, I was drawing attention to the fact that I certainly agree with wearing them, after landing on my head last night. It was not to publically declaim anyone who doesn't want to. The purpose of this thread was to have my hand patted and lots of sympathy, because not only did I land on my head, I was also in a puddle...

I hope you are feeling much better today. The puddle is really the icing on the cake isn't it. Falling off on your head is bad enough.

 

[Littlelegs]

Old nag- I let my 7yr old canter my 14.2 up to the gate in just a headcollar, but won't let her even walk without a hat. Plus there is a wide gap in ability between her & the 6yr old I mentioned. I do say something if its a child but keep my opinions to myself if its an adult.