What did you think of Charlotte not wearing top hat?

inamac said:
I scarcely noticed (too busy looking at the horses legs rather than the rider's head), but was impressed that she did wear proper safe headgear.

Though I prefer the look of the velvet cap as a compromise between topper and crash helmet.
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A safety standard velvet hat is just so hot and awful to work in.I have a brown leather hat I think it's the same as Charlottes coming on Tuesday with my saddler I was really impressed with how light and comfortable it was when I tried one I am getting brown to match my new brown long boots.
 
i thought she looked far better than the others - while tophats may be traditional they do look stuffy and do nothing for the elitist image the sport has. I applaud Charlotte for her sensible decision. She was interviewed on BBC 1 yesterday morning and spoke about her decision, explaining how she has already suffered a fractured skull through not wearing one. Laura Bechtolsheimer I thought, appeared a bit sheepish sat next to her when she defended her decision to stay in a tophat for vanity.
 
StrawberryFields1 said:
Well horses ,however well trained, are unpredictable animals and should be treated as such. Who says that they are more likely to fall off if wearing a hard hat? They're not but if they DO fall off (they are only human and the horses are only animals) at least they won't have to pick their head up off the floor.

I would much rather see a rider wearing a proper hat.
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^^^this^^^
 
as said before she wears a helmet because she has fractered her skull in a past fall. i think as much as a top hat loks good in photograph, saftey must always come first. I also think it looks more modern and less steryo typical so could possibly help to bring dressage to a wider younger audience.
 
I do think tophats are beautiful and I love the tradition of wearing them BUT I loved that Charlotte went for safety over aesthetics...I do wish they could make some type of safe tophat or something though.
 
I respect her decision, having been there at Addington when the same horse bolted with her I think she was sensible, however that look isn't for me, I don't like those hats and feel there are far more kite marked hats that would have been smarter.
I love the top hat, and despite charlottes statement by wearing her hat, I doubt it will become a trend among top level dressage riders.

Each to their own, we are all old enough and ugly enough to make our own choices regarding head safety.
 
I think its good for safety but I also think sponsorship may have had something to do with it too. Everyone would be talking about it, so its great publicity for them! If shes had a head injury too then it also suits her. Its a win win really but cant see it taking off
 
Hopefully she will now have made it fashionable to wear a crash hat and more kids will want to wear them. I used to think the top hats look better but seeing Charlotte in a crash hat makes me realise that toppers are actually pretty old fashioned IMO.
 
She looked superb. A modern nod to a smart look. It actually made the top hatters look a little outdated in comparison.
I don't care if she's paid to wear it or if she simply chooses to - it looked smashing and sets a very good example to all the people that watch her and adore her riding.
 
Vanity or continued quality of life?
1] Your head is the heaviest part of your body. 2] If you fall off you don't very often land on your feet. 3] Medical treatment both acute and rehab after significant brain injury is very expensive, and and we all pay for it through our taxes.
Maybe all riders who choose not to wear strapped protective headgear should sign a disclaimer to say that they, personally, will pay for treatment should they have a brain injury. [And have several 10s of thousands of pounds available up front, because they may not be earning afterwards] Toppers and Patey hats may or may not look smart. There is nothing smart about the look of your nearest and dearest after a catastrophic brain injury.
As far as I am concerned the choice is a "no brainer" - literally.
 
sonicgold said:
Vanity or continued quality of life?
1] Your head is the heaviest part of your body. 2] If you fall off you don't very often land on your feet. 3] Medical treatment both acute and rehab after significant brain injury is very expensive, and and we all pay for it through our taxes.
Maybe all riders who choose not to wear strapped protective headgear should sign a disclaimer to say that they, personally, will pay for treatment should they have a brain injury. [And have several 10s of thousands of pounds available up front, because they may not be earning afterwards] Toppers and Patey hats may or may not look smart. There is nothing smart about the look of your nearest and dearest after a catastrophic brain injury.
As far as I am concerned the choice is a "no brainer" - literally.
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^^^^This!
 
Good on her :) I prefer velvet hats, or one a bit more streamlined but at the end of the day she still looked good, it didn't detract from her riding and had she fallen off she would still have an intact head!
 
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