Where do we draw the line with hats?

[Ginn]

99% of the time I ride in a hat - at the moment I wouldn't choose not to but just occasionally I get on without one for whatever reason. I hate to see children ride hatless and feel that this is the responsibilty of the parents and/or instructor/YM/supervisor.

Although I don't agree with not wearing a hat to ride in I will not lecture that person as at the end of the day it is their choice! I am aware that this topic has been done to death so lets not please debate the rights and wrongs of riding without a hat!

However, I got thinking the other day about when I first go Till's and as she had become so stressed with her move to me I made sure I wore a hat for leading her until I got use to her as she has always been pretty handy with her back legs. That only lasted a few weeks until some basic manners were instilled and I now don't even wear a hat to lunge/longrein her in (which may sound silly given her age but it is my choice). But how much further do we take this argument?

Who wears a hat to load, lead, lunge etc? My YO for a while wouldn't poo-pick without one as Till's saw the wheelbarrow coming out as a sign that it was playtime and would hurl herself around the field with legs everywhere - I never felt the need and on occasions where I did think I was pushing my luck (like when kiri who was only 11 at the time was in the field with me) I'd simply bring her into her stable.

Do people not however think it is slightly hypocritical to knock people who don't ride in hats when most of us are fully aware of the risks on the ground and yet go without hats for most things except riding?

(Can you tell I've been doing wayyyyy to much thinking today

)

 

[Shilasdair]

I'm no hypocrit. I wear a hat and gloves, and carry a whip for leading my 2 and 3 year olds.
But for my 18/19 yo TB, I risk assess her as safer, so I don't wear a hat for leading...but always wear one for riding, lunging etc.
S

 

[GinaB]

I only wear a hat for riding. I never wear it any other time.

Unless I've forgotten to take it off. Which is quite embarrassing when you're driving home and suddenly realise!

 

[fairhill]

[ QUOTE ]
I only wear a hat for riding. I never wear it any other time.

Unless I've forgotten to take it off. Which is quite embarrassing when you're driving home and suddenly realise!

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

I wear a hat to ride 99.9999% of the time and I usually wear one for lunging.
I wore a hat clipping my friend's monster horse last year, and she wore one to hold him as well.
I don't wear one to lead though or normal handling, as my horses are too lazy to play up.

 

[Ginn]

[ QUOTE ]
I risk assess her as safer,

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, which is why I cannot understand why the same cannot be applied to all horsemanship including riding

I'm not saying I condone riding without a hat (its a bl00dy long way to fall for a start).

You can never completely eliminate the risk but surely people have the right to judge it for themselves?

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
I risk assess

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely! So do I.

 

[jumpthemoon]

I wear a hat for riding/lungeing. If the horse is tricky I might wear one for leading and if i was loading my horse on his own I would wear one then too, as he has a tendancy to rear (don't fancy a hoofprint embedded in my skull!)

I do think everyone should wear a hat for riding, but it isn't law, so who am I to tell them what to do? i just think it is a shame when accidents happen with devastating consequences that could have been avoided

(I'll shut up now!

)

 

[sunflower]

I have noticed that at the riding school I go to staff even have to wear hats to lead a horse out of the stable for a client

 

[Nudibranch]

Would never ever get on without a hat, but never wear them on the ground which is a bit naughty for long reining etc! Have had a couple of (accidental) smacks to the side of the face from a dafty mare who had no concept of personal space so I should know better really...

 

[Blackhawk]

I wear a hat when in a box with a horse.

After being double barreled on one occasion(I still have the scars), and given a skull fracture on another I've learned my lesson.

Lunging, long reining, riding etc I will. Grooming and leading I wouldn't but it would depend on the horse.

 

[PeterNatt]

Riding schools and livery yards need to ensure that their clients (including visitors) wear approved riding hats while riding horses or lunging horses on their premises. Members of staff or even visiting instructors should wear approved hats while riding or lunging school or clients horses on or off the premises. This should be included in the contract that clients and staff are issued with. They also need to be seen to actively enforce this if they wish to avoid a compensation claim being succesfully made against them.

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I risk assess her as safer,

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, which is why I cannot understand why the same cannot be applied to all horsemanship including riding

I'm not saying I condone riding without a hat (its a bl00dy long way to fall for a start).

You can never completely eliminate the risk but surely people have the right to judge it for themselves?

[/ QUOTE ]

I know what you mean, but I don't think all people are competent to risk assess so feel they should be protected.
S

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I'm one of these who will moan about people not wearing hats. yet I don't wear one to lead / load / lunge etc.


I wear one to lunge (and gloves too) if the horse has never lunged before, is a baby, or is very handy with their back feet. Indeed, when i was teaching the shetty to lunge I wore thick gloves, a skull cap, and a BP!

But at no other times do i do that, and I don't make my kids either. I trust the ponio, but am a complete hypocrite.