Why aren't hats mandatory for trot ups?

[Belmont]

Admittedly I didn't see all the trot ups at Burghley, but from those that I did see, none of them were wearing hats and it really makes me cringe. These are typically very fit, very big horses that will light up in that environment and yet it's all about the turn out and their outfit. All it takes is for one to rear up and catch the rider's skull for potentially a life changing accident to occur. Does anyone feel the same or am I serious worrier?!
This incident always springs to mind and although not a trot up, still a handler on the ground https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/rio...ead-injury-rio-dressage-medal-ceremony-588156
It is good to see the dressage riders at the Europeans wearing hats - I didn't need to watch whilst holding my breath

 

[humblepie]

Agree and decent footwear as well.

 

[skint.spotty]

ugh, the footwear makes me cringe - safety and welfare need to come before aesthetics!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Absolutely!! The dressage riders are starting to wear proper riding hats for their trot ups!! Sense over fashion any day!

Can't see eventing following suit unless Holland and Cooper start making branded hats

 

[Nicnac]

Good post - I was so pleased to see the dressage riders in hard hats. The eventing outfits are getting ridiculous and don't get me started on the shoes. I'm not a fan of either F&F nor H&C as looks like a school uniform these days.

Hopefully the FEI will see sense and impose hard hats for all trot ups before there's an injury which forces the decision.

 

[Burnttoast]

We used to have to get dispensation to trot up the endurance horse I crewed for in brushing boots as he would sometimes go airborne when we turned round. I slightly cringe to think it never occurred to me to put a hat on but I was 18 and, clearly, an idiot. At the Golden Horseshoe one year the vet was quite huffy about it and Oscar took that opportunity to do the full airs-above-the-ground, came down and trotted back as though butter wouldn't melt. The vet said 'I see what you mean'. Ghastly in retrospect. No one suggested a hat to me either.

 

[Cortez]

Presumably there is nothing preventing them from wearing a hard hat if they feel the need?

 

[Nicnac]

Presumably there is nothing preventing them from wearing a hard hat if they feel the need?

well they wouldn't win the best dressed prize which is usually a nice piece of jewelry. Guess it depends on what they value most.....

 

[Bobthecob15]

Good post - I was so pleased to see the dressage riders in hard hats. The eventing outfits are getting ridiculous and don't get me started on the shoes. I'm not a fan of either F&F nor H&C as looks like a school uniform these days.

Hopefully the FEI will see sense and impose hard hats for all trot ups before there's an injury which forces the decision.

There was a nasty injury at Addington equestrian not that long ago when one of the dressage riders got very badly hurt...since then they've all started wearing hats thankfully.

The sponsors (holland and cooper, fairfax etc) need to consider saftey over selling their products which is basically all they use the riders for at trot ups! Laura Collet's massive flappy pink coat at Badminton is a prime example!

 

[scats]

I’m not into the fashion parade that trot ups seem to have become. I think they should just do it in riding attire, but I’m probably a miserable so and so!

 

[BallyJ]

Absolutely!! The dressage riders are starting to wear proper riding hats for their trot ups!! Sense over fashion any day!

Can't see eventing following suit unless Holland and Cooper start making branded hats

Hermes have teamed up with Kep to do one, surely this out-ranks F&F/HC?

https://www.hermes.com/uk/en/product/eole-riding-helmet-H800173Ev01L/

 

[minesadouble]

I don't think hard hats should be mandatory to trot up. They're all adults, they know their horses and are free to wear a hard.hat if they choose. I'm not sure how much further we should go with the nanny state approach.

 

[AmyMay]

I don't think hard hats should be mandatory to trot up. They're all adults, they know their horses and are free to wear a hard.hat if they choose. I'm not sure how much further we should go with the nanny state approach.

Does that mean they should be free to decide whether to wear a hat when competing?

 

[Belmont]

I don't think hard hats should be mandatory to trot up. They're all adults, they know their horses and are free to wear a hard.hat if they choose. I'm not sure how much further we should go with the nanny state approach.

It's a basic safety standard, plus sets the right example do the thousands watching.

 

[Cortez]

It's a basic safety standard, plus sets the right example do the thousands watching.

"Setting the right example" is hardly to the forefront of most competitive riders' minds, I should imagine, and I wouldn't expect it to be. Hat wearing seems to be a bit of an obsession on here, but probably the majority of the world's riders do just fine without one and I'd expect a professional rider to be able to trot up a horse competently enough to decide that they don't need one.

 

[teapot]

"Setting the right example" is hardly to the forefront of most competitive riders' minds, I should imagine, and I wouldn't expect it to be. Hat wearing seems to be a bit of an obsession on here, but probably the majority of the world's riders do just fine without one and I'd expect a professional rider to be able to trot up a horse competently enough to decide that they don't need one.

On the flip side, three team members and Lottie's groom trotted the GB horses up in hats a few days ago for the Euros. They weren't the only ones either. Times be changing, it's no bad thing.

There is an element regardless of age/experience of people thinking 'it won't happen to me' and carry on regardless.

 

[Belmont]

"Setting the right example" is hardly to the forefront of most competitive riders' minds, I should imagine, and I wouldn't expect it to be. Hat wearing seems to be a bit of an obsession on here, but probably the majority of the world's riders do just fine without one and I'd expect a professional rider to be able to trot up a horse competently enough to decide that they don't need one.

I wouldn't expect it to be at the forefront of the riders minds, but more the FEI, organizers, sponsors etc. It's one of those things that will sadly take a nasty accident for the rule to be put in place.

 

[Gamebird]

Interestingly on my FB memories the other day a post popped up that I'd written whilst competing in the BRC Eventing Champs 7 or 8 years ago. I was extremely rude about the mandatory hats for trot-ups rule, and very vocal in how ridiculous I thought it was! My opinion (and I suspect public opinion) has changed vastly since then, and I now found what I'd written quite cringeworthy, and at odds with my current opinions! As an employer of vets I'm now at the point of having my vets wear hard hats for most procedures. That we'd have come to that would have never crossed my mind back then. Bear in mind that it is a comparatively short time since we stopped wearing beaglers for dressage! Times have changed, but the dinosaurs have not yet all died out.

 

[Cortez]

Interestingly on my FB memories the other day a post popped up that I'd written whilst competing in the BRC Eventing Champs 7 or 8 years ago. I was extremely rude about the mandatory hats for trot-ups rule, and very vocal in how ridiculous I thought it was! My opinion (and I suspect public opinion) has changed vastly since then, and I now found what I'd written quite cringeworthy, and at odds with my current opinions! As an employer of vets I'm now at the point of having my vets wear hard hats for most procedures. That we'd have come to that would have never crossed my mind back then. Bear in mind that it is a comparatively short time since we stopped wearing beaglers for dressage! Times have changed, but the dinosaurs have not yet all died out.

Ha ha! I am indeed approaching dinosaur age, but I think that people should be allowed to make up their own minds. I only wear a hat when I think it's a good idea, and I think it's a good idea less than most people in the UK.

 

[humblepie]

I’d personally just ban F&F and H&C. Really can’t stand the look or the marketing. Interesting re a groom wearing a hat as if employed then employer as H&S obligations.

 

[teapot]

I’d personally just ban F&F and H&C. Really can’t stand the look or the marketing. Interesting re a groom wearing a hat as if employed then employer as H&S obligations.

Well I say groom, could be wrong - but Lottie Fry has a chap who trots her horse(s) up. Pic here: 374262233_796475495811709_8277903506435329769_n.jpg

ETS: the GB para horses were also all trotted up in hats

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Ha ha! I am indeed approaching dinosaur age, but I think that people should be allowed to make up their own minds. I only wear a hat when I think it's a good idea, and I think it's a good idea less than most people in the UK.

It does seem to he a very British thing to be so hard hat conscious. I will admit I wear one at work because I have to but at home.... a baseball cap is a hat right?

Following the rules of a competition is necessary to not be eliminated. Magnus rode my Fell pony for me many years ago, he had to dig out a strapped hat for it as it was not needed for hunters or cobs etc. When the judge went forward to hand him the rosette he took his hat off and put it under his arm. Much to the amusement of many around as that really was an absolute no no in native pony showing. But the judge just laughed and told him to put it back on and done up quickly before he had to kick him out of the ring.

 

[Jango]

Honestly how many of you would trot your horse up for the vet in a hat? Walk to the field and turn out in a hat? I certainly wouldn't and dont know anybody who would! If people want to they can and thats absolutely their own choice. But let's not make it mandatory, the risk is absolutely tiny of your horse jumping on your head in a trot up.

 

[teapot]

Honestly how many of you would trot your horse up for the vet in a hat? Walk to the field and turn out in a hat? I certainly wouldn't and dont know anybody who would! If people want to they can and thats absolutely their own choice. But let's not make it mandatory, the risk is absolutely tiny of your horse jumping on your head in a trot up.

Was part of the rules at the yard I worked at - for staff, liveries and clients, and I'd do it handling any horse these days. If you'd been catching in from one of the herds we had, you'd have wanted your hat if the wind was up them!

The risk of trotting up for a vet isn't the same risk of trotting up at an international competition, BUT it can still go wrong. Familiarity breeds contempt and all that.

 

[Red-1]

Presumably there is nothing preventing them from wearing a hard hat if they feel the need?

well they wouldn't win the best dressed prize which is usually a nice piece of jewelry. Guess it depends on what they value most.....

I used to wear a hat and boots for trot up at 3 day. No one commented. I'm talking around 2005 ish.

But then, I was there for the horse and experience, not jewellery. My horse was spicy. Mr Red would get her to the trot up area for me, so I only had to do the actual run-up. He used to wear a hat too. At home, she was a sweetheart, easy to handle, at comps she was... spicy!

 

[Cloball]

Honestly how many of you would trot your horse up for the vet in a hat? Walk to the field and turn out in a hat? I certainly wouldn't and dont know anybody who would! If people want to they can and thats absolutely their own choice. But let's not make it mandatory, the risk is absolutely tiny of your horse jumping on your head in a trot up.

I do, I admit I do feel self conscious about it particularly in this weather with my sweaty hat head and my tiny pony. She's newish so I don't totally trust her or always know how's she's going to react to new things such as the vet etc. I've had to re establish her manners on the ground. I'm also often alone at the yard and probably wouldn't be found for many hours, generally risk averse and spend time looking inside peoples heads.

I proved myself right a couple of week ago when pony unexpectedly exploded and sent me flying and I smacked my head.

 

[planete]

I do, I admit I do feel self conscious about it particularly in this weather with my sweaty hat head and my tiny pony. She's newish so I don't totally trust her or always know how's she's going to react to new things such as the vet etc. I've had to re establish her manners on the ground. I'm also often alone at the yard and probably wouldn't be found for many hours, generally risk averse and spend time looking inside peoples heads.

I proved myself right a couple of week ago when pony unexpectedly exploded and sent me flying and I smacked my head.

This happened to me last year. Cue two days in hospital with a thankfully small brain bleed. I was just getting him out of the field. Next thing I knew I was crawling on all fours to reach my parked car and my phone.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

Slightly off the topic of whether it’s right or wrong to wear a hat but I think this also illustrates the difference in top dressage and event horses.

The event horses are super sharp but brave blood types, unlikely to have a fit at a flower pot, and generally can be trusted to be sensible to trot up (I have trotted up at the higher eventing levels and no I didn’t wear a riding hat (or a silly outfit, I wore a smart suit and boots…). At events as youngsters they are on and off the lorry multiple times in a day because the rider probably has multiple rides. They will be at events all day from dawn to dusk. They are required in most cases to tie up to the side of the box sensibly etc. in short they are expected to get on with it when handled, because they can’t be the centre of attention for rider or grooms.

The dressage horses are crazily sharp and sensitive horses, often spooky by nature, and, in my experience, more likely to spectacularly go into orbit. They won’t be dragged around multiple long event days as youngsters and can be micro managed, whether that is a good thing or a bad thing I’m not sure! I can quite see why they are trotted up wearing hats.

My current horse would benefit immensely from the young eventer experience because he’s my only horse, we mainly D and SJ and so I do micro manage. As a result he doesn’t have to get over himself and can be a handful away from home. It’s my own fault but I would definitely trot him up wearing a hat if we were ever required to do so at an event!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Hermes have teamed up with Kep to do one, surely this out-ranks F&F/HC?

https://www.hermes.com/uk/en/product/eole-riding-helmet-H800173Ev01L/

How much?!

 

[rara007]

It’s only eventers that use the trot up as a fashion show.