Why aren't hats mandatory for trot ups?

[Elf On A Shelf]

I had to trot up a horse at the races the other week as he had been off the track for over 300 days. Jaggy bottoms, hoody and trainers defos no fashion parade here

 

[MagicMelon]

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

Exactly, theyre all adults. They can all wear hats and proper boots if they wish. Ultimately it has to come down to choice at the end of the day. I mean, theyve only just stopped generally wearing ridiculous top hats for dressage recently!

 

[ester]

Someone did get trod on/caught at Sundays burghley trot up. Can’t remember who though! Memorable one as Tim getting towed into a land rover (knew they were there for a reason)

 

[Kaylum]

Whenever we are moving horses we wear hats, leading, riding, grooming, loading. It's compulsory as it is at some riding schools. It just keeps up the standards. Having been kicked in the head by a horse I knew and me not wearing a hat many many years ago I think it's sensible. Seeing the back stage at a lot of the events hardly anyone wears hats which I do find shocking. But the trot up does not impress me at all.

 

[millitiger]

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...
The dressage horses are crazily sharp and sensitive horses, often spooky by nature, and, in my experience, more likely to spectacularly go into orbit.

Interestingly, from photos and videos, it looks to me like more eventers go airborne at trot ups than the dressage horses!
I wonder if there's any correlation between that and the stupid flappy fashion coats that some eventers wear?

 

[Belmont]

Whenever we are moving horses we wear hats, leading, riding, grooming, loading. It's compulsory as it is at some riding schools. It just keeps up the standards. Having been kicked in the head by a horse I knew and me not wearing a hat many many years ago I think it's sensible. Seeing the back stage at a lot of the events hardly anyone wears hats which I do find shocking. But the trot up does not impress me at all.

I'm with you on that. We always had to wear hats when around the horses at pony club, work and college, I think it's just been drummed into me. I think those not overly in agreement are fortunate to never have had a near miss. I've been struck twice, both times my own quiet horses, luckily no lasting damage.

 

[Alibear]

Another different style of trot up https://www.chronofhorse.com/articl...qw54aRTRlOQVIvDSIRUpzex3x98uMXxtvfNFbSl6M8dxI

 

[ester]

HHO would tell most of them they're too big for their pony

 

[ihatework]

I don’t care strongly for hats either way in the trot up, but I do foresee them becoming compulsory in the not to distant future.

I do care strongly about footwear in trot ups, I can’t stand (girls predominantly) in fashion footwear and sometimes heels. Utter madness.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It's the inappropriate footwear and the long flowing coats and billowing clothing that get me more than simply not wearing a hat.

It's a ridiculous charade aided and abetted by the sponsored best dressed rider awards.

 

[Honey08]

They’ll get there eventually. Ten years ago it was rare to see someone without a top hat in the dressage. Nowadays they mostly all wear proper riding hats and it’s become the norm. If someone does a test in a too hat it’s almost a shock.

 

[Rowreach]

They’ll get there eventually. Ten years ago it was rare to see someone without a top hat in the dressage. Nowadays they mostly all wear proper riding hats and it’s become the norm. If someone does a test in a too hat it’s almost a shock.

And that debate raged on here too, because sartorial elegance was soooo important and apparently proper safe headgear looked terrible and positively destroyed a dressage test

Same with Pateys on the hunting field.

I spent yesterday updating risk assessments for workshops in safety in sport - it's not about micro management or nanny- stating, it's about making sport as safe, and therefore enjoyable, as possible.

If they want to be models they should try a cat walk and leave the horses at home.

 

[Cortez]

Leaving aside the fact that the traditional getup for dressage (top hat and tails) is faintly ridiculous in its entirety, I dislike the imposition of a crash helmet on the ensemble and if I was to compete again at that level I would most certainly dust off my topper whilst it was still allowable. If I were designing dressage competition gear it would be full 17c justacorps coat and a felt hat with a feather. Many, many horsemen worldwide ride without safety headgear and seem content to do so, doesn’t bother me that they do. Each to their own.

 

[Gamebird]

It's the inappropriate footwear and the long flowing coats and billowing clothing that get me more than simply not wearing a hat.

It's a ridiculous charade aided and abetted by the sponsored best dressed rider awards.

Although you can't totally give them the blame given that Pippa won the award at Burghley wearing this (entirely sensible) ensemble:

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[belambi]

Interesting post.. Thanks for the photos from WEG ! I hadn't seen that one of us before.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

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.

Me, I do, everytime. It only takes one small trip.

 

[P.forpony]

I do believe in personal choice.
But in my experience the choice to wear protective gear of any kind is usually associated with that person's history and experience, eg the more nasty accidents you see the more likely you are to wear it.

I used to break western horses and work with untouched and unhandled youngsters in a cowboy hat, it was the norm in that time and place.
I know think I was a blithering idiot.

This morning I wore my hat to turn out 2 new foals.

In between these 2 events I have had a non horse related TBI, seen one friend in a coma with a depressed skull fracture and a missing ear from a kick while turning out her own horse, and another friend suffering long term effects from a TBI from a fall at walk when her sainted cob tripped over a rock.

So these days I think even if the risk is small, accidents happen and wearing a hat is such an easy thing to do.

 

[Skib]

I always wear a hat too. My great aunt was killed by a head injury on the ground so for years I wore a hard hat any time i was on the yard going into boxes or leading horses.
However, just lately, I wondered if I really needed to. I ride a very safe horse and no one else on the yard does. But I go on wearng it as there is not guarantee that a hat left in the tack room wont be knocked onto the floor. At least on my head I know it is safe.

 

[MagicMelon]

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 agree with this. We cant roll ourselves in cotton wool, we choose to be around big animals - I think we accept the risks. Its totally up to the handler if they wish to wear a helmet, they're not stopped from doing so. I dont agree rules should be in place demanding we do so. Ive trotted up my horse eventing and never worn a hat as I totally trust him. Same as if I would trot up for a vet or go and catch my horse, I wouldnt wear a hat.