Why don't they wear riding hats in the America?

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cameronD26

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I just got through a parelli email and it has pictures in it and not one person wears a hat, i never see anyone in america wearing riding hats other than in competitions where it's probably mandatory? Why is this? I just don't understand does no-one out there ever fall off? Bizarre that we are looked at like we are mad here if we don't. Can someone enlighten me as to a reason?
 
Can't answer for Americans but I from conversations I have had on Canadian Forums MOST people do wear hats of some sort, the majority of hatless people ride Western (and there are helmets in that style too) I am not sure whether it is traditional not to or a vanity thing, certainly in most forms of western competition riding helmets are not seen, the only time I have seen a helmet worn in rodeos is by the Bull Riders which just proves that they haven't had all the sense knocked out of them.........yet!

The Forums I go on slam hatless riders just as much as any UK Forum does.

I wear a hat because I reason that I can't expect my daughter to if I don't.
 
Helmets for leisure riders in this country is a relatively new thing. Before the 70's most ladies war a head scarf and men wore trilbys or flat caps. Kids wore soft caps that looked like a riding hat but were not hard. Then we got the sort of hard hat that was very thinly lined with cork and had no chin strap!

My Grandmother hunted up till the 80's and wore a bowler. I think it is the Pony Club in the UK which made hard hats the norm. When I was a kid I wore a jockey cap, not the hard sort, literaly a soft cap like the hat covers we have today. My mother would not let me ride without it... better than nothing was her reconing!
 
and also over here most publications wont include any pictures of the hatless because of encouraging safe practise. they concievably could get sued if someones son/doughter imitates what they have seen on here for example. Canadians did seem to be very pro hats when i was there, everyone had to wear one, even the mega stars if they were jumping but i have to say they were a bit more casual the othe side if the border.
 
English riders here in Canada, as others have said, generally all wear hard riding hats. It's the western riders who don't.

In English riding competitions it is regulation to wear a hard hat - in western competitions there is no such regulation.
 
I think it has to do with Vanity. I am in the wild west, we have a lot of cowboys here, and a huge number of people wear helmets. In Southern California, where it is a very preppy scene most people do not.

If you have aspirations to be an organ donor then riding without a helmet is fine, if not I would put one on.
 
quite, I don't feel quite dressed without one and wouldn't dream of hacking without one on! My horse is an absolute gentleman, highly schooled and competed at the top level but is retired now. Whilst totally trustworthly and I know him inside out he threw me once (just once when he had hurt his knee and told me in no uncertain terms to get off right away! no lameness at first so not obvious to me) anyway i hit my head badly and worry what could have been on my 'totally predictable' horse without a hat. never say never with a horse.
 
I think originally it was simply because cowboys wouldnt have worn hats because its not something they'd even think about! And I guess with Western still being very popular there (obviously), they haven't introduced hats into it. Its just like the silly traditions we have like wearing USELESS top hats (or hats without straps) for evening showing performances or top level dressage! Same thing!

I personally never ride without a helmet but have ridden in the USA without one.
 
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