Its International Helmet Awareness Day 2011!
I have to admit other than this year I did always wear my helmet at home when schooling, but at the shows changed into my western hat or hunt cap. This year Im sticking with my helmet. I figure that they can replace all of my joints, but they cant replace my head. And since I do have some balance issues occasionaly, everything I can do to make things safer I try and do it.
I grew up in a barn that no matter who you were you wore a helmet. The trainer relaxed the rules for shows, but for lessons everyone wore one. It was the same in most of the Hunter/Jumper barns that I worked in.
Not so much in any of the Qh barns that Ive been in. Most barns insist on helmets at home for the kids due to insurance reasons but those same kids will ride at the shows with nothing on. Out of 40 some horses at a QH show there will be 2 or 3 of us in the warm up pens in helmets. Most of the kids at C & D's wear helmets but the 16+ age group doesnt. And there parents dont think its a big deal, and neither do C &D.
And yes I have had judges tell me that in a western class it makes the judges doupt the horse, or the riders ability when the riding comes in wearing a helmet instead of a proper western hat.
Hopefully with increased awarness we can start to change peoples minds.
1 comment:
It makes me sad to hear a judge has said that... And that's why no one wants to wear a helmet in western classes... Kudos to you for wearing one in western classes anyway!
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