I just don’t get it…
Nov 12 2007
I admit I’m not a parent though. Many of you are. Please enlighten me. What would make you think it was a good idea to put your baby bareheaded with no stirrups on a horse with a long shank, leverage device on its nose and snap pictures? I see this and I think…horse moves forward for another bite. Horse steps on rein. Long shank leverage device cranks chain into horse’s lower jaw. Horse pops head violently up, jumps, possibly flips…either way, baby with absolutely no chance of hanging on falls to earth with or without horse or some part thereof such as hoof landing on top of her.
This lady’s response, when others on her message board pointed out that she was going to wind up on FHOTD with this, was “Just so you all know she does have a HELMET we took it off for a few pictures and her father was standing right there!!!”
Well, this mom was standing right there, too.
I know all about disciplines that don’t typically wear helmets. I was raised in one of those and I’m the first to admit I don’t wear a helmet unless I’m jumping or playing polo. But being a parent is different to me. My mother made me wear a helmet – albeit the crappy velvet one with the elastic string strap that we had in the 1970′s and 1980′s – every ride until I hit 18. To me, that’s your responsibility as a parent. When someone is 18, they may make their own decisions about what kind of risks they wish to assume. Until then, it’s your job to protect them any way you can think of, and requiring a helmet at all times while mounted is a pretty easy way to do that.
Parents, am I wrong? What do you think?
186 comments to “I just don’t get it…”
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While I feel sorry for the parents of the dead child they made so many mistakes. first was selling the pony and letting the child bug them into riding the horse. She was not big enough to ride it.
I am a horse person too but my daughter rode a horse that suited her size and never did she ever go without a helmut even now at 17 it is helmut or no riding. Now she has asked to ride certain horses at the farm and I say no if I feel she does not have the skill to ride it. Her safety is first!!!!We as parents have to make the right choice no matter how much they beg whine or threaten.
phe- I know I am a bit late, but we had one of those families in a barn I worked at too. Mom was a DR. & so was Dad. One was a bone specialist even, but the kids ran all over and not a word was said.
They climbed the bars on the stall fronts, sat on top of the cross beams, scaled the horse trailers jumping on the roofs of said trailers- no matter who they belonged to, ran through the barn aisles- horses out or not, jumped out of doorways as you were leading weanlings and yearlings in or out, swung from the arms of the hotwalkers, if they jumped high enough to reach the ties, climbed the squeezes of hay all the way to the top, only to scream bloody murder, they were afraid to come down.
More than one of the barn staff had bets on how long before someone got seriously hurt, and it would surely be our fault. They had a QH weanling filly they wanted to show halter. The Nanny was going to show her, so when she was at the barn, she was focused on the horse, not the children.
Extremely valid, and very astute for someone who does not have a child. Everything you said that might happen VERY WELL COULD HAPPEN, and they would ALL occur to me before I tried something like this with my child.
However, there are pictures of me as young as this little girl in the saddle with my mother. Though, admittedly, my mom was in the saddle, I was sitting in front of her, and her friend was holding the horses reins on the ground as well. And the horse was in his 20′s and dead broke. But still, I was her age, and on a horse, bareheaded.
So there ARE ways to get pictures like this without endangering your child too much.
My big question is… if daddy was ‘right there’ why isn’t he in the picture?
Because if it were MY kid, I wouldn’t step a foot away from it while it was on a horse like that. No way, no how, uh-uh.
If your helmet isn’t comfortable, you have the wrong helmet. There is a terrific selection of light, well ventilated helmets with very adjustable fitting systems. If your head isn’t as round as most, IRH makes a long oval. And don’t kid yourself that you only need to wear it when riding babies or in higher risk endeavors- horse people know better than most how quickly an accident can happen.
As far as you being willing to take the consequences of your decision not to wear a helmet, tell that to whoever ends up looking after your brain-damaged self.
Wow. Thats stupid! I think they shouldnt have events like barrel racing for little kids. I read the link. I think if they have them there should be some rules as to what kind of horse the kid is rding, and only allow small ponies, because its not as long to the ground, and some are easier to handle because they arent as strong. And the dad couldnt help if the horse spooked or reared, the dad is NOT as fast as the horse!
As far as you being willing to take the consequences of your decision not to wear a helmet, tell that to whoever ends up looking after your brain-damaged self.
That’s an excellent point. Tell it also to the taxpayers who ultimately bear the burden of your very expensive medical care. In Canada anyway.
I have only worn a helmet for showing. Never on the trail or training. That has all changed.
A local trainer was life flighted to Boise ID with internal bleeding and a fractured skull due to a horse accident. She is basically under house arrest now for the next two months because she is not allowed to do much of anything. She has over 30 horses to care for and train and foals will be arriving in January.
So I am in the market for a great every day helmet, any suggestions?
Oh yeah, I just bought a 5 yr old TB mare that is in foal to an Arabian for a real nice HA foal!
WOOHOO, I am no longer horseless!!
I do wish I was born in ‘the good old days’, though… Ask you parents the things they did with their ponies… Hunting (foxes, it was legal back then), cantering on the grass verges, playing cowboys and indians, galloping around in nothing but a head collar… Sounds like bliss to me
When my mum was 10, she bought a green exmoor pony and taught it PC games. She was allowed to hack out, on her own, age ten, and go up on the moors and along the country roads… I think her parents were quite lax… 
You should watch a good old PC games match, little kids (usually about 9 years old) galloping around, doing dead stops, leaning off the side to grab flags, sharp turns, all on hyper little welshies… It shouldn’t be amusing, but it really is!
When I have kids, I want them to ride as early as they can hold on, but they will be wearing a BP for the early years, and an approved hat for as many years as I have control over them
And as for helmet comfort…
I can tell you right now how comfortable traction is. And steel pins. And nerve regeneration. And ischemic contactures. And tissue reconstruction (grafts).
Ummmmmm not so much comfort there.
I was 8 and never even considered that such a thing could happen to me. Y’all are adults…surely you realise that such things could very well happen to you?
BTW, did you all happen to see all the folks applauding how ‘cute’ the little girl was and how ‘super’ ol’Dodger with his mechanical hackamore is?
Puhleeez, this lady is one click away from scraping her precious baby up off the ground.
What kind of person would advocate this??!!
In my mind, that’s almost as bad as the act itself.
http://www.moody-dressage.co.uk/wp-content/images/beckelly%20jump.jpg
See. How old would you say she is? Def under 10.. And I think there is nothing wrong with her doing XC at that age, she looks perfectly confident…
So I am in the market for a great every day helmet, any suggestions?
I have an IHA one. It was super cheap, and bright, bright purple. It matches my saddle pad and sparkly polo wraps. Yes, I am a grown up reliving my little-girl dreams
It is a great multi-use helmet. Well ventilated, lots of adjustability…it has the knob at the back, so you can guarantee a good fit.
Sarcastabitch,
You make some excellent points!!
Someone said in the posts today she had ridden with her 3-day-old baby onboard, but it was definitely NOT dangerous because she was a “competent professional” or some other such crap. I think most thinking adults would view that as child endangerment. I certainly do.
The ones with the ‘knob’ (Sorry, I’m immature, I know
) at the back aren’t as safe as the Skull caps, because the plastic can fracture. What you want is one of the ones you get at riding schools, with fabric on the inside, a layer of that protective stuff, and bobbly black plastic on the outside. With a nylon or leather harness.
MHQ- I almost hit a child on a four wheeler last night. Dad was on one, his daughter was on one and his son was on his. NONE of them were wearing helmets or protective gear of any sort. It was dark, and Dad pulled out leaving his two kids sitting there! WTG Parent of the Year!
The girl pulled out right in front of me, and I went sliding through the well lit intersection into the left turn lane of oncoming traffic. Had there been a car there I would’ve hit them head on, or hit her, but lucky for everyone, nobody was there.
We stopped the Dad and told him what happened, and the girl (about 10) said “I didn’t see you”. I had ALL of my lights on, including the fog lights.
Era said…
) at the back aren’t as safe as the Skull caps, because the plastic can fracture.
The ones with the ‘knob’ (Sorry, I’m immature, I know
That’s a good point. You can’t store them in -40, and if you take a good fall, you need to replace them.
With a helmet though, make sure it is approved (CSA in Canada) and make sure you read the little insert.
Some are fine for multiple impacts (like most snowboarding helmets) but some are only good for one big crash, like bike helmets.
I think that to get approved here, riding helmets must have a leather or nylon harness…not 100% on that though.
I am a mother of 2 boys aged nearly 2 and 4. They are almost as unpredictable as the horses!! I think its irresponsible to be letting a child ride before the age of 5. By all means teach them some horse sense till then. Why the rush? Someone should email Briannas story to this idiot.
Fugly – I couldn’t agree more about barrel racing horses that aren’t mentally compatible. I once did a barrel race at some high-school rodeo on my mare, then 3 years old, and to hear the comments made when she, you know, put on the brakes and slid to a stop when I asked her to (no pulling on the reins excessively, no yanking her in a tight circle, just “whoa, Molly”) made me wonder why these people have death wishes.
Barrel racing is all about speed, but it should also be all about CONTROL. Sadly, very few of the pros believe this either – they’ll run out of the area at full speed, and the organizers of the event let them.
CutNJump said…
phe- I know I am a bit late, but we had one of those families in a barn I worked at too. Mom was a DR. & so was Dad. One was a bone specialist even, but the kids ran all over and not a word was said.
Heh. Well, we know which doctors to avoid, don’t we? I don’t want someone with that little common sense or regard for their own offspring to be working on me or mine. (no kids yet…thank god for the patch).
The other thing with these girls were that they were flat out MEAN to some of the other kids, and if we hadn’t called them out on it, no one else would have. The mom sure wasn’t getting on their cases about their awful manners. This was several years ago. I hate to think what they’re like now. The people they were leasing the horses from weren’t particularly amused with her, either, and dropped the lease.
*shudder* Who in their right mind puts a four year old on a full sized horse and is not standing right there. I feel very sorry for the child whose parents have not got the guts to say “No” and make it stick.
No one ever said raising a strong-willed kid is easy. It’s not (voice of experience here). But *splutter* I cannot find words.
I insisted that my daughter wear a helmet when she rode *and* when she was working around the horses.
Thank you, FHOTD, for this blog; I’ve learned a lot. Anyone who yelps at begin skewered here really needs a clue or 678,923.
Cutnjump -
My point exactly!
As a parent and generally responsible person, I think it’s about exercising good judgement for yourself and the people you love who don;t have the experience yet to make good decisions for themselves. I rode while pregnant with both of my children. My young children have both ridden with me and sat on my finished horse alone, and gotten led around. I wear a helmet and a vest. My children wear helmets regularly. Have they ever been on without helmets? yep, I suppose. But not again. Also after reading this, I am reminded that I must recheck their helmet fit and get them vests too. I didn;t have any safety gear when riding as a child, but now we know more now.
OK– to posters who don;t choose to wear safety gear but are throwing stones at others… we all jusitfy our choices, but in the end your justifications don;t matter. They are your choices and you have to live with them — or not. Read on:
Fact: There is no correlation between riding proficiency and experience and equestrian injury rates (Dru Malavase, co-chair of the Equestrian Headgear Subcommittee for ASTM- quoted in Horse Illustrated October 2007, p 39)
Fact: Among English disciplines, less than 25% of accidents occur during jumping. 55% of injuries occur riding on the flat. And watch out as they go by, because 20% of accidents are to passerby or handlers on the ground. (Dru Malavase, co-chair of the Equestrian Headgear Subcommittee for ASTM- quoted in Horse Illustrated October 2007, p 40)
I wear my protective gear for every ride on every horse. Really, how stupid to have a broken back or cracked skull with your helmet hanging in the barn because you “only need it on green horses” or “only need it when jumping”.
Fact: You only need your helmet when you want to protect your head. any horse. any time. your choice.
Dayle – I had a fabulous appendix QH mare I used to occasionally do the games with. She would run her pattern and then slam to a halt on “HO.” I’d drop the reins and walk out of the ring on the buckle as people goggled in amazement. Same with trail riding – I could have 10 people take off galloping in front of me and that mare walked flat footed until I told her to do otherwise. When her former owner had her, a black plastic garbage bag blew underneath her at a canter. No spook.
I will admit, I tried to get that mare in foal even though she had a fuuuugly hammerhead, because of her mind and athleticism. You just don’t find that mentality very often. Unfortunately, she didn’t take.
>>I am a mother of 2 boys aged nearly 2 and 4. They are almost as unpredictable as the horses!!< <
This is such a good point. Even if the horse is great, little kids are prone to doing things without warning. Not that long ago, I saw a kid bolt into a pipe corral as his mother was trying to catch a scooty pony that didn’t want to be caught. Scary, scary. Later the same kid ran up to my horse and GRABBED her back legs. (Thank God this was a very non-reactive polo pony!) At that age if you can’t have someone watching them hands-on, don’t bring them to the barn!
Riding while pregnant? A friend of my was told by her groinocologist to keep on doing whatever activities she had been doing all along- including riding- just tone it down as the pregnancy progresses. I was told the same thing, by a different Dr.
Some of them may not be aware of horses, their nature, or the injuries a fall or being dumped can cause. If they are up on the Labor and Delivery floor and not in the ER how can you expect them to know these things?
I have two girls, 16 and 11, neither of them ride but I had them on horses as soon as they could sit up, a mom can hope. But they NEVER even sat on a horse unles they were wearing a helmet, I thought they looked cute, and safe, with the helmet on and I wasn’t about to take it off for a picture!! I was at a jumper show two years ago and had an accident over a jump and was knocked out cold while wearing my helmet (and vest), I cringe to think what could have happened if I wasn’t wearing my helmet!!
I have a helmet for my daughter (2.5 years, been having pony rides since she was a few months old), she always has someone walking next to her within less than an arm’s distance in case something happens, and another person leading the horse.
Actually my husband has to wear a helmet now too – he accepts the argument that if our girls see him wearing one, they will consider it ‘normal’ – but if he does not wear one then we will have endless battles in the coming years about the necessity. He’s a good boy, my husband
You may think I am obsessive about the leading, but there was a 4 year old kid killed last year in oz. He was strapped on his pony and allowed to ride independently (any child who has to be strapped on should be on the lead IMHO). He rode the pony into a stand of trees and the pony swiped him under a branch. Child died almost instantly
Paranoia as a parent is an absolute must! Like a car accident – it may never happen to you, but if it does, a seat belt can make the difference between life as an able human being and life in a wheelchair – or no life at all.
ho hum.
J
You know, i have a picture of me sitting on a horse at 9 months of age, no helmet, cheesy cowboy hat, my mother no where to be seen (probably the MOTY taking pictures)
I am a mother myself now. My son is just a year old. He has been around horses, ponies, dogs, chickens, and just about any other farm animal you can think of. Do you think that I have EVER put him on a horse or pony? NEVER. Even if I was holding onto him… that first “loss of grip” can be fatal, and until my son is big enough, OLD enough to stand up on his own, hold his own weight, and have a head big enough for a helmet… I’ll be DAMNED if I’m puttin him in a horse….
But I’m a responsible parent…
OK, can I just say I ALSO DO NOT GET “strapping” a child to a horse?
That’s just crazy! I’ve been riding for 32 years and it’d be a cold day in hell when I’d want to be STRAPPED to the saddle so that I could not get off in an emergency!
I work at a trail riding stable where the rule and state law is helmets on anyone mounted under 18.
Honestly? I don’t care whether or not they “ride all the time,” “are very experienced” or whatever. If you can’t just put a damned helmet on for ONE trail ride, then maybe you should reconsider your priorities. I’ve had PARENTS argue with me about the rule, let their kids storm off and ruin the ride, and other such antics. That’s just bullshit.
So, I like helmets on anyone under 18, just because it teaches it’s NO BIG DEAL. It’s just a helmet! Wearing one is not some badge of wimpyness, or whatever they think it is. And I don’t care if it messes up your hair. I’m sure you’ll live.
I’m not much of a “helmet nazi” because if you, as an adult, choose not to wear one, whatever. Not my problem, really.
(BTW, I’m 17, and I wear my helmet every time. When I’m 18, yeah, I’ll probably ride without sometimes. WHEN I TURN 18.)
What I love most is when parents say “HAHA That pony is crazy! Bucks all the time!” then send the kid in a parade or penning, sans helmet. Hello folks? Brain please?
Great post. What a sad story about Brianna. I’m sure her parents have gone thru enough grief already. I don’t know if it is certain disciplines or what, what some seem more prone to putting 4 year olds on speed demon horses. I cringe when ever I go to a speed event anymore, because I can without a doubt, bet on at least one horse wiping out, a few kids tied onto the saddle (how that is even legal I have no idea), one horse running into the gate, one horse going over the gate..talk about no control. I took my daughter to one, needless to say, it made me want to gag. 8 year olds, with 10 inch shanked bits, spurs, and whips. Poor horses. No riding ability either. Anyways.
I always wear a helmet now. When I was younger, where I lived, it wasn’t cool to wear one. I did sometimes, other times not. When I started training my mare, I always wore one. It was hard to do, because at that time I worked at a trail ride place and got made fun of horribly. That’s ok. I took my mare out after standing in her stall for 3 days, my friend was supposed to ride her but didn’t. Hopped on bareback, with my helmet. Made it less than a mile, before someone wiped out behind me on their bike..feet from my mare. She spooked, not too bad, but stepped sideways into another horse, which was enough to jolt me off her side. Landed on my side, feet under my mare, and cracked my head off the pavement. Without the helmet, I doubt I would of got right back up. I was also pregnant at the time too.
Some doctors don’t care if you ride, some don’t understand the risks. My doc told me it was fine as long as I took as easy. I rode up until 5 months before it got too cold. I did think it made it easier on me, but my mare was quiet too. I think you have to use good judgement with that.
I have a 7 year old daughter who is dying to ride, but it will be a while. Yes, I’ve held her on my horse, shes been sitting on her since the mare was a yearling, and yes I’ve led her around on the mare. Never off lead, it will be a long time before that. We are working on ground things now, how to put the halter on, where to stand, pick out feet etc. Riding will come in time.
How about while DRIVING? Not the car- but as in carriages, carts, etc. My daughter and I routinely helmeted up even for a quick spin in the buggy. Good thing too!
My BF, daughter and I took the pony out for a neighborhood jaunt on a brisk January day. Didn’t get to turn her out, so figured we would strong trot it out of her system. Well, we didn’t get the chance and later we tried to stop at a yard sale and thats where things headed south.
She bolted down the road at a full gallop. She is small, but really fast and was running as if to beat hell. I figured I could talk her down, and proceeded to try to calm the frightened pony, until as she was running, one of her rear hooves struck the floorboard of the cart. Then every stride became scarier, as she started kicking the cart as hard as she could with BOTH back feet, while running full steam.
One shaft had broken off at her shoulder so turning her right, wasn’t an option, and houses on the left ruled out that direction. I had just told my daughter to grab my arm, as I was considering jumping out of the cart, and using my body to sheild hers as we went. My friend was going to follow suit once we were clear.
As I was preparing to exit the cart as we were running down the street about the distance of 4-5 houses she bolted to the right and across the street, headed directly for a tree. As the pony and cart entered the yard and over the rock border the right shaft broke again- this time near her hip. This caused the singletree and crossbar to twist and splinter into toothpicks. The bolts holding the basket onto the cart sheared off as if they were cut, and the whole bottom of the cart fell out from under our feet.
Somehow we went with it. The pony was going so fast that as we were dumped out between her back feet and the seat of the cart, we all hit the ground and the seat of the cart went over our heads before we got a chance to look up. Doing so would have killed one of us for sure. By the time we were up off the ground, the pony and what was left of the cart, were wedged in a bush two houses down.
For anyone who has been through a driving or cart accident, it is scarier than anything on horseback as now you have the cart to contend with as well. Being behind them can be far more dangerous than being on top of them. Yet most diving shows require hats, but not helmets.
BTW- we led the pony home and came back for the remnants of the cart with the truck.
This pony was unable to mentally handle retraining so is no longer used for driving.
If you teach children from the toddler age “Horses near…Helmets ON” – the issue of wearing a helmet stays with them.
And please don’t tell me that holding them on the other side by the leg or ankle will work. If that horse throws it’s head up and pops sideways – the parent is probably going to be pushed off balance as well.
AND NEVER EVER EVER with out a helmet on a child.
No doubt, cutnjump.
I was behind a really great paint mare when one of the wheels came off the cart I was in.
Fortunately she was REALLY broke to drive (like reserve world championship in pleasure driving broke to drive!), and just stopped. It could have been REALLY bad had it been a green horse.
Somebody was looking out for us that day, we sure got lucky.
Monoceros said “I’m not much of a “helmet nazi” because if you, as an adult, choose not to wear one, whatever. Not my problem, really.”
Uhrm… It may end up being your problem. Head injuries can be devastating and some people wind up needing life long nursing care. Someone has to pay those bills. Insurance? Well, premium payers pay those bills. No insurance? The taxpayers pay those bills . Those bills can be high, indeed. Last I looked at nursing home costs it ran over $4000 per month.
And please think of the people who may have to deal with you/your remains if you are tossed and land wrong.
The FF/EMTs are (for the most part) good, caring people. They will *hurt like hell* if you’re injured to the point where you die on them. Running a fatal call is tougher than you can know.
And running a call on a kid who dies is something they just never quite get over.
My heart goes out to the first responders/EMTs/FF/ hospital staff/cops who had to care for Brianna. Some of them probably will always wonder if there was just one more thing they could have done to save her.
A dear friend of mine, an EMT, rolled on a fatal car accident where the victim was a 3 yo girl. Even though nothing could have saved that child he still was replaying the scene for a few weeks trying to think of what they might have done. Thanks be, he’s come to terms with it.
No, behavior has consequences beyond our own immediate selves.
Angel With A Broken Halo: There’s a good selection of helmets on the market these days to choose from, a lot of them with vents for coolness on hot days, lightweight, attractive, ranging from not very expensive to ridiculously priced (those faddish skunk-striped GPA Titium ones come to mind), and way better than the hideous mushrooms that the first generation of safety helmets were.
Which to choose? There are enough brands of helmets in each price range to give you a good selection. What I would recommend strongly is that you go to a tack shop with a wide variety and try on several to find one that fits you comfortably.
It shouldn’t make your head ache, but it should be snug enough so that when you wriggle it on your head the skin of your forehead moves with it. The front shouldn’t be down to your eyebrows but it should be lower than your hairline. Most helmets have means to adjust the fit somewhat, either by altering the inside cradle or by inserting foam pieces, but if it takes more than minor adjustments to get the fit feeling good, it’s probably not the right helmet for you.
Troxel is a good not expensive brand, and so is Tipperary, but try as many brands as you can. Also, if you decide to replace a helmet with a new one, don’t automatically buy the same brand, because the fit can change as new models come out. My older helmets were early generation Troxel Sports, and they fit great. Later I bought a Troxel Dakota, a very attractive helmet, and it too fit well. But recently when I tried on helmets, I found that the latest generation of Troxels didn’t fit me worth a darn. Instead, a Tipperary fit as if it had been made for me.
So, as I said, try a bunch on before you buy. Only buy out of a catalog if you already know the exact model you’re purchasing will fit you correctly. Oh, and any knowledgeable tack shop employee should be able to help you find just the right fit, whatever the price range you’re shopping in.
Oh, yeh — here’s a link to Dover Saddlery’s selection of riding helmets:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/
helmets/c/39/c2c/bc/
As you can see, there’s a helmet for every price range and every taste on appearance, from conservative and traditional to wild wild wild! But still, don’t buy from the website; but in person to assure the best fit.
Just a couple of comments:
** I took exception to the “hillbillies with dead deer” comment. Sorry, but for some of us hunting is part of life. Deer hunting in particular. Here in Wisconsin the deer population is so out of control that DNR is practically begging people to hunt – both the bow season and the 9-day gun season. There will probably be an additional gun session added next year, as there are way too many deer. In some areas, they hired sharpshooter to try to thin the herd. And some of us, certainly no more hillbilly than YOU, do depend on venison to supplement the meat supply. It’s much healthier than beef. And yes, there is pride in hunting for many people, most of whom are not hillbilly-ish by any means. I get a little tired of some of the posts where, if something is happening with which you are not familiar or accustomed, it’s “hillbilly” or “redneck” or something. Get a life.
The other comment is about small children and minis or ponies. I think it’s great to start a child out on a horse that he/she can ride more comfortably, something smaller. But I have to say that I just cringe when I see some idiot parent or grandparent take the kid on a large trail ride on a mini or small pony. Plenty of horses are startled by these little animals and that mini puts the kid’s head at an excellent height for a kick by a horse. Of course, I’m not a huge fan of giant trail rides, too many stupid people on unbroke horses on these things. You can almost bank on a terrible wreck.
Never Ben Better,
Our local tack shop is Vickers Western Wear, so they only have the cheap cheap helmets. They aren’t knowledgeable at all on most of their tack and the man that is supposed to be is a crotchety old bastard.
I will probably have to drive 2 hrs to Boise to look at helmets but it will be worth the price in fuel if I ever come off a horse.
Thank you everyone for your great advice on helmets. You have help me out immensely!
Anne -
Very true. And actually, as the guide, it IS my problem if they fall off on my watch.
That wasn’t a very good way to put it, actually.
I understand how my actions will interact with others’…however, that why I will mostly wear a helmet when mounted, I always wear my seatbelt, drive carefully, don’t drink alcohol, and don’t do drugs.
Another thought- I’ve been present for a number of falls where the instructor did NOT check for a concussion afterward. Maybe it’s just my training, but I was taught ANY time you even THINK they might have hit their head, check pupil dilation, can they wiggle their toes, and dizziness, etc.
I had an old bombproof pony when I was two because my Mum got the oppurtunity to buy back her pony from when she was a kid. Yea I have some dangerous pics of me sans helmet on this ancient steed, but never without an adult.
When I was 7I could ride by myself and jump tiny jumps on the same old pony who was nigh on a saint. I liked learning to ride when I was really young. I never rode on a saddle so I couldn’t get caught up and that balance has never left me.
However, I do believe helmets should always be worn for all equine disciplines. I have always had a helmet and will always wear one. Honestly I’m not sold on back protectors. They are thinking about making them mandatory now for all riding. Cross country I always wore a back protector and on babies, but I feel they seriously impede your riding.
Don’t forget that a lot of emergency responders are volunteers if you are not in an urban area. That means it could be your neighbor responding to help. I have been there, was a volunteer for 5 years and nothing worse than showing up on a scene and knowing the person.
If you look closely, the rein is between the horse legs on one side.
My daughter put my grandson up on my old mare when he was very small, but she didn’t let go of him, and I would photoshop her out of the pictures. Once he was able to sit up on the horse himself, he always wore a helmet.
Stupid people!
I read the story of the little girl several years ago. Very sad, and a helmet wouldn’t have saved her, but most times, it makes a difference.
That story made me sad and angry. I feel for the mom and dad for their loss. I had to watch my parent grieve over the death of my younger brother 10 yearsd ago this Dec 30th. We have 4 children. The two older ones ride. the oldest is confident enough to trail ride with me…she is 12. Our 10 yo is not so assertive with the horses…so she stays in the riding area. They were helmet…end of story.
Angel, I don’t know if this is possible, but you could call and ask a catalog retailer if they take back helmets that don’t fit. If so, then you could order what looked good in your price range, and return it for another brand if it didn’t work for you. Of course, that’s also a hassle, isn’t it? And takes way more time than making the hike to Boise.
Man, am I ever spoiled: I have three excellent tack shops within 20 minutes of where I live.
Whatever you do to get a helmet, two things are always important:
1. It should have a label saying it’s ASTM/SEI approved. Means it’s been put through a number of tests to confirm that it meets safety standards, as explained here:
http://www.equisearch.com/
horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/
english/safety100703/
2. It’s GOT to be so comfortable that you won’t find yourself coming up with reasons not to wear it (“I’m just puttering around the ring… We’re only walking… This horse is so bombproof I can trust him completely…”). It’s so easy to start out with all good intentions, but if the helmet makes your head ache or itch or otherwise feel lousy, you won’t stick with it.
Angel With A Broken Halo…
To elaborate a bit on the various helments -the two inexpensive ones I like are the Troxell & the Tipperary.
The Troxell model I have has an adjustment dial on the back strap that accomodates ponytails etc.
The Tipperary is very low profile (no giant egg-head look) and the straps are really comfortable.
Erin said…
7 year old daughter who is dying to ride, but it will be a while. Yes, I’ve held her on my horse, shes been sitting on her since the mare was a yearling
May I asked why you were riding a yearling?
You DO know there are tons of posts saying WHY this is a bad idea?
I did not ride my horse as a yearling. I’m not sure where you got that at. I said yearling, but my mare at the time was very close to two, or two. I don’t remember. I would hold my daughter while she sat on the mare, both hands on her waist, while someone else held her. My mare was rather small, pony sized at the time so it wasn’t like I was reaching way up in the air or only holding one leg. And yes, she had a bike helmet on, which I know isn’t the best, but finding a helmet for a little one at the time, was darn impossible, and she was just sitting on her.
I have been looking at the Troxels and some other names that I don’t recognize in the Jeffers catalog. They rang in price from $35 to $160. But I am waiting for my Dover & Millers catalongs to arrive before I decide what to do.
Does the old addage of “you get what you pay for” apply to helmets too?
The mare that I bought is 5 and has been ridden regularly in the Training levels of Dressage. (I know I need to learn tons about Dressage so excuse my ignorance when it comes to Dressage terms.)
She is 16.1 and in great shape. They have taken great care of her. She is due to foal in June so I have some time to just putt around on her.
It has been a yr since I have done any serious riding so a helmet is a must.
I, like you, had caring parents who made me wear a helmet. Even now, I wear a helmet ALWAYS unless I’m competing in a judged class like WP or Equitation. I wear it when I barrel race, when I trail ride, when I’m working cows. Many would dissagree, but hey- I’m not about to be in a hospital somewhere having a nurse change my diapers because my brain has been mashed.
In my oppinion you don’t appreciate a helmet until it’s done some good for you. I was working over trotting poles with my old, trusted gelding. I lost my stirrup and my balance, and came off right under him. My helmet was completly smashed to bits. I can’t imagine what my head would have looked like.
Hi Everyone,
I just finished drying my eyes after reading the Brianna story. How sad.
I got my first horse/pony when I was just 7. My parents were not horse literate even though my mom had ridden before. The horse we got was supposed to be “kid broke”, however he was a 2yo APPY who was far from it. I know now that no horse is actually kid broke whatever their age might be.
I do believe that I gave my mother most of her gray hair and heart problems riding that wild thing.
No I never rode with a helmet and still do not…although I think I need to rethink that one.
By the time my mother sold that horse (I had moved to be with my dad) he was broke to ride, jump, drive, neck rein, etc.
I WAS the original redneck, hillbilly, know nothing backwoods hick. I rode my horse bareback in shorts and barefooted. I rode everywhere all day long by myself. There are things that I did then that still give me nightmares because as I’ve gotten older and learned much more about horses, makes me cringe. The way I used to do things and the way I do them now are night and day. I had no Internet, no one to help me or teach me. I did learn a lot from books but I made sure I tried to learn everything possible from anyone who seemed like they had knowledge. But most I did on my own.
I recently told my fiance that if we have kids, I hope they don’t want to ride. I’m afraid they will be like me…more will to ride than brains. I know that once they are on a horse or even around it, my level of control drops dramatically. I don’t know that I could handle my precious child getting hurt by the animals I love the most. I KNOW how unpredictable they all are, even the dead broke ones. It only takes a second, it only takes one fall.
I had absolutely no fear when I was a kid. The day that my horse was dropped off, I climbed up (no saddle) and wanted to ride. That horse took off at a dead run, came to a field, reared straight up and took off in another direction. I don’t know how I stayed on and my parents couldn’t get me off, even after they caught him. I don’t know how my mother handled it.
What happened to Brianna is my worst nightmare. I feel so bad for her parents. I see things like this all the time.
Erin, I have used a bike helmet on my kids too. That was before they came out with the smaller helmets for kids.
My adoptive mother had me on the horse with her when she brought me home, I was six months at that time and it was 1968. After that I was addicted and would run off from her at 2 yrs old and go into the pasture to be with the horses. Many times she had to drag me out from under their bellies as I was brushing them.
When I look back on all of the things that I did with the horses, from 2 yrs old till I was 17, I am very surprised that I am still alive.
I did ride when I pregnant with all 4 of my kids and never ever had any accidents or near accidents. My birth mother rode horses while she was preggo with me too.
But in this day and age and being more “enlightened” I would never do it again. Amazing what age can do to and for you, isn’t it!
Also- I haven’t worn a helmet while driving, but the youngsters do. After reading catnjump’s story I think I just might starts :S
I have been reading in some of these posts that some of you take your children to shows and it is not a mandatory requirement to wear helmets. Let me express a little outrage at these organisers! It should be the rule that children under a certain age cant ride without one(18 at most of my local shows). All children wearing a helmet no impartial judging! I guess it all comes down to a 50 cent ribbon….
i am very protective of my son and he rarely is on a horse without a helmet and more rarely out of my arms reach. He is nine and has a disability. I can say that I have put him and other ‘babies’ on horses, but with my hand on their beltloops the whole way.
i can guarantee my MOTHER instinct is stronger than my ‘horse protect’ instinct so if my hubby or friend was leading a horse and it misbehaved, my kid might have quite the ‘wedgie’ but th ehorse can just run off in the arena.
All that said…my son has a helmet, he wears it when he is on the horse without me TOUCHING him…and we are never on hard surfaces.
He actually reminds ME to put my helmet on b/c I have ingrained it into him.
it terrifies me that people feel that the ‘photo moment’ is more important than being ‘hands distance’ from their child. i can crop myself out of the pic if I need to….easier than put my kids head back on.
I hazard a guess these are the same peopel who refused to pull over into a gas station to nurse their babies….and took them out of carseats. Couldn’t be ten minutes late to grandma’s hosue for safety, now could we?
SO a long post to say….I rode all my youth years sans helmet, and luckily lived…now I wear a helmet and so does my son, but it is all a matter of degrees, just like anything. I wear seatbelts every time I drive, but when i had a two mile driveway I didn’t on the drive…same sort of idea.
But for the love of GOD if you child is a toddler don’t let GO of the horse or better yet the kid.
Monoceros any bang on the head should be looked at as a possible concussion if there is any sign of impaired consciousness (orientation to person, place, time and event). Checking the pupils (equal, round and equally reactive to light) and neuros (equal grip strength, sensation and such) is good; but you also need to check again later.
There are nasty little things like subdural hematomas that may not present with symptoms immediately.
I’m glad to know that you’re a responsible person; the world needs more like you.
There are too many idiots like the parents of that little girl. I really think that they were seriously negligent. Does anyone know if there were any child endangerment charges brought against them?
“Erin, I have used a bike helmet on my kids too. That was before they came out with the smaller helmets for kids.”
I just recently noticed the last few years they are making them smaller. I was just paging thru some catalogs today and realized how much smaller they have got. Right now my daughter is not riding, and won’t until I get a saddle that fits and a helmet that fits. I spotted a cute pink one that I bet she would love.
FHOTD-
You are dead right about the picture thing, too…. i have a TB that I am retraining who is a piTA when you ask him to do much more than trot and he is learning, but standing grazing i could set a wild turkey on his back.
As for kids having to be able to control their horses, before they ride…let’s jsut go watch some shows in the adult arenas…alot of people would have to change hobbies! LOL
People want to believe those pictures mean horses are tame, but my most ‘game’ horse is calm as cucumber in hand with my son on her…but saddle her, tack her and she is ready to go cross country. It means NOTHING…
A very sad commentary on the lack of education when it comes to helmets. I had a tack shop. 99% of parents came in asking for a cheap helmet. They did not want to spend the money on anything too expensive. Lessons were expensive enough. The one and only time a mother asked for the “best money can buy” was the mom who watched a horse roll over her daughter. Her daughter spent a week in the hospital. The doctors said the only reason her daughter survived and was eventually totally recovered was because she was wearing a helmet.
I have small children. If they are on a horse they have on a helmet and proper footwear. Not to mention a saddle that fits them and has stirrups set to their length. Someone always has hold of the horse. If it is a toddler for a photo shot there is always one person holding the horse and one holding the child. I do not take stupid chances with my children. I plan on having grandchildren someday
I am an object lesson in why people should protect their brains.
When I started riding in 1967, we had velvet hunt caps with a little loop of elastic to hold it on (not very well). The rule back then was to wear a cap while jumping but it was okay not to wear one for working on the flat or trail riding. The risks of head trauma were not well understood at that time.
Something no one else has mentioned is that there is a very high correlation between clinical depression and head trauma. Over sixty percent of people who have a concussion experience an episode of clinical depression, onset within 18 months of the concussion.
People who have experienced one bout of clinical depression are at higher risk for a second bout. After the third round with clinical depression, the risk of experiencing another episode is very close to 100%.
I never fell while jumping but I had my share of falls and a few spectacular crashes while schooling on the flat or trail riding. Had three accidents where I lost consciousness and a couple others where I probably would have been checked nowadays. Back then, the rule of thumb was that if you didn’t lose consciousness, you were okay and didn’t need medical attention. Even if you lost consciousness, so long as you could stand and walk around within five to ten minutes, most people didn’t bother with medical attention.
Skipping ahead 40 years? I have clinical depression, incompletely controlled by medication. Three different psychiatrists and three different psychologists have each said that talk therapy is not indicated because I am mentally well balanced (I’ve moved a couple times and each time I get a new psychiatrist, I’ve had to get new evaluations). The problem is in the biochemistry of my brain.
I’m not drooling, I’m not cognitively impaired and until recently I was able to support myself (contracted necrotizing fasciitis and am now disabled). But dealing with depression on a daily basis is not fun, to say the least.
Would this have happened if I hadn’t suffered so many concussions? Impossible to know but I’ve been told that considering my generally well balanced outlook, probably not.
So, I take my meds, I exercise, I eat sensibly, I drag myself through each day and I look like I’m okay. Not many people know that I’m really not okay and haven’t felt okay in over thirty years. It’s kind of like dragging around with the mental equivalent of a cold–I can function but that mental cold sure is a drag.
Back then we weren’t completely insane. The popular rule of thumb for children under 12 years old was that the child’s number of years riding plus the horse or pony’s age should equal 30 or more. It was assumed that the horse had been ridden regularly for the vast majority of it’s life.
Small children were started on elderly Shetlands that were not lame but were not going to move faster than a walk even if you lit off a bomb under their butt. Every stable seemed to have a couple of these elderly ponies that were essentially retired and living out their last years with pampering and a great deal of love for their bombproof temperaments.
Children were only allowed to ride off the leadline on one of those lovely pensioners if they could groom, saddle and mount without any assistance. If the child wasn’t tall enough to mount a nine or ten hand pony from the ground, they weren’t tall enough to ride without an adult attached to the pony to supervise them.
I wish I had never read the story. Oh, how horrible!
Our 4-H club makes the kids watch a movie about wearing a helmet. It made quite an impression on my daughter, who made me promise never to ride without one (I had previously ridden without one if I wasn’t jumping). One day I was schooling her horse — at home by myself — when the horse went down to her knees and slammed me on the ground. Thank God I was wearing my helmet.
I now believe that not only should you always wear a helmet, but you must also never ride alone.
I don’t know if someone already posted this, but on the topic of wearing a helmet during western classes at a show…here are some solutions:
Troxel Cheyenne
Troxel Sierra
Hobby Horse Helmet Slinky Cover
Erin, I just still find it kinda irresponsible from the horse standpoint if you were having anyone sit on a long yearling. Sorry, but it’s just my opinion. You won’t see me doing that with mine.
As for bike helmets, my mom used to make me wear one when I went to the trail riding places (when I was 4-6 years, probably) I would say that the Farm and Fleet (this was before the TSC buyout) didn’t even carry helmets that long ago. A few years later, I had my own helmet.
But back then, I bet you that you are probably right – they just didn’t make them that size. I know they do now, but even finding my sister’s purple schooler back when she was not quite yet a size small was near impossible because they either were baby baby helmets or adult size.
I don’t like those dial IRH’s. We use them in our riding program and wearing one is uncomfortable. I prefer a CO or a nicer IRH. I don’t like any bells or whistles on the helmet, but vented is nice.
We used to put our son (5 years old) on Star, our big pony. Star was a rascal, as every horse can be, someone always held on to Star. We would walk around the section line, leading Star with our son on his back.
I wouldn’t put my baby on a horse…
just think of what could happen.
My son is 10 and only now am I starting to teach him to ride. He always wears a helmet too and so do I. Gotta be a good example and I need to do something to show him that I care about being around to watch him grow up.
If you hate the looks of a helmet, get over yourself!
If your kid hates the looks of a helmet, BE THE PARENT and make sure they always wear it!
What does everyone think of those child “buddy seats” that go behind the regular saddle. They terrify me.
Does anyone make their kiddos wear helmets when grooming/leading as well? Just curious.
I don’t have kids, but at a camp I worked the kids had to have helmets on even while grooming. Even an innocent cow-kick at flies could do major damage to a kid stooping to pick up a brush or something. (The camp learned this the hard way, thus the rule).
**Minimama: I have small children. If they are on a horse they have on a helmet and proper footwear.**
Proper footwear, oh, yes, proper footwear! No sneakers, no shoes without proper heels, no way should any kid (or adult, for that matter) ride with stirrups in footwear like that. Especially if the rider can’t keep a stirrup on the ball of the foot rather than shoving it home to the arch.
Being in the UK, I’ve never been on a horse without a hat on (Besides those rebellious teenage days where adult supervision was lacking). Riding schools here are iffy even when it come to you taking your hat off for 2 seconds while they are holding your horse so you can remove a layer of clothing. Some places will even make you wear hats when you are leading horses to and from fields.
My mother would have a FIT if I so much as thought of riding without a hat – and I’m almost 20! She wouldn’t let my start riding until the riding school had a hat that would fit me, and then bought me my own as soon as she was certain I was interested. She’d never have put me in this situation – not in a million years. If she had her way I’d wear my body protector every time I rode, not just for XCountry etc. And it’s not because she’s scared of horses – she rides herself – it’s because she KNOWS what can happen.
Now I’m old enough to effectively do what I like when it comes to riding safety (except around customers – have to set a good example) I still ALWAYS wear a hat. I may do other things that are not strictly as safe as you can be – we all do – but those things have saved my life on at least one occasion, and I’m not about to go without for the sake of a little sweat.
Kids at the riding school? We spend AGES at the start of each lesson getting a correctly fitting hat on them, to the point of running late most of the day. Kids get led from the ground until they can control the horse indepedantly, and led from another horse out on hack for a while after that. Independant control pretty much amounts to beign able to control where your horse is going, at which speed, able to stop iot muching on grass whenever it feels like and old enough to follow instructions. These riding school ponies are old hands. They know the SECOND you let go that there’s no one there to control them, and all the have to do it put their head down to grass and off the kiddie pops. We don’t teach kids under five for precisely this reason (though we do give occasional pony rides) – you NEED the balance and strength just to stay on.
Never Ben Better said…
“**Minimama: I have small children. If they are on a horse they have on a helmet and proper footwear.**
Proper footwear, oh, yes, proper footwear! No sneakers, no shoes without proper heels, no way should any kid (or adult, for that matter) ride with stirrups in footwear like that. Especially if the rider can’t keep a stirrup on the ball of the foot rather than shoving it home to the arch.”
———————————–
I had a great paid or Terrain Lacers last yr. After hubby got a local driving job I gave them to him, didn’t have a horse didn’t really need them. Well the turkey loves them and says that they are the most comfortable boots he has evern worn.
So, now I have a new horse and need new boots and I am going to hide them from him!!
I had a great paid or Terrain Lacers last yr.
Geez learn how to type. I meant pair not paid.
I always wear my helmet when riding, and would NEVER let anyone (much less any kids of mine) ride my horse without one. My horse is almost bombproof, I rode her through a slate quarry last week when they were blasting and she didn’t even bat an eyelash, but I don’t believe any horse is truly ‘bombproof’. I’ve refused to let people on my horses before because they don’t want to wear a helmet. I don’t care if it makes you look silly, it’s safe.
The reason I wear my helmet? I still remember one of the times I fell off my horse. She tripped in a hole and went down on one knee, vaulting me over her head. I cracked my helmet when my head hit a rock. If I didn’t wear my helmet that day I would probably have gotten seriously injured. Luckily she regained her balance and didn’t fall, but I rolled as soon as I hit the ground just in case.
I went to couple of gymkhanas this summer, just for fun. I’m really not competitive in times to all those people on super high strung gaming horses, but I do it for fun. My and the small group I went with were the ONLY people outside of the ‘under 5 years old’ division wearing helmets. Even the lady who was thrown off in two consecutive events didn’t smarten up and put a helmet on until she almost fell a third time.
I had to give my much older sister in law grief the one day at my parents farm (where my brother and his wife also live with their two children). We were saddling up the horses and mine was a really old, gentle thing that wouldn’t hurt a fly. My youngest niece came running up to me screaming and yelling (just being an excited four year old). I gave her heck, telling her to go back walk up quietly and softly to the horse and that you never ever run up to a horse. My sister in law’s response to this was “what’s the big deal? It’s only Porky.” She has had horses and barrel raced in the rodeo circuit for many years so she should know better. I told her that yes this time it was only Porky but Porky isn’t going to be around forever and your kids need to learn proper respect for horses and all animals. They are after all animals.
There was also another time when I was 16 (and I’ll admit I was one of those kids that was on a horse before I could walk and rode regularly on my own). I was very confident of my horse skills. But like any teenager you forget some things. I was going out to the barn to let the horses out and I had one of my nieces with me. Usually she would just stand in the empty stall but for some reason that day I lifted her up and made her stand in the manger. I forgot that one certain horse could not be let out last or he would have a freak out attack. So I let all the other ones out first and Moose just lost it, I was in the stall with him and couldn’t get him untied while he was freaking out, so he broke the wood that was holding his lead rope on, flew straight back right into the stall that my niece was standing in the manger. Luckily no one was hurt (except my pride when I had to tell my dad the reason why the stalls needed repair) but kids are kids and they can be careless.
And on another note about the picture with the baby on it. It’s not even a matter of the horse spooking, that kid is so small and has no balance so all it will take is that horse to take one step or even just shift his weight to another leg and that kid will fall off. We have taken many pictures like that but we are always holding onto the kids leg and tryint to “hide” on the other side of the horse so that it only looks like the kid is on it’s own.
Stupidity of humans never ceases to amaze me. “Potential Natural Cull of the Mr. and Mrs. Ignorameous Gene Pool” should be the title to that picture.
http://newsok.com/article/
3168582/1194970413
This is a story in today’s Daily Oklahoman about a 7 yo girl who was killed at a rodeo this past weekend when her horse reared up and fell on her. This story is all too common around here.
I don’t have the details on what happened. She may or may not have been wearing a helmet, and in a rollover accident, it may not have even helped.
Even the best horses are dangerous. I’m the dork who shows up for the weekend cowboy camping trail ride wearing a helmet. It has saved my noggin on more than one occasion. Most of the time, I put my helmet on as soon as I walk in the barn doors and don’t take it off until I’ve put the horses out and am headed back to the house.
reader said…
“…Our 4-H club makes the kids watch a movie about wearing a helmet. It made quite an impression on my daughter…”
Oh! I’m pretty sure I know that movie! My 4H club watched it too. Is it older?
We also had a very bizarre but effective presentation involving eggs and dropping them with and without tiny tiny helmets.
YES, this is horrifying. To even think that it makes people think it’s a safe horse is just dumb.
I HATE seeing those horses for sale with tiny kids on them showing how “safe the horse” is. totally out of line to think that you can ride a safe horse without a helmet. You know how many people have been dumped on safe horses.?? I certainly am one of them. Everyone wears helmets at my house. MY INSURANCE would not cover them if they don’t.
I still don’t get how horse training/boarding places don’t require hemets??..they just must not have insurance.
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=32
I found this derby helmet, can they not make cowboy hats the same way?
I just tried out for a western drill team and they are telling me it is required that I wear a cowboy hat for the shows. I would rather sit out the shows than ride at a gallop with a bunch of other horses.
Nurse In Boots- Do my youngsters wear a helmet while handling/grooming? Yes and no. If I’m not there RIGHT NEXT to them then yes. And I make them wear it while picking out the hind feet.
iamhbo, they used to make western helmets like that, but they looked totally cheesy and weighed about 20 pounds. They were probably the most uncomfortable things on earth.
Sorry, I would rather look like a dork and still have all my mind than look like a “cowgirl” and be in a hospital bed the rest of my life.
The first thing that came to my mind when reading that barrel racing story was that the mom couldn’t say no to her child. YOU ARE MOM, you should know better. Kid wanted to practice, you got the funny feeling, horse was already acting stupid. No brainer. Let the kid throw a temper tantrum, deal with it. No matter how intelligent a 4 year old seems, they just DO NOT have the body mass to control a 1100 pound horse by themselves. Sure, at least she was only walking barrel patterns- but duh, shit still happens when you’re on the other end of the ring.
I was sometimes known as the bitch to some campers when running a ranch camp, as the kids had gotten away with a LOT of stuff in past years, but you know, I had MAYBE a 1/4 of the accident reports from the previous years, and the kids still had fun.
I’d respond in more detail, but I’m going to get off this computer and spend some time with my kids. Because that is why I’m a mom. Thanks for posting that brave & heartbreaking story.
I’ve been reading here for months, but this is the first time I’ve been motivated enough to post to go get the google account, etc.
I am a single mother and “small time” Morgan breeder. I used to consider myself a “back yard breeder” because of the small nature of our operation (quality over quantity), but we definitely don’t fit YOUR definition of that title!
My two daughters, 11 & 16, were raised on this farm, around horses from birth. They began riding – leadline – around 2 or 3 (when they could sit up, hold on, balance, and understand what was going on). We have some very simple rules and they are never broken – wear a helmet; be safe; respect the animals; value your life.
My girls do not enter a pasture with horses without a helmet on. They do not pet, groom, tack up or load a horse without a helmet on. They always wear proper footwear when handling the horses, and long sleeved shirts to ride. Their visiting friends must follow the same rules. We keep ample spare helmets & boots in a variety of sizes.
Yes, we have had accidents and incidents, as will happen around horses, but no major injuries – because the proper safety precautions were taken.
I have seen my daughters approach parents at events and offer to lend their child a helmet. They can’t understand why someone would take such a risk!
Mind you, they’ve seen what a brain injury can do (me – unrelated to horses) and they respect the value of the brain, the ease at which it can be damaged, and the profound effects of such damage.
FHOTD, I think the greatest service you perform with this blog is your efforts to get parents to value their children’s lives. Thank-you. I hope some pay attention and it saves a child.
i would be dead had it not been for a helmet. granted i fell off of a bicycle on a treacherous slope and not a horse, but i am all for helmets. period.
Oh my God! I read that story in the link and bawled my eyes out. My husband can’t understand why I am so picky about what horse my kids get to interact with. Whether it is petting, sitting on, or anything else, I surpervise every minute. I still know it takes one second and the worst can happen. I can’t imagine the guilt that poor woman feels. I never wore a helmet but as a parent, I make sure my kids wear one. It can’t save them from everything. But it is a start.
I’ll back you up on that, Fire of the Phoenix.
like you, I had a fairly severe biking accident(downhill, sidewalk next to busy road) and I firmly believe that if I had not been wearing a helmet( and my guardian angel working overtime), I would have been killed.
as it was, I walked away with a banged up nose and scraped elbows, but nothing like the pulverized nose, broken jaw, etc that I would have sustained otherwise.
As a rider, I have seen several instances of horses who are certainly reliable go down through no fault of their own. In one case, a girl was doing some light pole bending in a field, and the horse slipped on wet grass and went down sideways on top of her. she was wearing a helmet and was thus saved from a nasty concussion. not her fault or the horse’s, but it happened. to sum myself up, maybe your horse is bombproof, but they are not perfect, and can still trip, slip, or slide and that’s all it takes to put you on the ground, or six feet under it