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Wentworth Hunter Pace - June 6, 2021

After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time!  most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the

Day Twenty Eight: 30 Day Challenge

Day Twenty Eight: Helmet or no helmet?

HELMET.  Hell yes.  Every time, every ride.  I am always utterly amazed at the number of people who make up insane and ridiculous excuses to not wear a helmet.
My hair will get messed up!  Seriously?  Your hair is more important than, oh I dunno, your LIFE??  You can easily brush out your locks, but I am thinking it is a bit harder to fix your brain.....or your death.

I am a good enough rider to not wear a helmet!  Really?  And horses are machines and never spook, trip, or otherwise unseat riders, huh?  Yeah, OK, smartypants.  Do I even NEED to bring up the big name riders who have fallen off recently???

I have earned the right to wear a dressage top hat with my shadbelly!  Hmmm.  That's nice.  And that top hat could also earn you the right to have a brain injury when you fall off.  Now THAT'D be fun!

It is my right to not wear a helmet!  Oh yeah?  And do you think your family has earned the right to have to care for your crippled a** for the rest of your life?  Can you look at your family, spouse, kids, whoever and tell them that while you think you don't need a helmet, if you are wrong, then they have to care for you for the rest of your life??

See, in my opinion, it is not a matter of IF you get hurt around horses, it is WHEN.  Horses are big unpredictable animals.  I don't care if it is a perfectly trained GP horse or an ancient trail horse who can barely move beyond a walk.  Horses can kill you.  I just don't get why people balk at the idea of using a very simple, affordable, and painless measure (AKA a riding helmet) that could literally save their life, or at the very least, help them continuing living the "normal" life they are accustomed to.

I am so thankful the USEF has finally passed rules about wearing helmets in eventing and dressage.  It was a long time coming and I am glad they did the right thing.  
Can you tell I am just a little bit passionate about helmet safety??  LOL!  Sorry to offend those of you who like to ride without helmets.  To be blunt, but I think you are dumb.  :-)

/rant


Comments

  1. I'd much rather spend the money for a nice-looking, functioning helmet then have my family spend the money on my being a vegetable (or something less severe, hopefully). Courtney King was in a coma for HOW long? Imagine the expenses for that, PLUS PT, PLUS home care, PLUS people to ride her horses while she was out. And the horse simply tripped at a walk from what I understand! Anything goes!

    But honestly, I have yet to fall on my head (knock on wood). It would be even more sensible for me to invest in a body vest because I always land on some part of my back or torso! Nothing serious yet, though (knock on wood AGAIN). I know in Norway it is mandatory for all competitors in their national showjumping organization to wear a protective vest, even if they're jumping crossrails or on the flat in competition. That might be the next step, at least for showjumping here, I don't think it would be needed for dressage. Not a bad idea, either. And surprisingly, it doesn't look awkward over a show coats.

    Pardon me, I went off on a tangent there!

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  2. I agree Bre! And we are already required to wear vests for cross country. I also wear mine for stadium.

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  3. Helmet ALWAYS! My brain may not be the smartest one out there, but it is all mine and needs all the protection I can give it. I can live with a little helmet hair, nothing a quick brush can´t deal with.

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  4. This, this, THIS!

    Ironically, the word verification on this comment is 'scare'.

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