At 13:33:00 on 10.10.11, Trot ON Comment wrote:
We've discussed dressage riders wearing helmets before and this year has seen changes in the rules in the USA (Jan) and in the UK (Sept). The UK changes come into force on Dec 1st making Safety helmets mandatory for all British Dressage (BD) riders except for advanced and above. But what about Cowgirls, should they start using their heads and switch from hats to helmets? Successful barrel racer Mary Miller Jordan says YES. What's your view?
http://www.riders4helmets.com/2011/08/cowboy-hat-to-cowboy-helmet-the-transition-mary-miller-jordan-2nd-helmet-safety-symposium/

At 14:15:42 on 10.10.11, Sadie Ann wrote:
The last time I rode bareback I fell off my horse and hit the ground hard. I was out for 10 minutes. After that I vowed never to ride without a helmet again, even if I was going to be the only one. Yes, they are sweaty and terribly annoying but I need to protect myself (especially on trails). I am a western rider for the most part and I know one other person who wears a helmet. It is definitely a matter of culture but I am sticking to my guns on this one.

At 22:41:04 on 10.10.11, barrelracer717 wrote:
Yes! I myself am a barrel racer and I ALWAYS where a helmet even when im just riding. you never know what your horse will do

At 17:17:53 on 11.10.11, Cherion Brook wrote:
I think it should be up to the rider, some people are more old fashioned than others and like to ride in hats. I dont think it would be right to make it mandatory, even if it is a safer option. It should be a personal choice. :)

At 18:19:32 on 11.10.11, blindhorsedancer wrote:
If you are an adult, helmets or any other safety gear for riding should be the riders choice. In all my falls I hit my head only once and that was because the horse flopped down on one side. I see photos and videos from the UK and other countries where so much safety gear is required it looks like the rider is going into a war zone. By the time one puts all the safety gear on their horse and themselves it may take longer than the ride does. I like how free it feels to have just myself and the horse as one and not trying to feel, smell, and hear my horse over so much gear that it almost restricts my movement. The number one thing about coming off a horse is not taught by any trainers, I have known good ones, is how to fall off correctly.

At 18:55:40 on 11.10.11, Flicka wrote:
Ha ha there is something in what you say about some riders looking like they are going into a war Zone! Maybe a stupid question but is it easier to fall out of an English style saddle than a Western one? I tend to go with the opinion that it should be personal choice but it does worry me that in Western riding in particular there's probably a lot of peer pressure to go for the cooler looking option of a cowboy hat or no hat at all. Didn't Troxel do a cowboy hat helmet? I remember reading about it ages ago but it sounded like it looked pretty bulky. I looked on the Troxel site but couldn't see one.

At 21:30:31 on 11.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I think riding without a hat is stupid (personal opinion), you know i have fell off more times than i can count but one single fall i will remember, i was out on a hack when i fell and grenville stood on my head, i had a black eye and lots of stitches but without my hat i would be dead right now and i know 99.9% of the time it is safe riding that 0.1% isn't and how do you know when you will need a at to protect you? I do agree though you can go OTT with protection and i just stick to having my hat on and will never ever ride without it, also would like to point out riding with a hat came after riding hatless so riding with a hat is anything but old fashioned! It is the more modern option ;) and flicka i reckon the saddle you are most comfortable in (have ridden in the most) will be the one you are most secure in, i stick like glue to my english saddle but i bet if you put me in a western saddle with the long stirrups i would fly off if the horse bucked etc

At 04:32:02 on 12.10.11, Maridadi wrote:
No brainer for this one! Yes!

At 12:16:44 on 12.10.11, Trot ON Comment wrote:
Yes Troxel did design a Western hat helmet but it didn't prove very popular. Via Twitter they directed us to this statement on their website "Troxel appreciates the many requests for a top hat and other hat helmets given the acceptance of such hats in riding disciplines. Troxel has developed a Western Hat Helmet and a Derby Hat Helmet product, using the most advanced and innovative materials in the market. Through this development work, Troxel has learned with the materials available today that the helmet portion of this system cannot be made substantially thinner or smaller and at the same time pass ASTM/SEI certification. In summary, the hat helmets look far too large and have not been accepted in the market due to the resulting large profile. In addition, these hat helmets only fit the smallest head sizes. When attempting to make a helmet look like a hat, the human eye has a keen ability to detect even the smallest differences and registers as 'goofy' or 'terribly large' when comparing a hat helmet to the traditional hat. As materials advance, it may be possible to produce a hat helmet that is more akin to a typical hat. In the meantime, in the equestrian market we are pleased to see many different brands, styles, and fit of very good looking helmets and encourage riders who are used to wearing hats to consider helmets."

At 08:21:21 on 13.10.11, Flicka wrote:
Love this spoof video for a Safe 'n' Sexy Helmet!!