Kids and Helmets
By Black Eye Beth on Jan 16, 2008 in Hunt seat/Sport horse, Lessons/Academy, Saddle Seat/Driving, Western
I have a daughter that rides and, as a mother I have a responsibility to keep her safe. With that in mind, the question of whether she should wear a helmet should be a “no brainer”, right? Well, as it turns out, the answer is not as easy at it seems. I don’t think I am alone in this dilemma either. Through going to shows and talking with various people I have found that the question of whether kids should wear helmets while mounted, either in or out of the show ring, is a topic of discussion.
As stated in the USEF Region 3 News, USEF changed rule GR318 in 2005, requiring all individuals competing over fences to wear helmets:
Beginning December 1st, 2005 it will be compulsory in all Hunter, Jumper and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, both open and breed restricted including Hunter Hack, where jumping is required and when jumping anywhere on the competition grounds (including warm-up rings) to wear securely fastened protective headgear which meets or exceeds ASTM/SEI standards and carries the SEI tag.
Medical studies were cited in the decision to pass this ruling:
According to Lexington, Kentucky neurosurgeon Dr. William Brooks, Chief Medical Officer at the Rolex Three-Day Event for the past 20 years; and former Chairman of the Safety Committee for the United States Pony Club, the vast majority of fatalities in horseback riding occur in falls with injuries to the head. In the past ten years Dr. Brooks has treated 187 head injuries which occurred in riding accidents. Of those the most consequential were concussion; fractures, which accounted for 35 injuries with none among riders wearing a helmet with a retention harness; blood clots, accounting for 35 injuries with 24 of those among riders not wearing helmets; and 27 fatalities, with 26 occurring among those not wearing a safety helmet. “The key is the retention harness and the appropriate helmet each time and every time,” said Dr. Brooks.
· A person 2 to 3 feet off the ground traveling at 2 to 3 miles per hour can suffer permanent brain damage
· Riders are elevated 6 to 8 feet and at a hand gallop are traveling at 22 to 24 miles per hour in a forward position, they therefore have a substantially increased risk of a head injury, and that risk increases dramatically if they are not wearing a securely fastened safety helmet.
· According to the American Medical Equine Association/Safe Riders Foundation, 20% of all equestrian injuries are head injuries, and 60% of fatalities are due to head injuries.
When I was a kid, helmets were something nobody used unless you jumped or showed hunters. It was sort of like seatbelts in cars; they were available but just not used. Looking back, not using seatbelts as a kid seems like a stupid thing and as I watch my daughter ride now it seems equally as stupid to risk her life by not having her wear a helmet even though it isn’t necessarily “required”. It is a conundrum. Should she present herself like an assured rider that has control and can handle any situation that comes her way or do I require her to be protected in the event of an unforeseen accident? I also wonder what judges really think. I know that they theoretically cannot mark against use of a helmet, but do they unconsciously see it as a rider weakness? I am not saying that kids should or should not be required to use a helmet while showing. I figure it is up to the parents and their views on whether they think their child needs one. It is just one of those issues that I often think about. I don’t wear a helmet myself. I did when I jumped, but I do not now, nor do I want to. So I also have the ever present parental problem of “do as I say, not as I do” as part of the decision.
I would love to hear from others grappling with this question.
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I too grew up riding both horses and bicycles without a helmet and without incident, even though I fell off a lot(the horses, not so much the bike.) Six years ago I fell off my horse and sustained a depressed skull fracture. I was not wearing a helmet. Fortunatly, I did not suffer any long-term consequences, but I did promise my family that I would start wearing a helmet when riding.
Earlier this week I was riding outside, in a field, next to some woods. It was a little windy and my horse shied at something without warning. The predictable thing happened and I fell off. Initially, I landed on my feet hanging on to the reins, but then my bad knee buckled and I fell to the ground, pulling on the reins. My horse then ran right over me to get away from whatever had scared him. I felt his hoof hit my helmet. I’m pretty sure that if not for my helmet, it would have been my head that was hit and even though some might call me hard-headed at times, I can guarantee you it’s not THAT hard. Wearing my helmet saved me a trip to the hospital at the very least, and may have saved my life.
On the other hand, I can understand the point of view of parents whose kids are showing. They have spent a lot of time, money, and energy to get their child into the show ring and want their child to have every advantage, or at least the benefit of the doubt. If they feel that their child is perceived by the judge as less competent, they will not insist that their child wear the helmet. Perhaps I was fortunate that my children do not share my passion for horses, so I never had to face the dilemma.
I feel that this is a place where the professional trainers and instructors could take the initiative to set a good example to the next generation. Kids go to shows and see the trainers and other adults riding without a helmet. The message is, “When I’m as good a rider as (s)he is, I won’t need a helmet.” Then their goal becomes to ride without a helmet. If the professionals wore helmets, the message would be, “As good as I am, I wear a helmet, just in case.”
The next step would be for the helmet manufacturers to design helmets for saddle seat and western attire. Don’t tell me that this can’t be done. When I was showing as a kid, my saddle seat derby was a hard hat. It looked just like everyone else’s derby. It probably wasn’t very effective because it didn’t have a chin strap, but a chin strap made out of clear plastic would make a child (or anyone) safer than a soft derby.
Are we as a society so stupid that we need to have things like seat belts and helmets legislated? Do we really want Big Brother telling us what we MUST do to increase our chances for survival? It took a depressed skull fracture for me to see the light. I hope that the rest of you are smarter than I am.
Mocha Mom | Jan 17, 2008 | Reply
Now that I have seen what my post looks like, I wish there was a spell-checker function.
Mocha Mom | Jan 17, 2008 | Reply
As a mom and an instructor I feel very strongly about the use of helmets for my students and my own daughter. I make all of my students under the age of 18 wear them and always have them available to adults. I spend a lot of time with my school horses and feel that I know them pretty well but there is always that chance -always - even at home on a 20-some year old lesson horse. I must admit at shows I do “leave it up to the parents” to decide but honestly wish at times that wasn’t an option. If I ever have even the slightest doubt - the helmet goes on before they enter the showring and really praise & encourage students that avoid the pressure and wear one by there own choice. I too hope that soon someone will come up with an exceptable, attractive derby to enourage all to
take that extra step to protect themselves & the ones they love.
kad | Jan 21, 2008 | Reply
“Brain Buckets” as we lovingly call them here at the farm are required during lessons for all children. This should be a rule at all shows, horse functions, etc. No one would look out of place if we all were doing it. But thats what it will take…. a hard and fast rule change. One that I would happily sign my name towards. If adults choose to risk their necks, whatever. But we should take care of our kids.
Alicia | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply