I am not going to preach at anyone about not wearing a helmet. If they want to split their skull, more power to them. But I will preach at someone who actively encourages people NOT to wear a helmet, and makes them out to be a coward for doing so.


I have a permanently damaged hip due to a fall, and would have a vegetable brain to go along with had I not had my helmet on. I was jumping one day and when a tractor backfired, the horse spooked and shot sideways as he was about to go over a jump. I went off, broke a jump pole over my hip and slammed my head into a metal jump cup. My helmet was literally imbedded on the cup, and split when I pulled away. I have never gotten on a horse without a helmet since that. The barn I board at now, a DRESSAGE barn where most people only do flatwork in the nice safe arena has a mandatory helmet rule because horses will be horses, regardless of training, and why not make it a little bit safer.

Wearing a helmet doesn't make you a coward. Sure it won't protect you from everything, my hip wasn't protected when I fell, and yes there will always be a risk when you get on a 1000lb+ animal, but I will damn sure take a broken arm/leg over a cracked skull any day.