Tuesday, May 14, 2013

War: Helmets vs. Cowboy Hats


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While it's fresh on my mind, I'm going to bring up a controversial subject in the "cowboy" world: riding helmets.

I can't stop thinking about this, and the subject keeps coming up in conversation.

First, I have to preface this by telling you that I didn't grow up wearing a helmet for ANYTHING. My husband and I have been lenient with our kids in this area as well.  If they're gathering cows, or riding through pasture, they wear a cowboy hat or ball cap.  On the other hand, when we are involved in 4-H activities, our club has a strict helmet rule and all of the kids wear one in the practice arena. Our club is one of  the only ones in our county with a helmet rule, and when we go to invitational horse events, there is a mix of hats and helmets in the arena.

I know many a cowboy who wouldn't be caught dead with a helmet on their kid's head. Whether stubbornness or vanity plays a role, it seems to be the "cowboy way" to take that risk.  In fact, I never really gave the whole issue a second thought until recently.  Last weekend, a young gal in our club was at a horse event and preparing for the bareback class.  (She's an excellent rider.)  Moments before she entered the arena, a nearby train passed and the noise of the train whistle spooked her horse causing it to rear back and fall on top of the gal.  After an ambulance ride and an MRI, she walked away with nothing more than scrapes and bruises....thanks to her helmet that probably saved her life.  She wanted to wear her cowboy hat that day, but her mom made her wear the helmet.  Thank God she did.

I think we all know of horse wrecks that have gone really badly. I heard of a seasoned cowboy who worked at the sale barn for years. One day as he was working in the pens pushing up cows, his horse stumbled, he hit his head on the pipe corral fence and died. A helmet would have saved his life.  I've read of an Olympic equestrian who suffered a traumatic brain injury after her horse tripped, and the rider hit her head. The ability of the rider had nothing to do with any of these injuries, but a helmet would have saved them all.  Horses are big, unpredictable animals that sometimes fall, sometimes spook, and sometimes buck.

 In nearly every other sport, athletes wear helmets. From baseball and football, to biking and English riding. No one thinks twice about protecting their head in these sports. But for Western riding events, there is a HUGE stigma attached to the helmet.  Some associate it with in-experienced riders who fall all the time, and others fear that the judges would mark their child down for wearing one in the arena.  Right or wrong, people have always associated the traditional cowboy hat as part of the proper attire worn when riding.

We've always had trusty, older horses for our kids to ride; horses that are well broke and wiser than the kid on their back.  But now that the kids are getting bigger, they're riding younger, faster steeds and I find myself getting less and less lenient on the helmet rule. When they're competing, they usually wear a cowboy hat, but when we're practicing at home, they wear a helmet.  When I see my precious babies flying down that practice arena on a horse 10 times bigger than they are, it's a little more comforting when they have a helmet on.  On the other hand, when we're moseying through the pasture to check the cows I'm less apt to worry about what they're wearing.  The kids still complain about the helmets every time we make them wear one, and they're still annoyed by the whole thing, but when every other rider in the arena has one on, they don't seem to mind as much.  It's a constant battle.

I read an article the other day that said we may never be able to change the ways of old cowboys, but if we can get the younger generation to start wearing a riding helmet, perhaps one day it won't seem strange to see them in the arena.  When my most precious cargo is out there riding, I'd do anything to make sure they stay safe.

So...... It's apparent that I'm really torn about the issue of helmets. I understand the rich traditions of the cowboy, and the toughness that is associated with the lifestyle. I know first hand how practical it is to wear a big brimmed hat to protect your face, neck, and ears from the blistering heat of the sun's rays. after all, the cowboy hat was born out of practicality and necessity.  I also know that I LOVE my babies and would do anything to keep them from harm's way. I can't keep them in a bubble, and they take risks when riding horses, but if I can minimize the severity of a fall with a helmet, then that makes me feel a little more at ease. If my kids had their way, the helmets would go in the trash can.

My question for you is:

How do you feel about riding helmets? Are cowboy hats a thing of vanity for kids, or a necessity?


12 comments:

  1. I feel the same way you do. There's even been a delimma with hard hats. My husband has to wear one every day, and being a red-head, he fries in the sun. They do have cowboy hat/hard hats. Maybe they could come up with a cowboy hat/helmet?

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  2. A year ago I came off a horse, landing on my head, from a canter, on a gravel road, without a helmet. My balance has never been the same and I tend to get a dizzy spell here or there. Pretty sure that I gave myself a concussion, my family being who they are, I didn't go to a doctor.

    That came from a simple bareback canter down the road when my 12 year old gelding, who never bucks, started crow-hopping, and I who can ride crow-hops bareback no problem, lost my seat.

    I now wear a helmet. My family laughs at me and says that it's silly. I see it for the fact that I want to still be around when I'm 60 or 70, and I have a lot more years of horseback riding to get me there. :)
    So yes this crazy 20 year old packs her pride in her backpack and straps on a helmet.

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  3. "Every ride, every time." I have been trying to set an example for my kids but they still don't wear one as much as I would like. I got a Da Brim helmet brim for mine and I love it. It's great for keeping the sun off.

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  4. I never wear a helmet when I ride, always a cowgirl hat or a ball cap. My parents THANKFULLY don't make me. But i'm not against those who do.

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  5. I have never worn a helmet. My son, who doesn't ride. He's 22 yrs old now. But when he was younger, I would drag him along and make him ride. And made him wear a helmet. Luckily I did, he got bucked off and cracked the helmet! When it comes to barrel racing etc, the kids under age 18 are required to wear a helmet. And they do make a cowboy helmet hat. Old pops has one! He doesn't wear it, he doesn't ride anymore either. Accidents happen every day no matter what you do or where you are. I think it depends on the person, the horse and where you are riding.

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  6. Your last statements sum up how I feel about it "I can't keep them in a bubble, and they take risks when riding horses, but if I can minimize the severity of a fall with a helmet, then that makes me feel a little more at ease." I would rather have an ounce of prevention now then deal with a lifetime of issues when an accident does happen and like you said,"Horses are big, unpredictable animals that sometimes fall, sometimes spook, and sometimes buck." I guess if I make my child wear a seat belt in the car, life jackets in a boat, and pads/helmet/protective gear to play sports then when they are riding a thousand pound animal, a helmet is just a smart idea. That social stigma won't be of much comfort to me if I could have prevented an accident or death of my child by insisting they wear a helmet but didn't because I was worried what others would say. No judgement against those who don't have their child wear one, just my humble opinion :)

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  7. I have been riding for 38 years. In 2010 I got bucked off and had a major brain injury and a broken neck. The neck I can deal with, even being paralyzed which would be horrible no doubt, but if I am unable to think, reason, or analyze I have wasted all of my years in law school and business and my livelihood. Therefore, I ALWAYS ride wearing a helmet now because no one plans to have an accident. People may have their vanity but not many of them are runway models nor should they be worried about Starsearch showing up at an event - so reconsider people! :-) Have a nice day, Tonya

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  8. I've just decided to create a blog, which I have been wanting to do for a while. Thanks for this post, it's really useful! Stetson Hats

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    Replies
    1. My six year old granddaughter just started riding and competing and her teacher is a 20 year old girl who has never worn a helmet, so she doesn't make Kierra. I have argued the point with my daughter, but she seems to be so adverse to this suggestion, and I think it's because of the "cuteness" of the little ones in cowgirl clothes and hats and the fact that my granddaughter doesn't want to wear one. STUPID is my word - I asked my daughter why she then makes her eat her veges, go to school, wear a seatbelt or makes her son wear helmets in sports and I'm told to "Stop it mom". I hate that it may mean an severe injury before she changes her mind.

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  9. Hello, this too has been a controversial issue in our household. I have three children, two of which ride daily. They have all been raised in Washington State 4-h programs were it is a rule that all riders wear helmets. At home, on the trail, in the practice arena, in the show arena and in the rodeo arena, every single time they get on a horse they must wear a helmet. When they were younger my children never used to even bock at the issue, because it was not an issue. One of my daughters would wear her helmet to the dinner table and more, we would have to remind her to take her helmet off. Now that my children are older it has become more of an issue. My son does not ride much anymore, on the other hand my two daughters live on their horses. Now that they are mainly involved in rodeo, they are literally the only two that wear helmets. Every now and again I will see an older adult woman wearing a helmet, although most always it is just my two daughters wearing helmets. They hate that they are most always the only ones wearing helmets at these kind of events. They hate that I make them wear their helmets. I could go on and on about the many reasons I make them wear helmets, but it mainly comes down to protection, and love. They are phenomenal riders,however accidents do happen, that is why they are called accidents, and I would never forgive myself if I did not do everything in my power to protect them. My husband and I tell them everyday..."you're setting a new trend", "There are little kids looking up to you two girls just like you looked up to your mentors, and those little ones will wear a helmet because they admired the fact that you two girls wear your helmets". and I tell them, I pay for your entry fees, I pay for the gas, I haul you, I pay for the horses and all their care and I pay for your health insurance, when you do all of those things and you are over 18 not living under my roof you can choose not to wear a helmet. My hope is that someday when they are parents they will appreciate the fact that my husband and I kept them as safe as possible and they will pass it along to their children. That is my hope.

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  10. I offer Hideahelmet custom made covers for helmets. My large brim design is for the cowboy hat look. Western pleasure judges had a hard time telling it was a helmet underneath and we sell many of these to trail riders as well. Made of felt, you choose the color and brim size. Please check them out at Hideahelmet.com or my Facebook page.

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  11. I offer Hideahelmet custom made covers for helmets. My large brim design is for the cowboy hat look. Western pleasure judges had a hard time telling it was a helmet underneath and we sell many of these to trail riders as well. Made of felt, you choose the color and brim size. Please check them out at Hideahelmet.com or my Facebook page.

    ReplyDelete