Honestly, no, I didn't, as they hadn't been "invented" yet.  Neither had cellphones, carseats or microwaves, but I sure like using them now.  Every parent, thankfully, has the choice.

It's a matter of preference.  I've never ridden a motorcycle without a helmet, and never will. 

To me, it's common sense to use safety equipment if it is available.  Sturdy boots.  Check all the leather and fittings on the saddle and headstall, everytime before mounting.   

I guess I could always just throw them on something and hope for the best, but that is not reasonable or logical.

Do you put your grandkids or kids in a carseat when travelling, or let them run around and jump over seats like I used to do (seatbelts hadn't been invented yet either)?

Case in point:

I have a very well broke 10 year old TWH gelding that I love riding...he's my old standard, and I trust him with riders new to the experience.  He's a good horse and I love him to death.

We were just ambling along on a flat trail with a little bit of mud...nothing we haven't done a million times before.

He stumbled...no fault of his own, no fault of mine...like any of us who've taken a misstep, he stumbled, went down on his knees, started going over to our left, so I bailed as his rear came over on top of my legs.  Had I been carrying a young child in a papoose, front or back, we'd have had a funeral.

It happens in an instant.  Riding is considered by insurance companies to be an "extreme" sport.  Equines are unpredictable and that has to be respected, especially where kids are concerned.

I have to say that I do think a helmet will help a child to not get hurt!!!  Head injuries are very serious and I have seen numerous kids come off and take a lick in the head.  When my first daughter started riding we have a very trustworthy 14.2 hand gelding who was a great follower (too good).  We were riding on day on a trail and my husband's horse really wanted to go that day.  My daughter's horse usually always rode behind that mare.  We put another horse in front of my daughter's gelding so my husband could lope up the trail; Problem was my daughter's horse bypassed his new leader to catch up with the horse he knew to always follow.  She fell off in a turn with no major injuries before I could get to her.  She landed hard enough to crack the foan lining in the helmet, but she had no head injuries or complained of her head hurting.  So yes, my kids WILL wear helmets.  They know this fact and don't argue about it even when they see other kids without them.  They know it's important.  So parents buy helmets and remember to check the inside for any cracks or weak spots after the kid takes a spill.  I'd much rather spend $40 on a new helmet than my child have a head injury.  The $40 you spend with always be less than a visit to the ER. 

My girls take lessons and I have seen many beginning riders come off and hit their head against the wooden railing around the arena.  I have seen how important helmets are and believe that all children should wear one.  The sad thing is that most of the time we trail ride we don't see children wearing them.  They seem to think that it won't happen to them. 

I think it is great for kids to ride horses, and I think they should have supervison and lessons and some kids ride better than others, heck some ride better than me (no scare in them, ahhh to have those days back..lol) but can't hurt them to use a helmet( I really believe in them not only for kids, but beginner adults), if it would save them from head injury. Seen many people knocked out from a bad fall, lots of cracked skulls. Of course I am from old school, grew up not wearing them, but the older I get, and the greener the horse, the more I believe in them. I own one.  

Unfortunately, automobiles are a necessity now, to get to jobs, doctor appointments, to kids schools, ect.... and horses are no longer the mean of transportation. Use to be when I was growing up you didn't have to wear a seat belt, (we didn't even know why they put them in the cars..lol)  but facts prove now that they save lives and keeps people from getting thrown from a car and  well now it is a law.  Your right when you say you are more likely to get hurt in car accident because you use it more. The more your around horses, the more you ride the more chances are you someday going to get hurt. Just a fact. 

I gave all my kids swimming lessons, not to scare them of the water but to ensure that if they ever did someday go to a pool party or river or on a boat and they fell in, they would have the skills and knowledge to be able to get to the side safely. I taught them respect of fire that it can burn them. Not to scare them from making a campfire. Respect the power of the water, fire, and horses and give them the skills in case they need them.  I think you just do the best you can as a parent and do what fits right into your lifestyle. My Momma use to say that everyone has a opinion, and you better have your own or someone will give you one, and you may not like it.

This has been quite a discussion!  There have been such a wide range of opinions expressed, and I learned something from each.  That is the real value of boards such as this one.  If we stop to consider the ideas and opinions expressed by others we will find facets of the subject that we never thought about before.

Marla