Posted 2010-06-23 10:47 AM (#121451) Subject: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I found this article in Florida Sporthorse and thought it might be worth sharing.
Source: Equestrian Medical Safety Association
1. Approximately 20 percet of horse-related injureis occur on the ground and not riding.
2. Most riding injuries occur during pleasure riding
3. The most common reason among riders for admission to hospital and death are head injuries.
4. A fall from two feet can cause permanent brain damage. A horse elevates a rider eight feet or more above ground level.
5. A human skull can be shattered by an impact of 4-6 mph. Horses can gallop at 40 mph.
6. According to the National Electronic Surveillance System figures the most likely ages for injury is at 5-14, and 25-44 years with each decade having about 20 percent of the injuries.
7. Death is not the only serious outcome of unprotected head injuries. Those who survive with brain injury may suffer epilepsy, intellectual and memory impairment, and personality changes.
8. Helemts work. Most deaths from head injury can be prevented by wearing ASTM (Amereican Society for Testing Materials), SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) approved helmets that fit correctly and have the harness firmly applied. Other types of helmets, including bike helmets are inadequate.
9. Racing organizations require helmets and as a result jockeys now suffer fewer head injuries than pleasure riders.
10. The US Pony Club lowered their head injury rate 29 percent with mandatory helmet use. Britain's hospital admission rate for equestrians fell 46 percent after helmet design improved and they came into routine use.
Posted 2010-06-23 3:12 PM (#121463 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Expert
Posts: 2614
Have a friend who related a helmet story to me.She knew a lady who had ridden trails extensively and was riding a horse she had owned a long time.They were riding down the side of a highway when something caused the horse to startle and jump.The rider was apparently relaxed,and not prepared and fell to the opposite side that the horse had jumped,striking her head on the pavement.They took her off of life support the next day,she was permanently unconscious with no brain activity.
My friend never wore a helmet until after that incident,now she does.
Posted 2010-06-24 10:45 AM (#121494 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
We lost a friend/member on the workinghorseworld side just this time last year. She was in an indoor arena, riding a horse she knew, horse spooked, she went off. Major head trauma, brain swelling. She never knew anything again. I just feel better with mine on.
Posted 2010-06-24 9:38 PM (#121509 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Location: KY
I too wear a helmet. Have several but my fav is fuschia. I like all the pretty colors and styles that are available in ASTM SEI certified helmets. I have taken several good falls with only some relatively minor bruises and aches. I like my helmets and would not feel dressed for riding without one on.
Posted 2010-06-25 9:10 AM (#121514 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
It's pretty much all cowboys where I live and they probably wouldn't be caught dead in one, but it's like my cell phone. May never need it but sure feel more secure with it. Maybe we can start a trend.
Posted 2010-06-25 1:34 PM (#121520 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Thankfully this is still a free enough country that I can choose to wear a helmet or not. I choose not. Grew up riding all sorts of horses and doing all sorts of stupid things and never wore a helmet. Its a personal choice........
Posted 2010-06-25 3:11 PM (#121527 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
I agree it is a personal choice. I choose to protect the most important part of me. If someone chooses not too, that is fine as long as if, God forbid, they do get injured that my tax dollars do not have to pay for their medical treatment. But everyone is entitled to their own preference!
Posted 2010-06-25 10:50 PM (#121537 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Location: KY
Most of the folks I ride with do not wear helmets and that is ok with me. I put on my stretchy full seat pants, tall boots, bright colored shirt and helmet and have a good time. My comfort and security and my horse's comfort and security are the important things. Some of my homemade fly wear for the horses looks kinda weird too, but it does help. Point is to ride and have fun.
Posted 2010-06-27 11:16 AM (#121595 - in reply to #121537) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
I'm with Rose...I put on my stretchy pants, helmet, etc and have fun too. I don't really care what people think about my clothing. They will know what I'm all about by my actions. But to those that choose not to wear a helmet, I want you to consider the people who may have to care for you when you lose your ability to feed yourself, dress yourself, etc from a preventable head injury. Just a thought....
Posted 2010-07-01 12:42 PM (#121804 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
I hate my helment. Sometimes: it's too hot, it blocks my upward vison, it mats what's left of my hair, the chin strap bugs me...
It met a large pointy rock when my horse stumbled and I flipped over his left shoulder. I hated that old helmet so much I got a new one without a cracked shell.
Posted 2010-07-01 5:15 PM (#121814 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
When I first started riding snowmobiles I bought a helmet. One night when I was riding through a squall, I was pulled off the sled at speed by my head. It turned out that I had struck a telephone pole support guy wire. The wire destroyed the face shield and cut deeply into the helmet, almost severing a large piece of the shell. Other than a sore neck, I was unhurt.
My wife and I were riding our motor cycle, when a car ran a stop sign and "T" boned the bike. I was thrown onto the hood, into the windscreen, the "A" pillar, over the car and onto the road. The hood was dented, the glass was broken, and the pillar dented. My helmet had gravel imbedded into its surface and remained intact. I had no head injuries. My wife also was slammed onto the hood, and thrown over the car onto the gravel road. She too had no head injuries.
One day I had a slip and fall, striking my head on the pavement. The results changed my life forever. I was not wearing a helmet. In PA the motor cycle helmet laws were repealed by a politician who made a deal to get into office. The results were immediate; accidents resulted in more severe injuries and mortalities, and insurance premiums increased. The upside is that if every cyclist signed his donor card, we would have a plethora of organ donors.
We too, know of a local young girl, that was thrown from a horse and killed. She was a sixteen year old, an excellent equestrian and helmetless. My "girls" don't do any riding without a helmet. It may not be stylish or always comfortable, but it's safer.
Posted 2010-07-02 8:58 AM (#121825 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I hate my helment. Sometimes: it's too hot, it blocks my upward vison, it mats what's left of my hair, the chin strap bugs me...
It met a large pointy rock when my horse stumbled and I flipped over his left shoulder. I hated that old helmet so much I got a new one without a cracked shell.
Posted 2010-07-02 4:20 PM (#121837 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I have been riding horses since I was a kid without a helmet. I still ride without one and have no intentions to ride with one. So that makes me a bad person? Of course not....anymore than it make those who ride with them somehow better than me. There are people killed wearing seat belts,killed wearing snowmobile and motorcycle helmets and of course people riding horses wearing helmets. So to be really REALLY safe..don't ride horses,snowmobiles,motorcycles or horses..just stay in bed and hope a plane doesn't crash into your house.
Posted 2010-07-02 4:57 PM (#121838 - in reply to #121837) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
Excuse me but I do not believe that ANY one of us said anything about your choice making you a bad person. Most every one agrees that it is a personal choice. We were all just stating our choice just as you stated yours. Why did you take offense to our choice farmbabe?
Posted 2010-07-09 9:54 AM (#122095 - in reply to #121451) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: TN
We were riding along on a very easy trail at a walk. My husband's horse stumbled and went to his knees. This caused my husband to be pitched over head first. He hit his head on a rock. His helmet has a dent in it the size of his fist. I can only imagine what a horrible outcome we would have had if he had not had his helmet on. Even with the helmet he was still in a daze for a few minutes. To me, if I don't have my helmet on it is just like not having a seat belt on in a car. Just my opinion.
Posted 2010-07-11 10:16 PM (#122226 - in reply to #121837) Subject: RE: Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
Veteran
Posts: 122 Location: Monroe, WA
You are not a bad person for not wearing a helmet, your reactions sound like mine. I have been riding for 40 years, I didn't see myself getting in that kind of situation. Last year my friend asked me if I was going to wear my helmet on a trail ride. I brushed her off. Exactly one week later, I went off a horse and got that helicopter ride. Next week will be 1 year - I will never be the same. I am very lucky in that I can ride but it is now always with a helmet. I know it is hard to convince someone like you to wear a helmet - I used to be you. Wished I had listened to my friend...
Top 10 reasons to wear a helmet
