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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help! AIBU to go horse riding WITHOUT a helmet?

228 replies

Horsequestion · 30/12/2022 16:27

Ok I know I sound completely stupid but please hear me out! I’m just posting here because I asked my friend and she said it would be a good idea to get some other opinions on this from people who aren’t biased or know me.

I've ridden horses for a long time and am an experienced (but far from perfect!) rider. Right now I’m trying to bring my horse on and hopefully event or showjump him (whichever he is better at!) this year.

ive got a condition that flares up sometimes and makes my skin extremely painful and sore. It’s all over my head, neck and ears and putting my helmet on is actually excruciating. I’ve tried covers, dressings and all sorts to stop direct pressure on my skin but nothing makes a difference and the contact on my skin is horrific. I’ve tried different helmet brands and had them all professionally fitted for me but unfortunately nothing helps because my skin is the problem.

When the flare up is under control it’s fine, but when it’s active it can last for weeks or up to months until we get the right treatment for it. I feel so much better riding without my helmet because it’s not nearly as painful or uncomfortable. I don’t fall off very often and I would obviously always wear my helmet when hacking, jumping or doing XC. But for general schooling and doing flatwork, would I be a complete idiot not to wear my helmet?

My horse is quite big (16hh) and with the added height of the saddle etc I would estimate I’m around 5 ft 6 off the ground so obviously it’s a long way to fall off and I know it’s dangerous, but if the absolute worst thing I’m doing is cantering and I’m not jumping I’m just wondering if it’s worth the slight risk because I’m not in agony with my helmet on and even with the helmet you could still have a bad head injury anyway.

worth mentioning there’s no kids at the yard so I wouldn’t be a bad influence on them to ride without a helmet

sorry that was really long, I’m probably being stupid about it all but I’m just not sure what to do😢

OP posts:
Crazykatie · 30/12/2022 16:37

“Am I being STUPID”

YES you are , it’s very bad form to be on a horse without a helmet, safety aside others will continually tell you you are stupid.

Clariana · 30/12/2022 16:37

I've ridden for many years, wearing helmets was a lot less common years ago. I ride without one often, but I know how I fall, always on my bum and have never hit my head even though I have fallen off scores of times over 45 years.

I guess what I am saying is how do you fall? Do you have a usual way? And of course it is your head, your decision.

Sonyrecording · 30/12/2022 16:38

The thing about cowboys and not wearing hats... my wester trainer friend says that a good cowboy hat is also a safety feature, but it works differently to a helmet. The idea is that they crumple, like panels in cars do, so they do give some level of protection. The other thing to bear in mind is that most western saddles are a bit harder to fall out of than a jumping or dressage saddle. 😄

DoloresOnTheDottedLine · 30/12/2022 16:38

Really, really not worth the risk. My dad recently came off - he is an extremely experienced rider, riding his own horse, just schooling at a trot. He was wearing a hat thank god - as it was designed to, it cracked on impact (with a fence post) and he still ended up with a serious concussion. If he hasn’t been wearing the hat, I really think he might be dead. He hadn’t fallen in ten years before this happened. It’s a very long way down - much further than five feet because your head is that much higher than the horse’a back and will have more momentum when it actually hits the ground/fence/jump wing/hoof. Please reconsider.

RandomUsernameHere · 30/12/2022 16:39

I absolutely wouldn't. I'm quite risk averse now. I admit I used to gallop around and even ride on the road without a helmet when in my teens though, had no sense of danger then!

Moanranger · 30/12/2022 16:39

You could wear an air jacket, but that won’t really protect your head. For context, I fell off in Sept with both an air jacket & a helmet & still ended up with a slight concussion (not to mention the 5 1/2 hour wait in A &E. 😱)
I suggest you work harder on a solution for your skin problem, such as other ointments, topical steroid, various fabric coverings.

Burgoo · 30/12/2022 16:39

Would you wear a seat-belt if you didn't have to? Especially if you have never had a crash before? Same principle. Other idiots can spook your horse and things could go horribly wrong. Traumatic brain injury sure isn't as fun as it sounds

Skinnermarink · 30/12/2022 16:39

Clariana · 30/12/2022 16:37

I've ridden for many years, wearing helmets was a lot less common years ago. I ride without one often, but I know how I fall, always on my bum and have never hit my head even though I have fallen off scores of times over 45 years.

I guess what I am saying is how do you fall? Do you have a usual way? And of course it is your head, your decision.

This seems ludicrous.

ShadowoftheFall · 30/12/2022 16:40

I know nothing about horse riding but in my first job out of university our office junior, aged 17 died riding on her uncles farm when a sudden vehicle backfire spooked her horse.

BadShepherd · 30/12/2022 16:40

@DoloresOnTheDottedLine yep, only time I’ve broken a hat and had concussion was hitting the arena fence with my noggin…

Slightly off-topic 😉, but I’m astounded anyone can fall off these days between those ludicrous knee-rolls and silicone-bum jods!

00100001 · 30/12/2022 16:40

What will you do if you have a flare up at competition?

00100001 · 30/12/2022 16:44

Clariana · 30/12/2022 16:37

I've ridden for many years, wearing helmets was a lot less common years ago. I ride without one often, but I know how I fall, always on my bum and have never hit my head even though I have fallen off scores of times over 45 years.

I guess what I am saying is how do you fall? Do you have a usual way? And of course it is your head, your decision.

You sound ridiculous. Like one of thos lads down the pub who always "knows a guy" that was in a car crash and the fire brigade told him, if he had been wearing his seatbelt heads have died. So that's why PubLad never wears a seatbelt.

Original poster
Horsequestion · 30/12/2022 16:46

Ok that’s fine, I knew deep down I was being stupid but I just thought I’d ask as I needed a bit of outside perspective on it. If I asked my parents they would actually have a heart attack so I asked my friend and we figured it would be better to ask people who don’t know me and are not biased or worried about me like my parents would be.

just to answer some questions, I’ve had my hats professionally fitted at proper saddlery and tack stores but unfortunately it doesn’t make a difference. When my skin is bad I can’t even wash my hair without screaming or have it touching a pillow etc, it’s so painful. Obviously for competitions or for jumping, XC, hacking etc I would grit my teeth and bear it but for general flatwork and schooling I just wondered if maybe I could get away without it and have some painfree days but its obviously not a good idea.

im just sick of it hurting and I’m sick of my hats being covered in blood but that’s a whole other thread altogether. I’m under a dermatologist and most of the time it’s fine but when it flares up it’s agony. Obviously a brain injury won’t be significantly worse but I just had a particularly bad day today with my skin and that’s when the idea of not wearing my helmet for schooling came into my head. I agree it’s a stupid idea but it was just out of desperation! I’ll just have to grit my teeth and bear it though as I agree it would be dangerous.

OP posts:
Original poster
Horsequestion · 30/12/2022 16:48

And to answer the question about how I fall, if I’m being totally honest I don’t fall properly or have any sort of technique. I was taught how to fall and minimise injury but in the moment it doesn’t happen and I just usually dive onto the ground which I appreciate makes my question sound even more stupid. I always cover and protect my head from flying legs though

OP posts:
Harissaontoast · 30/12/2022 16:51

Personally I wouldn't.

I ride in a developing country and none of the instructors at the yard wear hats. Instructor jumped on my horse with no hat and flip-flops the other day.

I still wouldn't, even though it's very normalized here. Could you maybe try a lightweight bike helmet as a compromise? Apologies if that's something you've looked at already.

Of course if you do it, 99.9% chance it will be fine, but you never know

BriteSparke · 30/12/2022 16:54

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever ride a horse without a helmet ever, ever, ever.

Not worth the risk.

DomesticShortHair · 30/12/2022 16:56

i wouldn’t wear one, but I do have a number of circumstances that affects my own attitude to risk compared to most. So I’m not saying that you should too, as an adult, and in the absence of any law, that’s all on you to decide.

hattie43 · 30/12/2022 16:57

As a fellow rider wear a hat . Nothing is worth the risk of not ,

Leftbutcameback · 30/12/2022 16:57

I absolutely wouldn’t, for all the reason above, and I’m sorry your head is so sore as it must be making riding very painful.

Just a thought about an innovative solution to this - there is a bike helmet you can get which you wear round your neck and which inflates on you falling. I guess it’s like the air vest triggers. Before anyone jumps on me I wouldn’t suggest you wear a bike helmet for riding but worth looking to see if any companies are adapting or using the same tech for riding hats?

I’ll see if I can find a link to show what I mean.

boboshmobo · 30/12/2022 16:59

I used to ride my friends shownumpers on the road without a hat because I was 'cool' .. scared the life out of me now when I look back at how dangerous it was .. I was a good rider with a fantastic seat but still you cannot predict what a horse will do or a car for that matter ! 🙈🙈

Leftbutcameback · 30/12/2022 17:01

Here’s a link to the tech I mentioned above hovding.com

fancyacuppatea · 30/12/2022 17:03

You only have to fall off once...
Please don't take the chance.
You need to find an alternative that allows you to wear a helmet.
Don't be like the late, great JT

and before anyone jumps on, there are tragically plenty more

LatteLady · 30/12/2022 17:03

Well, if you insist on not wearing one, at least make sure you are carrying a donor card. Frankly, this is not a well thought out risk to be taking.

Polkadotties · 30/12/2022 17:04

Sorry OP, another horse rider here, I wouldn’t not wear a hat.

SerendipityJane · 30/12/2022 17:05

The OPs AIBU is disingenuous.

It should really read: "AIBU to expect the state to pick up the bill for caring for me for 40 years as a quadriplegic due to my own idiocy ?"

I'll say contributory negligence if no one else will.