Help! AIBU to go horse riding WITHOUT a helmet?

[Horsequestion]

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😢

@00100001 Well, I am not a lad, do not frequent the pub, and am usually not thought of as ridiculous! I find it amusing that people cannot accept on Mumsnet that opinions differ. I was just giving my experience, it is different from yours, and yes of course it is more risky to ride without a hat than with one, that is obvious, but risk is a personal decision and we are all able to decide for ourselves, as adults.

The OP was trying to decide between two situations, neither of which are ideal, there will be different opinions.

OP, Google Courtney King-Dye. She was an Olympic dressage rider who didn’t bother with a hat.

If an quick untimely death and the potential to give life to others was the only downside, it wouldn't be an issue.

The problem is that (a) the risks are known and (b) almost every non fatal outcome is going to cost you, me and our children money that could be better spent. Possibly searching for a cure for stupidity,

What the fuck? It’s not disengenous in the slightest. I know the risks. I’ve not pretended otherwise. But I’m at my wits end with a complex medical condition that’s ruining every part of my life and I feel fucking miserable with it. Maybe I wasn’t thinking straight when I thought about riding without a hat, in fact I absolutely wasn’t thinking straight and I can see it was a stupid idea, but it’s not coming from a place of not being bothered enough to wear a hat or thinking I’m too cool, it’s coming from a place or complete fucking agony and misery.

to everyone who’s told me I was being stupid but at least understood why I thought about it, thanks I appreciate the help. I know it was a stupid idea but it’s not because I’m an idiot it’s because I’m in agony.

Have you tried botox injections into your nerves to dull the pain? I know that they do them for intractable headaches, so maybe they might work for scalp pain?

Don’t worry hun I can afford private healthcare and it wouldn’t have cost you or your children a penny❤️

maybe while you’re looking for ‘cure for stupidity’ maybe look for a cure for my condition that’s caused the stupidity in the first place.

Do you have any idea how much pressure the NHS is under at the moment? Stop riding horses if you can't wear a helmet.

No I haven’t tried that but thank you very much for the suggestion, I hadn’t heard of that before! I’ll suggest that next time I’m seen by my consultant, thank you for the help! The pain is caused by problems with the skin rather than the nerves but I will try anything at this stage so I’ll suggest it and see if it’s worth trying. Thank you again!

This.

Why does the preponderance of "I"s in that reply not surprise me. Maybe another rephrasing will help ?

"Is it selfish of me to consider riding a horse without a helmet ?"

Maybe - like countless others - you need to accept that your condition precludes you from horse riding. Certainly while it's active.

My best friend was 14 when she was killed in a riding accident.

Is it honestly worth the risk?

I witnessed a fatal accident about 5 years ago which involved a rider not wearing a helmet. She was in her late 60's early 70's I think and had ridden since she was about 2. She was pretty famous locally for riding around without a hat on. She was told multiple times by various family members and general public but refused. She was an ex hunting/eventing type and very competent.

A freak accident occurred, the upshot was the horses bolted, she hit her head on the ground and was pretty much dead instantly. Well, she was put on breathing equipment and taken to St Georges but they declared end of life the next day. It was absolutely harrowing going to the funeral and meeting her daughter and son and their children (her grand children).

I recently bought a horse after this incident as it put me off riding so much, the first thing I did was go and invest in a really good hat (threw my old one away). It is non negotiable I am afraid not to wear a hat.

Its a bit like skiing, far too many people have died whilst not wearing a helmet. I think it was Liam Neeson's wife who died whilst standing on a green run - so not even doing anything risky but she fell and hit her head and died.

Try a lightweight adjustable helmet like a uvex it won’t make your head sweat as much

yeah it was a stupid idea, but other people realised it was coming from a place of desperation whereas you’ve just made me out to be an idiot, selfish and expecting everyone to pay for me when I fall. Genuinely just leave my thread please because you’re not helping in the slightest and you’re just making me feel worse

I cannot believe that an experienced horse-woman thinks this is a good idea.
It doesn't matter how infrequently you fall off; the next time could be the last.
I don't often crash my car but I wouldn't drive it with our a seatbelt and airbags!

If you can't wear a helmet then you can't ride. A girl at my friend's stables sat on her horse with no hat, while it was tied up in the yard. It spooked and ahe fell off and hit her head against the wall and died. I know this is a very unusual freak accident but I've ridden and owned horses for the best part of 50 years and I have never known anyone not wear a helmet when riding.

You'll still be going to A&E if you get thrown off - private healthcare or not. Oh and you'll be waiting hours for an ambulance too unless you have a severe injury and then you'll be using NHS resources, air ambulance etc.
But then you'd know that if you do indeed have private healthcare like to claim to.

Good luck with waiting for an ambulance if you do fall off.

You DO know it's a bloody stupid and DANGEROUS thing to do.

If you can't find a solution to your health problem you need to train rather than ride, coach, buy/sell, break.

I don't mean this in a nasty way. I do mean it from a kind place. Don't end up either dead or nearly dead for decades. Do you really want someone else to be wiping your bum?

Yeah I know it’s stupid but I guess that’s what pain does to people, makes them think of stupid and daft things out of desperation

I have had horses all my life. Very experienced. As was my cousin. She died after a nasty fall gave her brain damage that she never recovered from

I Will never ride without a hat ever again

My mother used to work with race horses and I've ridden a bit. The worst accidents often seem to happen in the yard or manège, places where you lose your guard because you're doing 'safe' activities. You'd regret not wearing your helmet if you had an accident. My mother has a dent in her skull following one of her nastier accidents... would have been much worse without a helmet!

Except I won’t be using all those NHS resources because I don’t live in the UK. But thanks anyway

Crazy idea but why not stop riding the fucking horse?

Do what you want op but accept the risks if you do and don't expect family members lives to be turned upside down if you are badly injured.

I would have thought that the pain would make you give up riding, rather than try and find dangerous ways round it.