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😢

Don't worry, you can always ask for this thread to be deleted.

Isn't there a dedicated forum for equestrian hobbies on MN ? Why not ask there ?

If you post in AIBU and with a question so staggeringly dim, I don't know what you expected.

Hun.

Absolutely not a good idea, it only takes one trip or spook, you land on a railing and that's you dead or permanently disabled. I've known friends have awful falls just doing quiet schooling, it's just not worth the risk riding without a helmet.

I rarely fall off either, yet when my horse bucked me off a few weeks ago and I smashed my head on a bump in the feld I was damn glad to be wearing a hat. Not wearing one is the height of stupidity. Horse are unpredictable.

thanks. I know you didn’t mean it in a nasty way and it didn’t come across that way. I appreciate the help and reality check x

no you’re absolutely right, I don’t want that to happen. In the back of my head I knew it was a stupid idea, I think I was just upset and emotional and trying to rationalise it and hoping someone would say ‘yeah, that’s not too risky because you’re not jumping etc’ but I know in my heart of heart it’s a stupid idea.

i appreciate posts like yours (and the majority on here) who have said it’s a stupid idea (because let’s face it, it is) but have at least understood where it was coming from rather than thinking I’m a selfish idiot etc x

This plus cover your whole head with a buff so it’s not in contact with the surface of the helmet. I do that to keep my head warm under the lightweight helmet.

I have a permanent brain injury from my horse tripping and landing on me. If I hadn't had my hat on I'd be dead. So yes I think you'd be very silly to not ride without a helmet. Please don't say you have kids?

Imagine hanging around a thread where you know you’re actively making someone feel worse. Bit sad

Part of me thinks do it, by just for flat work. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen off when doing flatwork (apart from when I was really young).

But then the other part of me thinks it’s stupid because if you did have an accident then the impact could’ve been reduced dramatically if you had a bay on and then pressure on a&e etc.

Not sure what insurances you have but it may impact that if you don’t wear a hat?

Oh come on OP. I thought your OP might have been a wind up - what on earth were you expecting?!

Ps riding is not the be all and end all. I've had periods when I can't ride for whatever reason and I get a lot of joy out of doing stuff in hand and on the ground, you can do loads without riding and it won't risk your life

Friend of mine almost died recently and was wearing a helmet. I’d wear one or give up riding. Anything can happen no matter how good a rider you are and that’s a big horse

Are you on a livery yard? I'd be surprised if a livery yard would allow you to ride without a hat. Unless it's a private farm or something.

But to answer your question,it'd be really dangerous to ride without one. Hope you find an alternative solution to ease the pain. I do feel for you, as a fellow rider

cross posted - I'm cross with you!

Only because I know a former trainer who, in his 80s, still has guilt for an accident one of his apprentices had.
She fell.
She broke bones.
She ended up in residential care.
She existed like that for the best part of 20 yrs.

Don't be her.
Please just don't be her.

Just want to say again thanks for all the suggestions and help from people- even the ones who thought it was a stupid idea. I know it is now and I guess when I posted I was just desperate and upset and fed up. that doesn’t make a ‘prick’ like some lovely posters seem to think, and honestly I don’t think there’s ever a need for name calling like that but whatever. Thanks to the 99.999% of people that gave me the reality check I needed but didn’t make me feel like total shit for it

A hugely experienced friend of mine fell from her horse doing trotting poles in an arena. Keep the helmet on.

Imagine hanging around a thread where you know you’re actively making someone feel worse. Bit sad

Believe it or not, I don't give a shit what you think of me if I can stop you hurting yourself - or at the very least stop a passing idiot from hurting themselves.

Picking up body parts from verges after RTAs tends to harden ones attitude.

Serious question OP. Do you think wearing a helmet with the rubbing, lack of ventilation, head sweating, bleeding etc makes your flare ups worse?

If you would you consider taking a break from riding wheel you have a flare up to reduce the time they last?

Please don’t.

I’ve been thrown a couple of times - once because my horse was spooked for no reason!

my friend ended up in ICU with a broken back, punctured lungs and broken ribs despite wearing a helmet and back brace and she’s a very experienced rider.

it really is not worth the risk!!

YABU and risking your life, even more so with the pressure on Ambulances and NHS at the moment

No, I won’t. I’m sorry to hear about that accident, it sounds awful.

I knew deep down it was a stupid idea, that’s why I didn’t tell my parents I suppose as I knew they would go ballastic.

i posted for advice and I got it, and I’ll take it onboard because otherwise what’s the point in asking for advice. I’m definitely not going to do it and I agree it’s a stupid idea, I just wish more than anything in the world I could ride without being in pain but it is what it is and that’s the way it is. It’s upsetting to have people call me stupid and selfish when yeah I accept it is a stupid idea but it’s coming from a place of desperation and pain but I’m not going to bang on about that, I asked for advice and I got it so I’ll take it onboard

I wouldn't want my Dc riding without a hat - but didn't the queen famously only wear a headscarf?

You should not even need to ask. Of course, you only die once.

@Horsequestion I don't think you're a prick really.
I know that you know it's a really silly idea.
There is a massive risk if you don't wear a helmet.
You know you don't want to end up disabled.
I'm very sorry that you can't ride your horse when you get a flare, but you know that to do so would probably unsettle you too. He'll know. He'll feel the difference, the tension.
Take care of yourself and him. When you have a flare, can someone else exercise him? He sounds a darling.
Go back to the specialists and push for a fix.
x

Nobody wore helmets to ride horses when I was a kid.
I cycled helmet free for 2 hours yesterday.
You're an adult & should decide for yourself. I don't think you should ask Qs like this on MN because posters here are very irrational about certain kinds of risk. ruddy hysterical place.