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😢

As I'm sure you can already tell OP, this is a very bad idea, maybe try join up or ground work on particularly bad flare ups?

Is there anyway you could share your condition and maybe others have some solutions for that, which in turn would help with your riding hat?

In the USA where I am riding without a hat is totally normal.
Coming from the UK I think it is a bit nuts.
But no one would look twice here, I've turned up to go on hacking trips and there hasn't been a hat of any sort available.

Honestly, yeah I think so. It’s bad anyway but it’s definitely worse with the hat. Its an immune system thing and it’s on my body but obviously it’s only mt head and neck that affect the riding and are affected by the helmet. I’m not medical in the slightest so I might be wrong but iirc all the treatments are targeting the immune system and all the other stuff I put on my skin is to stop it getting infected and make it more comfortable but I think the time of year makes it worse aswell. It sometimes flares up for no reason, like I had a long time off as my horse was injured and it flares again when I hadn’t been wearing my hat, but I think it makes it worse aswell if that makes sense. Sorry that was a very drawn out and pretty crap answer but it’s hard to explain! x

It would not only be stupid but batshit crazy. I'm only just learning to ride and have the calmest, most chilled horse in school to ride. Lorries up his arse on narrow roads, children running around screaming, they let 5 year olds dress him up as a unicorn ffs, he couldn't give a toss. If he can't eat it, it doesn't exist.

I nearly came off him a few weeks ago, riding at a steady plod while warming up and what did he spook at? A terrifying horse eating leaf.

My instructor is a very good rider and has won a few major competitions so very experienced. She came off when her horse spooked and got a concussion WITH her helmet on. Probably would have killed her if she hadn't.

And you've got to think velocity too. The force of an impact would be greater depending on how fast you're travelling.

If I fell at trot, my 16 stone weight would hit the ground with more than double the force than it would if I fell off at a walk. Which would be probably twice what it would be if I just tripped and fell from my own height. Plus if the horse stumbles and kicks you by accident you're fucked. So many more variables than just experience, skill and behaviour.

I haven’t read the full thread, but would something like a Hovding work? Obviously not if you are jumping, but maybe for calmer riding. They are super popular where I live in Sweden: hovding.com

Wear one, or don't it's your risk, I've been on bike rides without a helmet it's a risk you take.

With cyclists I mean, no idea if they can be used with horse riding.

I really feel for you OP I can imagine it's awful. I know you said you have tried everything, but a couple of things occurred to me.... how long do your flare ups last? If it's a few days at a time could you concentrate on ground work during those days to avoid wearing the hat at all, or is it too long/ frequent for that? Also have you looked at getting a hat liner? I had understood that some fabrics can be kinder to irritated inflamed skin than others, so perhaps a liner might ease it slightly?

Anyway, in answer to your post, YABU to ride without, but I would look at everything you can do with the hat to make it more comfortable.

You don’t have to be galloping or jumping to have a fall and injure yourself. My friend’s horse’s hoof slipped on tarmac in walk and fell, he fell off too and unfortunately as his hat was not fastened correctly it came off and he hit his head on the tarmac. He had to have an op on his skull / brain and was off for a good 6 months before being able to go back to work (office job). he can never ride again and is not allowed to listen to loud music etc as this could bring on a fit.
You absolutely must wear your helmet.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to be so bad tempered and sharp with you. I was just so upset and frustrated but I shouldn’t have been so sharp so apologies👍 I appreciate the help from you and everyone else and I know it’s dangerous. I suppose if I thought it was ok I’d have just done it rather than asking for advice so part of me knew it was a very bad idea.

yeah he’s a darling! A very expensive one but a darling all the time 😉 I didn’t mention in my OP he’s actually an OTTB so even bigger reason to wear a helmet, lol x

Indeed. You only need to fall off once.

My worst injury was sustained at halt in the school on a very old reliable horse. I’d be dead without the hat as I got stood on. Freak incident, completely unpredictable.

If it hurts too much to wear a hat, don’t ride.

Last time I fell off I wasn't doing anything dangerous, just standing still in an arena. The pony spooked and I ended up amongst his hooves. One of his hooves caught my head and cracked my hat, but all I had was slight concussion. Would have been very different if I'd not had a hat on.
I really hope you can find an answer to your pain, I know how frustrating it is to be unable to do the one thing you love above all others. But if I were you I'd hold off riding until your flare-up flares down again. Best of luck to you

It doesn't matter one bit how you fall because horses aren't machines and don't always give warning that something is going to go wrong. I had a fit young horse drop dead under me. Walking one minute and on the floor the next. He thumped my hat and split it in half.

www.horsejournals.com/life-horses/head-first-horse-riding-accidents-and-concussions

If this is a life-long skin condition, I think you have to give up riding. Think of the impact on your family if you sustain a brain injury.

@Horsequestion stop.

I was being insulting to you...don't let's get into a competition over this

My cousin had an OTTB and I can safely say he was bonkers. He chucked her off and (fortunately, only) broke her femur in a quiet paddock, possible because of a leaf. 😵 or maybe a mis-positioned blade of grass. 🤦‍♀️
He was most definitely NOT a darling.
I've been around TBs. Some are the so laid back they're comatose. They just want to eat carrots or mints and nuzzle between my boobs 🤭 others hate themselves and everything in their life (Gloria for example) and want to bite your face off.
I would absolutely NOT ever trust even the dopey one. Not even Woody - huge flashy chestnut chaser, soft as a brush, loved me almost as much as I loved him (which was completely).
<hug>
sorry. I know it's hard, but you really can't take that risk.

I'm glad you've realised it's daft.

I came off in the school last summer moving up from trot to canter - the horse stumbled and fell and just couldn't right himself, and I ended up just going over his head as he couldn't get up with me still on him. I took a bump to the head but luckily no concussion and I was fine (just bruised pride).

But with no helmet and without my instructor there to grab the horse and help him up, it could have been MUCH worse. You don't need to be going fast to come off and have an accident - really you don't.

Nah. And it’s not so much the risk of dying, but ending up a semi-vegetable.

You either wear helmet or you don’t ride.

If you have kids or other dependants this is x100 true.

Do not ride without a hat.
Even if you are just walking around you can come off and break your neck.
I Rode riding school horses and race horses for 5 years and no way on this earth would I have riden out with a hat.
Our boss at the racing yard had all our hats X rayed and we were so shocked to see so many cracks in them.
And they wouldn't have been seen without an xray.
Accidents happen when you least expect them. Horses have a mind of their own.
I'd totally caution against riding without a hat..

Nope. I’ve had horses trip and fall on me on the flat. As much as I love them, they are inherently stupid and clumsy animals. It’s not worth the risk.

I would focus on groundwork; long-reining and lunging can be very effective if done right and perhaps pay someone to ride a bit when you can’t to keep the schooling going.

Just wanted to say I understand where your coming from OP. The pain and frustration can make you consider doing silly things. Thankfully you had sense to get a second opinion instead of going ahead and risking potentially very serious injuries. My SIL has very very severe Psoriasis flare ups and couldn't hold reins or wear a helmet so i used to step in to exercise and ride her horse for her. Hope you can find someone to give you a helping hand in a similar way.

Agree. I rode for years on the flat helmet free, only wore one for shows or jumping. What's more, I often wore shoes! With no heels! Yes, I know, how HAVE I survived??

Could you wear a cycle helmet? I ride horses and bikes. My cycling helmet is far more ventilated, I don’t know if that would help your skin irritation?

I'd persevere with trying to somehow adapt a helmet to accommodate your sore head.

It sounds really horrid for you and I hope you can find a solution.

Would wearing a cycle helmet or another type of helmet that worked better with your head be an alternative.

Obviously wearing a purpose build riding helmet is best..one in a bigger size with padding or something like that..

Hope you find a solution other than no helmet.

Sounds awful OP - I can see why the thought crossed your mind. Would a silk buff worn over your head help reduce the friction at all?