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😢

I definitely won’t do it. Thanks for the wake up call.

I knew it was dangerous but I was just upset I suppose.

thanks for all the tips and advice! I’ve actually not tried some of them so I’ll try and hopefully get some relief. It’s not just plaque psoriasis unfortunately, I’ve got massive blisters and sores all over my body but I can just about tolerate it and I think my clothes gives some padding. For some reason my head and neck have it worst and the hat presses on the blisters and sores and it’s painful. I haven’t tried putting a hat silk underneath or putting a cold/frozen padding under it but I think that will give some relief so I’ll try it. Thanks again for the suggestions.

I actually took a bad fall not too long ago and my helmet was complete dented and caved inwards, so I can’t believe I would be stupid enough to even consider riding without it after that. Thanks everyone for the wake up call x

I’m not in the UK!

Email some of the helmet companies and ask if there's anything they can suggest or would like to look into

I feel for you OP it must be very frustrating and upsetting

We were being insulting to each other 👍👍😂

Haha! OTTB are like a lottery aren’t they- some are the most chilled out, dopes on ropes and others are nutters! You’re right though definitely not worth the risk, and it’s a long way to fall off and those skinny legs have a lot of power in them and definitely not worth the risk of being kicked!

I have family abroad in a country where it is not traditional to wear hats and when I was younger I never wore one when riding there. Now I wouldn't get on without one anywhere.
A year ago, my horse tanked off with me and I lost my stirrup and balance and came off. I fell back and banged my head. I was concussed, but without my hat it would have been far, far worse.

Thanks I hadn’t actually thought of doing that. I’ll send out some emails tomorrow! Thank you x

If you are too poorly to wear a helmet, you are too poorly to ride. You absolutely shouldn't ride without one.

At a yard I worked on someone broke their neck doing flatwork. I'm sorry to hear about your flare-ups, they sound very debilitating, but riding without a hat just isn't worth it at any stage.

I never fell off my old boy. Literally never. Then one day he slipped on the yard as we were walking back to his stable and I was just about to jump off. He fell on me, all 17hh of him. Fortunately, we were both fine, albeit bruised and sore, but shows how easily nasty accidents can happen. He wasn't doing anything wrong, neither was I, and it was the only fall I ever had off of him.

Nope. No. Never

@Horsequestion
I really hope you find a solution that works. 🤞
There's nothing like the soft velvety nose and minty fresh breath of a doped up TB high on carrots and extra-strong mints. 😻

I vaguely remember an advert a while ago for a helmet that self activates when needed but is otherwise worn just around the neck. I think it was designed for bikes but guessing that if safe for them might be suitable for the sort of impact a horse rider may have on falling. Google invisible helmet and take a look. It might be an option worth exploring. I know that doesn't solve the neck issue, but at least might help with head coverage.

I hear this argument a lot. These occupations aren’t forced labour, there’s no form of conscription for paramedics. They might find it upsetting to ‘pick up the pieces’, but that’s the nature of the job the volunteered for. If they don’t want to, there are plenty of other occupations they can choose from.

Being your body does indeed give you the freedom to do you wish to, within the law or any other rules that might apply.

YABU. My SIL who has ridden for years fell from her horse broke her neck and hurt her head. The head injury would have been so much worse if she hadn’t of been wearing her helmet. Luckily she regained some movement in her legs but is still suffering so much 4 years later.

No don't do it 💐

You say you aren’t in the UK so presumably you’re somewhere that requires private medical insurance? That will be invalidated if you aren’t wearing a helmet and have an accident. Plus, it isn’t worth the risk, you might not survive a blow to the head if the horse kicks out as you fall.

Op glad you're going to carry on wearing a hat, much as I love horses they are so unpredictable.

Could you try alternative activities when you are really suffering? I know it's a big ask with an ottb but what about trying a bit of liberty training? I follow Ben Atkinson on Facebook and he has YouTube videos on how to do it. Although he doesn't wear a hat.... I just wish I had a horse to try it with.

Fuck no. I remember when I was younger a girl riding out from our stables without a hat. She was blonde when she left. She returned with bright red hair. It was horrific. Always wear a hat. Always.

I'm not sure why that surprises you.

Sorry, but I didn't even need to read the whole OP. Ffs, you need to wear a helmet and ideally a back protector. My relative was thrown off his horse, completely unpredicated due to being spooked. He was in a coma for months and although recovered, has not ever been quite the same. What stopped him from dying- his old riding hat. Might not have been the best, but surely saved him. Has a big crack in it now.

I can totally see where you were coming from OP, I suffer from stress eczema on about half of my body which irritates me to the point of distraction and makes me a bit irrational.
My half TB threw me off this week (schooling) after objecting to a reasonable request, I almost landed on my feet this time but the time before was an A&E seven hour wait after landing on my bonce

I fractured my pelvis doing leg yield in walk (!) My point is odd things happen don't do it

When you start telling people what they can and cant do with their own body, you go down a slippery slope.

We passed that Rubicon centuries ago.

You’d be stupid.
that’s how my grandma died.
my mum watched it As a small child
dont be a tool.

My boss’s daughter, a VERY experienced rider, died horse riding.
It’s a bit like driving without a seatbelt… I am a very experienced driver with over 30 years accident free driving… I still wouldn’t dream of not using a seatbelt

I know a lot of western riders that don't ride with helmets. Attitudes in the UK, particularly with English style riding are obviously that you should wear a helmet.

Generally if you're riding within your skill level , especially in flatwork you're unlikely to have an accident. But it does only take one accident to ruin your whole life.

I would never recommend riding without one and personally I wouldn't risk it. But I've seen a lot of people ride their full riding career without a helmet and they've had very few accidents as a result of being careful about riding within their capability and by being very experienced in their discipline. Based on what you've described I do think YABU.