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😢

It's a long long long long time to regret, whilst on a rehab unit for serious head and spinal injuries.

Glad you could hear the advice, @Horsequestion .

So sorry you're having these problems, it sounds like a really tough one.
Hope things improve for you.

Absolutely don't ride without a helmet ever, not unless you want a brain injury. It's just not worth it. Ever.

@Curiosity101
How can you say that because she's only doing flat work she's unlikely to fall off?. A horse has its own brain and sometimes for no reason at all they can shy away from something whip round away from seemingly nothing at all. Or for only reasons the horse knows they either slam on the breaks or bolt then stop dead. The list of things could happen is endless.
Is it worth dying or ending up in a wheel chair for. No not really.

As someone who Rode racehorses from 16 to 21.years old I'd never ever agree to someone riding without a hat at any time.
It's not worth the risk.
What op decides to do is entirely up to her. But she's asked advice about it. And many people have given advice good or bad.
Only they can decide what is best for them.
But it's totally wrong to say cos you are only walking And trotting you don't need a hat... like saying I'm only going 5 mins down the road I won't wear my seat belt.
You can't guarantee that someone isn't going to plow into your car.

Not worth the risk, a girl at my school died falling off her horse wearing a helmet (before the safer chin strap was mandatory) as it just had a stupid bit of elastic which people often had around the peak anyway ... she was very experienced too - just take a break til your condition sorts itself out

Op please don't. It just takes something daft to spook a horse and you know that. I was in an arena, the most bomb proof school pony was spooked by a daft 6mth old puppy. Threw my friend into the wall. She slid down it cartoon style. Luckily for her just a bit brused but...you just never know with horses.

I'd maybe try a fleece lined ski helmet or something.
Hope you get answers soon for your skin.

There is a top dressage rider who is blind in one eye after she came off schooling her horse.

What about a silk liner? Like this https://www.jasminesilk.com/pure-silk-thermal-balaclava-black-p71?gclid=Cj0KCQiAtbqdBhDvARIsAGYnXBMIgYd2Wb0vbZvwHZzmNDuDL0Dta4Y5oAYikXwOOhG7aeGCqeRegoaAsO8EALwwcB

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.

Well that's the thing, isn't it? I know people who've ridden for years and never fallen off, but it only takes one time.

I've only come off once and that was doing flatwork in a school on a "bomb proof" riding school horse. He did nothing wrong and I did nothing wrong - he just lost his footing and fell forwards and couldn't right himself until I went over his head onto the ground.

Meh. Its your life do as you please

I've ridden for 70+ years. Everything from daft Native ponies through Arabians to Thoroughbreds. I have always worn a riding hat. My current Arabian is 16hh of chestnut attitude, with an advanced sense of humour. Beautifully schooled and utterly responsive. Traffic and pheasant proof.
The last time I fell off was 40 years ago, showjumping a previous Arabian horse in a well-maintained sandschool. I was wearing a full-harness in-date riding helmet. I was temporarily knocked out and was slightly concussed. If I hadn't been wearing a hat, I would probably been seriously brain injured.
I wear a hard hat and gloves to lead my current horse. I know him backwards, but he's a flight animal, and as such unpredictable.

I'm impressed! I'm 56 but have recently lost my confidence after an accident on the ground. Used to ride dds horse but he has too much personality for me now.

Dont be a dick

If you'd taken the time to at least read Op's posts you'd know that she's not going to ride without a hat.

I’d do it - I wonder how ma y of these people actually ride horses?

I ride weekly and would never, ever get on a horse without a helmet. It only takes a split second.

Nope. If it hurts too much to put on, you just don't ride. Horse riding is not an essential activity.

I have ridden and owned horses for 50 years and I wouldn't do it - and more to the point I wouldn't encourage someone else to do it.

I wonder how often you do.

Quite. Although I think in the states its more socially acceptable to ride without one.

I actually wear a helmet when I bring in and turnout as well - that's when I've had horse related accidents!

So totally right to say most accidents happen in ‘safe’ situations where you feel secure and your guard is down, albeit subconsciously. I’ve ridden on lava flats in Iceland (it’s not flat, it’s like picking up and down Mount Doom in LOTR) galloped along beaches, through woods etc all manor of ‘dangerous’ terrain and my one horrible, could-have-been-deadly accident happened doing flat work on a ‘bomb-proof’ ex police horse in the bloody arena. He just got spooked and that was it. I still ride but I could cry at how I was before that accident compared to how I am now in terms of riding confidence.

I rode occasionally as a child and rode regularly in my 20s (when I had time & money).
But you don't need to be an Olympic rider to know horses are big prey animals who get spooked occasionally and a fall could result in head injury.

You won’t fall off when working him lightly, but you will when he does something unexpected and throws you. That’s why you use a helmet, for the unexpected.

I got kicked in the face bringing a normally angelic horse in. Luckily missed my skull as I put my arm up to shield myself so although I felt it in my face and broke my nose, I really broke my arm in 4 places. I've worn a hat ever since. I've lost most of my confidence since then 😭

I'm a rider and a trainer. I start young horses, re-start horses that have problems, teach at summer camps... wearing my hard hat. 😀