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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

First fall. Ow. New hat?

21 replies

Northey · 03/04/2013 21:11

Ow. And ow again.

I came off onto grass, landing on my back, with my head smacking down half a second later. Am I meant to replace my hat automatically for any sort of fall, or is it advice that people don't really follow in real life?

It was at the canter, if that makes any difference, and to my inexpert eye I would guess she is 16-17 h (I am 5'11" and can't see over her withers).

OP posts:

jennywren45 · 03/04/2013 21:18

Eek! I think mine's hit the deck many times and not been replaced!

Booboostoo · 03/04/2013 22:14

Ouchie! Hope you are not too sore!

Yes without a doubt replace the hat. The fall could have compromised the hat's integrity without any visible external damage so you could effectively be riding in a hat that did not protect you.

50BalesOfHay · 03/04/2013 22:22

I wouldnt unless you hit your head hard, onto grass at canter and head down last is unlikely to do much damage. If you were knocked out or have a headache then yes you should. Hope you're ok, only 6 more till you're a rider!

Plomino · 03/04/2013 23:06

Personally I replace my hat every time my head hits the floor . To me it's not worth the risk not to . That said , I've only smacked my head 4 or 5 times , but two of those were on the Tarmac , and one of those actually cracked the back of my hat .

Lots of people don't , but it is one of the few things I'm meticulous about . But the I also change all the kids car seats after an accident too !

Littlebigbum · 04/04/2013 00:53

I replace and I buy kids hats because they are cheaper. A riding hat is not a fashion statement

MoonlightandRoses · 04/04/2013 01:09

You definitely should replace the hat and here's why and .

[Off to buy new hat in morning after re-watching that]

Original poster

Northey · 04/04/2013 06:25

It's only about 6 months old as well. Oh well. Better that than an awful brain injury next time, I suppose. And I do still have a cracking headache this morning.

littlebigbum, I wish I could follow your advice but unfortunately I have a massive head :o

OP posts:

DolomitesDonkey · 04/04/2013 13:21

That's why I'm always careful to land on my clavicle.

Floralnomad · 04/04/2013 16:00

I wouldn't bother but that's because I rode in the dark ages when you didn't always wear a hat and spent the summer ( we did have them then ) riding in shorts and flip flops ! I would replace my children's hats though .

Plomino · 04/04/2013 21:29

moonlight.

DH saw that fall , which happened about a week after I hit the deck at a hunter trials ( combination of horse's belief in immortality and my bad judgement , i hadn't realised quite how fast we were travelling ) and promptly handed me his credit card and ordered me to buy a point two immediately .

I was lucky to get away with it , but I know people who haven't .

50BalesOfHay · 04/04/2013 22:37

Moonlight, world of difference though. In those circumstances of course you'd replace, and wear a point two. Not for a straightforward tumble at canter onto grass.

MoonlightandRoses · 04/04/2013 23:30

50 I know it's exaggerated (OP hasn't had her head used as a horse cushion), but I was bucked off once in the middle of a nice yielding field, smacked my head on arrival and the following day an instructor at my yard was able to crack my one-year old hat without much difficulty...

Plomino - I'll bet he did!

Wolfiefan · 04/04/2013 23:35

And don't leave hat anywhere it can suffer extremes of temperature. (At yard or in car.) Stay safe.

Original poster

Northey · 05/04/2013 00:21

Hey, don't diss my fall, 50! :o

Ok, I think I will replace. If you were replacing, would you avoid riding till you'd done so?

OP posts:

DolomitesDonkey · 05/04/2013 07:02

Put your energy into avoiding falling.

I probably wouldn't replace the hat either. I'm a product of the 70's and grew up with the "stop snivelling and get back on" mantra.

In my teens I was a head-dismounter, thankfully my arse soon became my densest area. Haven't fallen off since 2005.

jennywren45 · 05/04/2013 08:25

I still have my 70's hat dolomites and it's so thin! fell off numerous times in it!

All our hats are kept on the yard.

Original poster

Northey · 05/04/2013 11:09

Stop confusing me! Otherwise I will haunt you all when I am dead from brain injury.

OP posts:

NotGoodNotBad · 05/04/2013 12:26

I would replace the hat.

"Stop snivelling and get back on" won't save you from a brain injury if you fall on your head in a faulty hat.

NotGoodNotBad · 05/04/2013 12:27

50 quid versus a properly functioning brain - no contest!

willyoulistentome · 05/04/2013 12:37

I would probably think - "perhaps I should replace the hat", but then I would probably not bother. Mine is ancient and stinks, but I haven't fallen off wearing this one.

dizzyhoneybee · 07/04/2013 09:55

I would always replace the hat, it's not worth risking your life over.

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