To helmet or not to helmet lol.

[RackOn11]

Ok, well I know someday that this decision will come so help me! haha. Im afraid if I wear a helmet in the bigger shows judges will look down on me fo doing that. But I dont wanna fall off and break my skull. :( So I know those derby helmets are out there but they cost somuch just for a helmet that doesnt protect the lower part of your neck. Someday I want to show in worlds and I just dont want to look "stupid" with a helmet on in eq, or whatever I will be doing. So any help wold be great! :D

[smorrow923]

I'm not sure what "help" you want. If you want to wear a helmet, wear one. it's 100% legal and no one can knock you down in the placings JUST because of your helmet. if you don't feel comfortable not wearing a helmet, then wear one. It's that simple.

I don't wear a helmet and will never wear one in the show ring. Personal preference. I wouldn't necessarily look down on anyone for wearing a helmet in the show ring and I dont know of anyone else who would.

[SaddlebredMom]

"To helmet or not to helmet" -- yes, that is an eternal question. :confused: I remember the long discussion on this topic from the other trot site . . . :p

Think about this. Will you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious wearing a helmet (even that derby helmet ;) ) while you show? If not, then have at it!

If you will (or do) feel uncomfortable/self-conscious, then you have to figure out if that feeling impacts your riding. What I mean by that is, if you are feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable because you are wearing a helmet, is that distracting you from paying attention to your horse and your ride? If it is, then wearing a helmet will have a negative impact on your riding (and thus your showing) and this impact could actually put you in more danger because you are distracted. Make any sense?

This would also work in the reverse. If you feel more comfortable wearing a helmet and can better concentrate on your riding while wearing one, then will not wearing one make you uncomfortable and distract you from your ride (and thus make it more dangerous)?

It really is a personal decision and should be based on what will make you feel the safest.

[WhenPigsFly]

Don't worry about what others think. It is legal to wear a helmet, if that is what you want to do ... GO FOR IT!!!

The day I broke my leg, I had my helmet on. Really good thing too. It was not until a month after that I actually looked at my helmet (I had a horse friend die while mounting her trail horse - he bolted and she fell and traumatically hit her head); needless to say, I went and looked at my helmet the day I found out she had passed. My helmet had two big cracks! It could have been my head that broke ... I was lucky, my friend was not so. I am pretty sure she was not wearing a helmet the day she was injured. My bets would say that had I not had my helmet on, my leg and more than likely part of my head would have been severely hurt.

Do what you are comfortable doing! Nothing worse than wishing you had a helmet on when it is in the tack room and you are headed towards the ground! ;)

[RackOn11]

Thanks guys! But idk where to buy a nice light helmet that looks ok in the saddle seat show ring. Got and ideas?

[TheNextGeneration]

yes. wear a helmet if you feel more comfortable! your horse will feel if you are nervous and tense up!

I find these are the most popular helmets...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411S1QNZ8RL._AA280_.jpg

and then you can get many different colors to match your suit.

[walkinghorseowner]

Troxel makes a helmet that you can put either a derby or a homburg over it(they sell them with it oncluded the derby comes in steel, black, navy, chocolate and tan)....Mary Morrison and her mom wear one when showing walking horses....it looks good.. and if you are comfy wearing ahlemet this is the answer.the only thing I would suggest is to put "nude" straps on it to blend in better..... the price is $119.95 which I think is pretty good considering it includes the derby with the helmet..go to
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=32

[roadpony]

It was not until a month after that I actually looked at my helmet .... My helmet had two big cracks! It could have been my head that broke ... If you haven't already done so, you need to replace your helmet ASAP. I recently read about helmets and head protection in a ski racing magazine. Once a helmet is severely jarred, it loses its structural integrety. The experts say that once you have had a hard impact with your helmet, it has done its job and should be replaced... even if it isn't cracked... especially if it's cracked.

[Sit]

One of the top trainers wears a helmet in road horse classes and I think that is spreading a little in the road horse and roadster pony classes.

I am showing Saddlebred hunt seat now and wear a full helmet with straps. I have seen all kinds and this post taught me about the ones that a derby will fit over. My point is that I never thought I would consider wearing a helmet in a Saddlebred performance class, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that some day I will try to win the amateur gentleman five gaited WC in a helmet! So, I think it would be fine if you wore one.

Here's the key: get one that looks good with your outfit and your horse and is "proportional" to you (you'll know it when you try it on). Then, go show your horse and to heck with everyone else. If your horse if performing well, the helmet will probably be a plus because the judge will be thinking -- who's that person in the helmet on that good horse? If you are doing poorly, you'll be the oddball in a helmet on the crummy horse. Or, as I like to say -- if the judge notices (whatever little appointment issue we may have), we ain't winnin' the class!

[gotatrotter]

I would like to add a few things:

By all means, do what is best for you! It is always hard to be the one who does something different but I think many people would have a lot of respect for you (like me and the other posters here).

Go with a matte finish. The glossy finish causes problems in photos.

[RackOn11]

Go with a matte finish. The glossy finish causes problems in photos.


Whats a matte finish?? Right now I am riding in a Charles Owen eventing helmet, hahahahaha. :tongue_smilie: But the judges dont seem to mind much. (It does have a velvet cover on it though.) :D I just need to get a low profile helmet thats not huge. :)

[roadpony]

Whats a matte finish?? matte=not shiny. Do you have a dictionary? :)

[katie]

I agree with everyone: if you're more comfortable in a helmet, then ride in a helmet. I second the matte finish, or the Troxel with the derby that fits over it. It's all personal preference. Just make sure that your helmet is PROPERLY FITTED by a professional that knows what they're doing.