How's this for a bit of irony? experienced riders are more likely to get hurt than beginning riders. According to the National Injury Prevention Foundation (NIPF), equestrians with five or more years of riding experience are more likely to be injured than riders with less experience. What's more, in comparing recreational activities, the highest proportion of events involving multiple injuries are due to horseback riding accidents.
The American Medical Equestrian Association/Safe Riders Foundation states that 60% of equestrian-related deaths are due to head injury. The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists 14,218 reported head injuries in 2004 due to horse activities.
Even if you weren't aware of these disturbing statistics, you likely are aware that horseback riding is a risky sport. After all, we know we're climbing aboard a strong animal with a mind of his own. And even with the best training, sometimes our horses make decisions based on a strong instinct that tells him to run first and ask questions later.
We also know that freak accidents happen-things that no matter how many safety precautions were in place nothing could have stopped. Still, taking every available option to decrease our chances of getting injured or killed while riding is simply common sense.
Use Your Head
In some ways, the riding-helmet issue is like the seatbelt push 25 years ago. Drivers had an unlimited number of excuses for not wearing seatbelts, ranging from the senseless ("I'm only driving a few miles") to the irrational ("fear of being confined"). As seatbelts became law in more states, though, more people began to accept them-and got used to wearing them. Now more people automatically snap them in place before driving away.
The same thing may eventually happen with riding helmets. As more states and equestrian organizations begin to require that safety helmets be worn in specific activities or by certain age groups, more riders will give in. In some states, even young western riders are required to wear safety helmets when participating in certain events. This is a good thing. What would be better, though, is if all riders would wear helmets at home, too, not just at public events. Just for the record, more equestrian injuries occur at home than away.
If you've decided to use your head (and protect it), go to your local tack store to purchase an ASTM/SEI-certified helmet. Few places sell "apparel only" helmets anymore, but they are out there. Skip 'em. They're cheap, but you're just getting a hat. You may as well go riding in a sunbonnet.
