Throughout my fifteen years of riding, I have seen my fair share of equestrian-related accidents. Among the worst of these accidents are the ones that result in head injuries. One accident vividly sticks out in my mind. I was working at a horse show in Chicago, Illinois and watching a group of adults show their horses. One of the adults got a bad distance to a jump, however, her horse attempted to still jump. The horse caught one of the jump’s poles between his legs, causing him to flip. The rider fell off, landing on her back and the horse landed on top of her. There was an audible gasp heard throughout the crowd and it felt like time stopped as we waited for something to happen. Eventually the horse was able to get up, however, the rider was not moving. An ambulance was brought into the ring and the rider was rushed to the hospital.
Thankfully, later in the week, I got word that the rider was going to be okay. I was also told that the main reason the rider survived is because she was wearing a helmet which prevented her horse from crushing her head when he flipped on top of her. For most equestrians, wearing a helmet is a no-brainer due to the level of protection it provides for their heads. However, many equestrians choose not to wear helmets, despite the data supporting the use of helmets. These reasons include tradition, experience level, and the planned activity for that day. In order to combat this issue, all equestrians should be required to wear a helmet anytime they are on a horse, no matter the rider’s age or experience level.
In the equestrian world, there are two main disciplines. These disciplines are western and english. The western discipline is made up of barrel-racing horses, cutting horses, and farm working horses. The english discipline is made up of horses that jump and is the discipline that competes in the Olympics. In western riding, it is traditional to not wear a helmet. Instead, many western riders prefer to wear a cowboy hat because it provides protection from the sun for those who work on farms with their horses. Additionally, western riders argue that they do not need to wear a helmet because they believe that there is a decreased risk of injury since they do not jump their horses.
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Another reason some equestrians opt to not wear a helmet is due to their experience level. A common concept among many riders is that the more experienced they are, the less chance they have of getting injured. However, equestrians must remember that they are riding a 1200-pound animal that has a mind of its own. Additionally, studies show that risk of injury is related to “the amount of time spent riding and working with horses, not with a rider’s level of expertise” (Ditz). This means that the more experienced riders have a greater risk of injury.
The last reason equestrians choose not to wear a helmet is due to the specific activity they are doing with their horse. Many english disciplined riders only jump twice a week and flat the rest of the week. Flatting involves exercises for your horse that do not require jumping. Thus, when they flat, many riders do not wear a helmet since they are not jumping with their horse. However, horses can always spook, jump sideways or change direction quickly to flee, which can turn an otherwise calm situation into an extremely dangerous situation in a matter of seconds. Equestrians should not be able to put their safety in danger by justifying their neglectful behavior with the fact that they are not jumping since horse are unpredictable and anything can happen at any time.
Although there are rules and laws in place regarding the use of helmets, they are contradictory of each other, making it hard for equestrians to know what to do. There is a general rule of thumb in the equestrian community that all riders under 18 must wear a helmet when on a horse and in some states, this is a law. However, there is nothing for those older than 18. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) require all equestrians to wear a helmet anytime they are on a horse at a horse show that is run by these organizations. However, at western shows, the use of a helmet is frowned upon due to its non-traditional look.
This deters many equestrians from using a helmet in order to follow the western style. However, no one’s safety should be compromised for the sake of fashion. Thus, equestrians should use helmets anytime they are on a horse. The first way to enact the solution is to pass laws in all states that legally require the use of helmets when on a horse. A second way to enact the solution is by having the USEF, USHJA, and American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) unite to form a unanimous rule requiring helmets to be used at all times when on a horse. No equestrian should ever doubt wearing a helmet, but any doubts can be quashed by enforcing these laws and rules.
