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Ten Reasons Not to Wear a Helmet
 By Saferaphus
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17th May 2013 •
6,505 views
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11 comments
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We’re often told we should wear a helmet when we ride. However, there are lots of good reasons not to. Here are the top ten of my many reasons why I won't wear a helmet.
It Will Mess Up My Hair
After spending $60 on a wash, cut and blow dry, countless dollars on flat irons, curing irons and styling products, not to mention the hour spent every morning making your hair look perfect why would you want your hair to be ruined wearing a helmet?
Helmets are Expensive
Horses are an expensive sport and any time you can save some money you should. Sure, an approved helmet is only about $40, but $40 here and $40 there, and you soon won’t have money for the important things. As Grandpa would say, a penny saved is a penny earned.
Helmets Look Stupid
Who wants to look like a mushroom head? If you’re going to accessorize, wear something like a cool ball cap or cowboy hat or at least some nice earrings.
I’m A Really Good Rider
Only beginner riders need helmets. Good riders don’t need a helmet because they simply don’t fall off. Courtney King-Who?
Helmets are Hot
There’s no way I’m wearing a sweaty helmet all summer. Have you ever smelled the inside of a sweaty riding helmet?
It’s My Head, So It’s My Choice
So if I do fall on my head, and I won’t, because as I said, I’m a really good rider, it’s my head, right? It’s just me getting the traumatic brain injury, and I’m willing to gamble it won’t happen.
My Discipline Won’t Allow Helmets
Wear a helmet in my show ring and you can kiss the possibility of winning a ribbon good-bye. Appearance is really important and having the right outfit is part of your score. I don’t want the judge to pass me over because they think I’m wearing a helmet because I’m not a very good rider, or it doesn't look right with my outfit.
I Know How to Fall Off
My coach spent half a lesson one time teaching me how to fall off properly. All you do is vault off if you think you’re going to come off the horse, and then just land on your feet or roll out of the way. Simple, really.
Cowboys Never Wore Helmets
I've watched lots of westerns, and you never see a cowboy wearing a helmet. The old west wouldn't have been the same with a bunch of mushroom heads galloping around. Imagine what John Wayne would look like wearing a helmet!
Helmets Give Me Headaches
A friend gave me an old helmet one time, and it was so tight and hot that it gave me a headache. I haven’t worn it since, although it looks nice hanging on the living room wall.
So what do you think of my reasons not to wear a helmet? Do you have a good reason not to wear a helmet? |
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IggyPogo
Lol your articles are all brilliant. :P This one was a little worrisome at first, but it's pretty clear you're kidding after awhile. Nice. Haha
Lol your articles are all brilliant. :P This one was a little worrisome at first, but it's pretty clear you're kidding after awhile. Nice. Haha
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May 17, 2013
• 7,197 views
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RainbowNerd01
I don't want the world to not see how fabulous my face is and the hat will completely ruin my shorts, crop top and flip flops look. UGH
I don't want the world to not see how fabulous my face is and the hat will completely ruin my shorts, crop top and flip flops look. UGH
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May 17, 2013
• 6,898 views
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Dark Star
I can't tell if your being serious or not?
o.o I sure hope not. Even though I am guilty of not wearing a helmet unless jumping or racing, I don't say it's because I'm 'too good to fall off'. I'm the most accident prone person there is. I just hate wearing them because they do affect how well I ride my horse.
I have also found, I will only land on my head if I have a helmet on, so there. Problem solved. lol *Sarcasm*
I can't tell if your being serious or not?
o.o I sure hope not. Even though I am guilty of not wearing a helmet unless jumping or racing, I don't say it's because I'm 'too good to fall off'. I'm the most accident prone person there is. I just hate wearing them because they do affect how well I ride my horse.
I have also found, I will only land on my head if I have a helmet on, so there. Problem solved. lol *Sarcasm*
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May 17, 2013
• 6,966 views
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Valkyrie
 MOD
One I keep hearing is - "I trust my horse completely. He would never do anything to hurt me, so I don't need a helmet because I won't be falling off."
I've also heard horror stories of riders who were toddling around on their old schoolmasters, and said horse tripped or shied or did something by accident that unstuck the rider who came off and promptly ended up hospitalised with head trauma. I have heard stories of this occurring both with and without helmets. Guess whose story was post-mortem?
Statistically around 60% of all traumatic head injuries received from horse riding are from those who weren't wearing helmets. And 80% of those crippled from such accidents were people not wearing helmets. If you don't wear a helmet you VASTLY increase your chances of becoming a vegetable. Not only that but it's so goshdarn SELFISH of you not to wear a helmet because, sure, it's your head - but it's your family and friends who will have to take care of you if you become a vegetable
One I keep hearing is - "I trust my horse completely. He would never do anything to hurt me, so I don't need a helmet because I won't be falling off."
I've also heard horror stories of riders who were toddling around on their old schoolmasters, and said horse tripped or shied or did something by accident that unstuck the rider who came off and promptly ended up hospitalised with head trauma. I have heard stories of this occurring both with and without helmets. Guess whose story was post-mortem?
Statistically around 60% of all traumatic head injuries received from horse riding are from those who weren't wearing helmets. And 80% of those crippled from such accidents were people not wearing helmets. If you don't wear a helmet you VASTLY increase your chances of becoming a vegetable. Not only that but it's so goshdarn SELFISH of you not to wear a helmet because, sure, it's your head - but it's your family and friends who will have to take care of you if you become a vegetable or are disabled, it's your family and friends who will have to make the gut-wrenching decision to turn off your life support, it's your family and friends who will have to organise your funeral, and it's your family and friends who will forever be scarred from your death. How could you be so selfish as to put that on to them?
Myself - I've ridden just once without a helmet. It was western and I was in a corral. But I felt naked the entire time. I may get to ride western again when I return to the States in June and I'm really apprehensive. I will ask if they have a helmet, and if they don't I don't know what I'll do. I'd really LIKE to ride western again, but I'm not sure it's worth the risk even for an hour or so. Even if the horse is a dead plodder who wouldn't shy at a cannon blast.
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May 18, 2013
• 7,285 views
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Polo the Weirdo
MOD
I was scoffing and rolling my eyes the whole way through this. Very subtly done, and nicely written. I'm impressed. :P
The hilarious part, of course, is that people really do use these excuses, and frankly, it baffles me. I think I'm a pretty decent rider, but do you think that means I'm not going to fall off? Not a CHANCE! Nobody brings on a challenging young horse without taking at least a few tumbles, no matter how good you are. The better a rider you are, the more you tend to challenge yourself, and the more likely you are to encounter an accident. I mean, you see falls at Badminton, don't you? And I don't think anybody would dare challenge that those riders know their stuff.
But I must agree about the stink. My helmet smells worse than my boots. True story. After riding my fifth horse under the South African sun, it's honestly as if somebody opened a public toilet on my head.
And on that rather disturbing note, I'm going to leave you. I have a helmet to wash (And spray de
I was scoffing and rolling my eyes the whole way through this. Very subtly done, and nicely written. I'm impressed. :P
The hilarious part, of course, is that people really do use these excuses, and frankly, it baffles me. I think I'm a pretty decent rider, but do you think that means I'm not going to fall off? Not a CHANCE! Nobody brings on a challenging young horse without taking at least a few tumbles, no matter how good you are. The better a rider you are, the more you tend to challenge yourself, and the more likely you are to encounter an accident. I mean, you see falls at Badminton, don't you? And I don't think anybody would dare challenge that those riders know their stuff.
But I must agree about the stink. My helmet smells worse than my boots. True story. After riding my fifth horse under the South African sun, it's honestly as if somebody opened a public toilet on my head.
And on that rather disturbing note, I'm going to leave you. I have a helmet to wash (And spray deodorant in).
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May 18, 2013
• 7,120 views
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Epic Windrunner
1.why would it matter if you mess up your hair?I do it all the time and and I don't care.
2. yes helmets do cost a lot BUT you need them!!!!! you never know what your horse is going to do?
3.would you rather have a brain injury and not remember much at all, and have to learn to walk,talking etc(all the basics)or would you rather look stupid with a helmet on?
4.does it matter if you are a good rider/ our riding instructor who is a good rider still wears helmets. you never know what your horse is going to do. it might get a BIG fright without you knowing its coming and freak, you might fall off without doing your position to get off?
5. yes I agree, helmets are hot but you need to wear them for safety.
6.yes its our heads BUT like I said if you getting a brain ingury the might have to do surgery and would you like your head to have a big scar on it?
7.yes it is about appearance about 91% out of 100 wear helmets.
8. you might know how to fall of but if your horse ge
1.why would it matter if you mess up your hair?I do it all the time and and I don't care.
2. yes helmets do cost a lot BUT you need them!!!!! you never know what your horse is going to do?
3.would you rather have a brain injury and not remember much at all, and have to learn to walk,talking etc(all the basics)or would you rather look stupid with a helmet on?
4.does it matter if you are a good rider/ our riding instructor who is a good rider still wears helmets. you never know what your horse is going to do. it might get a BIG fright without you knowing its coming and freak, you might fall off without doing your position to get off?
5. yes I agree, helmets are hot but you need to wear them for safety.
6.yes its our heads BUT like I said if you getting a brain ingury the might have to do surgery and would you like your head to have a big scar on it?
7.yes it is about appearance about 91% out of 100 wear helmets.
8. you might know how to fall of but if your horse gets a fright and again don't know its coming then you might just fall off the wrong way or get your foot stuck in the stirrup.
9. yes cowboys don't wear helmets but do you wear guns on you side? do you have rope with you when you ride?
10. well why don't you find a helmet THAT does fit, I use a helmet that fits perfectly and used to use a helmet that was waaaaay too small for me but once I changed I could feel the difference.
I hope that you think about wearing a helmet because it might just save your life!
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May 18, 2013
• 7,307 views
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Emmurr
I'm so glad you're not being serious xD
The first one, I was just thinking "Who does their hair nicely to ride anyway? It's only going to get shoved into a hairnet and stuffed under a hat so why bother!"
I'm so glad you're not being serious xD
The first one, I was just thinking "Who does their hair nicely to ride anyway? It's only going to get shoved into a hairnet and stuffed under a hat so why bother!"
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May 18, 2013
• 7,512 views
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Kaori
I must admit, the main reason I wear a helmet is because there's a low wooden bar just above the door of Paddy's new stable, which I keep walking into xD
Brilliant article, gave me a very good morning giggle :D
I must admit, the main reason I wear a helmet is because there's a low wooden bar just above the door of Paddy's new stable, which I keep walking into xD
Brilliant article, gave me a very good morning giggle :D
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May 18, 2013
• 6,841 views
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LookAMoose
I though you were being serious.. But then it hit me, after I read the comment. Good article though! :D Nice and brilliant!
I though you were being serious.. But then it hit me, after I read the comment. Good article though! :D Nice and brilliant!
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May 18, 2013
• 7,260 views
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Mutley Jackson
I started reading this and then I was like ,'Is she stupid?!' Then I read more and was like, 'She must be joking.... Ok she's definatley joking!' xD
I started reading this and then I was like ,'Is she stupid?!' Then I read more and was like, 'She must be joking.... Ok she's definatley joking!' xD
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Aug 4, 2013
• 6,448 views
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Sophielmo
It would have just been to small for you that helmet that your friend gave u and plus the judges wouldn't let you go through because your not following health and safety and you can't say you'll never fall off cause you will!
It would have just been to small for you that helmet that your friend gave u and plus the judges wouldn't let you go through because your not following health and safety and you can't say you'll never fall off cause you will!
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Aug 22, 2013
• 6,369 views
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