|
Take Care of Your Riding Helmet
 By Saferaphus
•
1st Apr 2014 •
2,295 views
•
0 comments
|
|
|
Your riding helmet is a very important piece of equipment that helps protect the one part of your body that is very difficult to fix if it gets broken: your brain. Helmets don't require a great deal of maintenance, but they do benefit from a little care to keep them clean and looking nice.
One thing many people don't realize about helmets is that they need to be replaced about every three years or after they have taken a hard hit. Damage might not be obvious, but over time, the materials can become weaker and the glues used to hold them together start to break down. The manufacturer of the helmet will probably make recommendations about the lifespan of your helmet and when it's time for a new one. Certainly, if the shine is gone from the outer shell of your helmet, it's probably time for a new one. And, of course, if your helmet hit the ground with your head in it, it's time for a replacement whether or not you can see damage.
Related: Ten Reasons Not to Wear a Helmet
Related: Should Equestrian Vaulters Be Required To Wear Helmets?
Related: The Better You Ride The Harder You Fall [Video]
Most manufacturers recommend you don't decorate your helmet with stickers, paint or markers. The adhesives, paint and ink can damage the shell of your helmet, making it less protective. Decorate and protect your helmet from dust with a cool fabric helmet cover instead. You will want to protect your helmet from temperature extremes as well. Leaving your helmet in the back windshield of a car where it will be exposed to high temperatures can affect the materials.
Often in hot weather, our helmets get damp inside. Allow your helmet to dry out before packing it away, or your nose might get a nasty surprise the next time you use it. If this does happen, you can try a few things. Many helmets are washable with mild soap and lukewarm water. Rinse it well and then let it dry completely. We've found that leaving a bag of odor absorbing zeolight or baking soda in the helmet between uses can help too. You may be tempted to give your helmet a thorough cleaning sometimes, but don't put your helmet in a dishwasher, where continuous high heat, water and harsh soap won't be good for it. To prevent helmet liners from getting smelly and soiled there are several types of liners available that claim to keep you cooler and your helmet liner cleaner. Barn Beanies and Sticky Wick-Its are just two of several products you might find useful.
Velveteen helmets can be kept dust free by brushing the cover with a soft brush. Those silly 'shticky' rollers that “Vince” peddles, or a lint brush work well too. If you school in your velveteen covered helmet, you might want to put a cover over it to keep it clean between shows. A helmet bag protects your helmet from bumps and dirt between uses.
Helmet care isn't complicated and a few minutes now and again will keep you looking good while you're protecting your head. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
More News by Saferaphus
|
|
I’d be the first to claim that there is nothing more relaxing than a solitary ride out on my horse. But, sometimes being on a team can be fun too. Being on a team often requires showing up for practices, buying and wearing a team ...
|
|
When it comes to horsepower, sometimes there is no substitute for the real thing. Clydesdale team Molly and Prince normal pull logs and sleighs. But after an early storm left roads slick and snow covered they came to the aid of a ...
|
|
The Appaloosa breed began in the mid-west. It’s truly an all American breed. The horses we see today are descendants of horses selectively bred by the Nez Perce (French for Pierced Nose), an indigenous people who lived in central ...
|
|
While many of us love the look of a beautifully braided mane and tail, and may even thin the hairs to achieve the look, there’s no denying the romance and beauty of long, wavy manes and tails. Most horses have tails that reach jus ...
|
|
Every day, you should give your horse a visual check and ideally, you should run your hands over it to check for swellings, heat or other problems that indicate an illness or injury. While grooming is a good time to do this. A ste ...
|
|
Back in 1973, Secretariat set a track record at the Kentucky Derby of 1:59 over the 1.25 mile distance. Since then, not a single horse has broken that record at Churchill Downs. A look at Equibase records of the various tracks in ...
|
|
Twitter is so cluttered, Facebook is just a mess, so Instagram is refreshingly free of politics, angst and other distractions. So many beautiful photos! Here’ are a few accounts to follow if you love horses. ...
|
|
These are little exercises that will help you learn some skills while having fun. So they are good for those times when a full out schooling session isn’t possible, or you just don’t feel like it. As you try these things, it’s bes ...
|
|
|
