The Great Helmet Debate Continued

Join me in recommitting to riding with a Helmet, every time, no excuses!

In early March, the beloved Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye, ended up in a coma with a skull fracture that came about from riding a young horse who slipped. Right now, I'm sending her and her family love and light for a quick and speedy recovery.

Yet- here's the facts: Accidents happen. People get hurt. A lot of the time, sadly, it's tragic. But, it's part of riding. And it's a risk we take every time we get on a horse.

But are you doing what you can to minimize the risk????

Courtney wasn't wearing a helmet. Would a helmet have prevented this injury?
Maybe, maybe not- but it most likely would have lessened the severity.
That's what helmets are for: Protecting our precious heads.

Now, I am a firm believer that everyone should wear a helmet ALL of the time- because horses are unpredictable and like people, they make mistakes, have bad days, misjudge things.

BUT- even with that firm belief in place, I have to admit- I get LAZY sometimes about putting on my helmet.

Sure, there are a million excuses, but none of them good ones.

That's why I'm taking this opportunity to re-commit to wearing a helmet, every time, no excuses.

Thank you for the reminder that life is precarious, and that every moment of it is made for sweet savoring- as safely as is reasonable.

Here's my hope for helmets.

A lot of people bitched and moaned when seat belts became mandatory- even though they clearly save lives. These days I can't ride in a car without my seat belt, because I have gotten so used to the feeling (which used to be uncomfortable)- that NOT putting it on FEELS unsafe! It somehow feels wrong. So, if I do momentarily forget, I find myself immediately reaching for the belt.

Let's hope that people begin to see helmets as mandatory, because they too save lives. And that eventually people become so used to their helmets that it actually feels wrong (unsafe) without it!

In that moment, that slightly uneasy, unsafe feeling helps you remember to run back to the barn and put it on!

Here's to happy, healthy heads for a good long time!

Want to read more? Head on over to the Great Helmet Debate on the Horse and a Half Blog.