Horse rider head injury
Posted by Bill on Oct 20 2007 at 04:43 pm | Tagged as: Riding
A friend of ours called us the other day to relay a story that happened on her street a few days ago. A local girl was out riding her horse on this small country road not far from here. She put a blanket on the horse and went for a ride using a lead rope as reigns. I bet you can guess this didn’t end well. Her horse spooked, dumping her onto the paved road where she was found some time later, bleeding from her ears. Her horse was standing nearby. She was airlifted to a hospital an hour away and is recovering. But it could have been far worse. I don’t have the statistics on head injuries handy but most of the serious injuries I hear of involve head trauma. Yet on trail rides and at events, I rarely see anyone wearing a helmet. Why is that?
Last year I hopped on top of Moonshine for a photo opportunity. I was wearing shorts and sneakers and Moonshine was bare, except for a lead rope. I believe my famous last words were “I’m king of the world!”, followed by me coming to on the ground. For whatever reason, Moonshine dumped me off of her back and I was fortunate to have not hit my head. But I could have and I might not be writing this today.
For Christmas last year, I gave Mikki a nice Troxel Dakota Duratec helmet, complete with leather trim and all the modern fixings. We’re still new to this whole horse thing and I knew we’d be riding our horses soon. It’s a long way up, especially on Valentine and after my fall, a helmet seemed like a good idea. Now that I’m starting to ride, I decided I needed a helmet too so today I bought the less expensive Troxel Spirit training helmet. My head is apparently big so I got a large and an hour later I tried it on at home. The fitting was met with snickers and I figured out why when I looked in the mirror. This helmet is HUGE. I looks like I have a shiny black watermelon on my head. In fact, it looks ridiculous. Remember Rick Moranis in the giant Darth Vader helmet in Spaceballs? That’s how I felt wearing this thing. How could this be? Mikki’s helmet, a medium, looks so cool on her. The foam on the Spirit is almost twice as thick as the Dakota and it really increases the size of the helmet. Mikki is going to exchange the Spirit for a Dakota tomorrow so I don’t feel as much like a goober. I don’t want an excuse to not wear a helmet.
When you have a chance, check out the testimonials on the Troxel Helmet website from horse riders whose lives were saved by a helmet. Several of the stories are from people who said they’ve ridden all their lives and their horse was normally calm until one day something happened and they were dumped onto their head. There’s no question in my mind that a helmet is a wise idea. Fortunately there are style options to keep you and me from feeling goofy but either way, be safe and protect your head, just in case the unexpected happens. And try that new helmet on in front of a mirror before you leave the store!
I would add that if you have any doubt, let the professionals at the tack store fit the helmet for you.
Yea, PLZ wear a helmet. I need to have my best friend around for the wedding.
Luv
I have one of those “normally calm” horses. One day she spooked and shot to the right, then spun, flinging me from the saddle to the ground. Fortunately (I guess) my head never hit, just my butt. I’d learned from years of mounain biking to “tuck and roll”. I tucked but forgot to roll. My head was fine, my butt was another story.
I cannot believe about that girl! Was she okay? I have always worn a helmet when I ride. It has always been a habit of mine. I can’t believe you just started wearing a helmet. If you ever got thrown you are lucky you didn’t hurt your head. I usually just buy my helmet and never actually try it on for perfectness. That is a very good tip because that would help on time and money! I can’t wait to see your next post!
PS. I love the picture of the watermelon. I love all your pictures but that one made me want a cold, juicy watermelon right then and there!
Funny how things come at you…I was just out riding with a friend when she was thrown from her horse. She was wearing a helmet, I wasn’t as a matter of fact, mine was at home in the garage…She ended up on the ground eyes rolled back in her head and legs and arms stiff. Her mom was there watching and came to her side. After some time on the ground she was up but couldn’t remember riding or even going to the stable. The helmet broke, thank god it wasn’t her head. Doctors have limited her no riding until she is head-ache free. Still working on that. But told her she was very lucky. Had she not been wearing the helmet something terrible would have happened. My helmet is now right by my reins! No riding without it period!!! Thanks for the story…It is a good reminder to those of us who for what ever reason didn’t wear helmets.
Yes wear the helmet! I feel like a goober too as many of my friends don’t wear them. I have taken a couple of falls but have never hit my head YET. I also have a Troxel. I tend to ride 2 -3 xs a week and I often ride longer than my friends. I’ll go out for 20 miles or so. You never know what will happen and I value my brain so I wear it. It could save your life.
Bill didn’t mention this, but if you register your helmet with Troxel they will replace it for free (you pay for shipping) if it is ever “used” (for instance, you land on your head while wearing it).
I’m always surprised by how many people don’t wear a helmet, or don’t make their kids wear one. I think it’s very sad really. No one can give me any good reason for a person NOT to wear a helmet. When my son first began riding, we talked a bit about whether I would require him to always wear a helmet, and my answer was yes and at first he grumbled a little about how ‘real’ cowboys don’t wear helmets. Then recently, a neighbour had an accident with his four wheeler. He’s in his early twenties and now confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Mind you, a helmet would not have helped him but it really hit home how easily accidents happen.
I’m constantly saying to my kids that there is a REASON they call them ACCIDENTS! It’s because they aren’t planned! No one plans to fall off their horse! It doesn’t hurt to wear a helmet, but it can certainly hurt not to! And yes, even at 36 yrs of age, I ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding.