Have many times - when I grew up helmets were only for over-fences and even then they were just for looks in the show ring, not secured by proper harness.

I didn't start wearing a protective helmet until I was an adult, and I wear one just about 100% of the time now. Funny that I don't usually wear on when driving (which I do much more often than ride) - even after wrecking carts several times.

Never never never!!

I have never ridden with one. Of course I ride western and I used to show western pleasure, trail, etc. I typically just trail ride now but never do wear a helmet. I wont let my daughter ride without one though.

I do not ride with a helmet ever. Most of my riding is western pleasure trail riding and mountain riding. I hate them. Now on the other hand my son is not allowed on my horse without his helmet on.

Every single time, absolutely. And I would never let a student in my ring without one. ANYTHING can happen and my helmet has saved my life too many times.

Watch "Every Time, Every Ride." It will change your outlook.

Buckling a seat belt wasn't something I did as a kid either. The "good old days" of cruising down the interstate for family vacations, us four kids stuffed in the back of a Dodge Dart. I remember one trip, as us kids got bigger, where one of the smaller siblings rode 1900 miles seated on a pillow placed over the emergency brake between the front bucket seats! Now that I'm a grownup, I buckle my seat belt close to 100% of the time, just like I wear a helmet when I ride close to 100% of the time

I would never ride without putting my hat on....in fact I would never start tacking my horse up without my hat on.

This harks back to my stable management lessons and then subsequently working for my local riding school where you had to have your hat on your head once you were on the yard NOT MATTER WHAT, especially when in the stables.

Mine gets changed around every 5 years, even if I haven't come off as I don't know what knocks it takes when I'm not around - it's hung up in our container tack room but so are everyone else's.

The one story that stands out for me is after the indoor school had been built at my local yard and the mirrors had been put up. It really schocked one of the horses, who had a major spook and reared up. The lady who was riding him fell to the outside of the school and as she came off, hit her head on one of the steal girders that supports the structure. Luckily she was wearing her hat and even though she had to go to A&E but was only slightly concussed and nothing more. I dread to think what would have happened had she not had her hat on.

Plus I've come off far too many times and hit my head to know not to ride without one but it is common sense, especially if hacking out.

Personally I think the government should make it the law for all riders to wear hats, the same as all bike riders have to.

(Hi - sorry if I'm barging in, new to this site!)

I didn't have a helmet as a child, like a lot of you, but would never ride without one now. In fact, I always wear a body protector as well, at least for the moment. I came off a few days before Halloween. I was riding a young horse in a new saddle, still don't know exactly what happened because I have no memory from between adjusting my stirrups to being draped over the fence by another rider. My visual memory doesn't return for another 15 minutes or so, when we were on our way to A&E.

Luckily, I was wearing a helmet (ended up with a slight concussion anyway), but I broke a rib and then got pneumonia from that, so I was out of action for a good while. Fortunately, I decided to try out the saddle in the paddock before heading out to the forest, which would have taken us along a dual carriageway!

So now: helmet, always. Body protector when I'm riding out or doing any jumping or feeling uncertain for any reason. Always, at the moment, because I'm loaning a new horse and don't quite know how he'll react to things; we've had a few bolts. But I've given up riding youngsters for the moment until I get my confidence back...

Salsa,
Very good recommendations. I should just wear the darn thing as soon as I arrive at the barn!

Dawn

I would never ride without a helmet. I value my life too much, and I value the feelings of those who love me too much.

I view my helmet as an accessory, meaning I buy a new one fairly often just because I like a different style or color.

When my daughter was 4 and started riding, I purchased both of us helmets. I felt like I couldn't very well expect her to always wear her helmet if I didn't wear one also. Living in rural Utah, we have regularly been the only 2 wearing helmets when on group trail rides or at Western shows and rodeos, so it's not always been easy. There have been times I didn't "feel" like wearing it, and I admit there have been times over the years that I went without a helmet when I knew my daughter wouldn't be riding with me <blush>. But I learned a very good lesson, when in 2007, I had a wreck on my "bomb proof" 20 year old mare, and have been forever grateful that I was wearing my helmet. It was a freak accident that happened while I was mounting--my mare got impatient and started to walk off just as I put my foot in the stirrup and her hind leg caught the edge of the chair I was using as a mounting block (dumb I know) and the chair went underneath her, hitting her in the belly and the rest is history. She took off running and bucking and since I wasn't yet in the saddle I did a jumping dismount thinking I could land on my feet and that would be better than waiting until I just lost it and fell off. I was in an indoor arena on soft dirt. My hip was the first to hit the ground, followed by my shoulder, then my head. Others at the arena came running to my aid and I could hear them, but I couldn't see anything but white for a minute or two. It rang my bell pretty good! Once I was up, I took off my helmet and saw the huge 4" crack going up the outside. The rest of my body (and my ego) were very bruised and battered, but I limped away with no serious injuries. I am so grateful that crack was to the helmet and not to my head.
I was recently reminded again that going without a helmet, even for one ride, is not worth it. I watched a video a friend posted on FB of Courtney King-Dye (member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team) who suffered a traumatic brain injury in March 2010 while riding without a helmet. Courtney emphasizes that her horse did nothing naughty. They were just cantering nicely when her horse tripped and fell over his own feet. After 2 years of recovery and therapy she says her recent big accomplishment is being able to use the bathroom by herself. If that doesn't convince you that protecting your head when riding (a horse, a motorcycle, atv or bike) is the smart thing to do, I don't know what else would.

I've got the Troxel Sierra now and I love it! It's very comfortable and rugged looking. It has the CinchFit™ Pro System that incorporates elastic straps that self adjust to the size and shape of your head. $99 at Stateline Tack.

Got very angry the other day.

Was coming home from a day out and passed another rider at my yard. She's pregnant BUT WEARING NO HAT out on the roads on a horse that hasn't been out of it's stable for 3 weeks!!!

Some people!

Anyway, I was reading an article the other day (sorry can't remember where) that says even if you haven't had a fall or knock, you should change your helmet / hat about every 5 years as the polystyrine that is in it can start to decay so it's best to change to make sure you have proper protections - just thought I'd let you all know.

I wear a helmet every ride because you only get one brain and it doesn't heal well. I used to work at a rehabilitation hospital for people with severe long term/permanent injuries so I would see first hand the results of head, neck and spine injuries.

Wear a helmet.