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Veteran
Posts: 150
 
| I wear one after a friend suffered head injury at a barrel race. While I believe it's a personal decision, I do wish more would start wearing helmets and I believe we will see more all the time. I don't care at all what others think and like another friend said "I hate to think bull riders are smarter than barrel racers" ! Lol |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
 
Location: MI | I definitely wear one, and my kids remind me when I forget! We are in the 'Helmet club', and I will do whatever I can for them to keep thinking that it's ok to wear one, no matter who else does or doesn't. I have a Troxel, my second daughter picked it out for me, and whil I match some young kids at barrel races, it's totally ok :). |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| I never have understood the negative Mindoro wearing a helmet. Or people making fun of others for wearing one. I mean professional athletes like football, baseball, hockey wear one. All these mentioned sports kids have to wear them. And they are not riding a 1200 animal. |
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 Zeal Queen
Posts: 3826
Location: TEXAS | There sure is lots of talk on fb about helmets now. I think we will see a big increase. I for one am taking the jump! |
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 "Hottie"
Posts: 1373
Location: Okemah,OK | I've been thinking about it since I had my daughter last year. I know that if she wants to ride when she's old enough, I'll make her wear a helmet. I had already decided that I would by that time just to set a good example for her. This recent accident (especially with her having a young son) had got me thinking about it sooner rather than later. |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| whiplashranch - 2016-02-29 7:11 PM I've been thinking about it since I had my daughter last year. I know that if she wants to ride when she's old enough, I'll make her wear a helmet. I had already decided that I would by that time just to set a good example for her. This recent accident (especially with her having a young son) had got me thinking about it sooner rather than later.
Totally agree. My daughter is 4 and I make her wear one. I am going to start too. Too many variables when riding. I don't want to chance it. Hopefully it never has to be tested but it only takes one time |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
Location: Northwest | I've been wearing one for ~4 years. Ever since I watched a young lady come off a horse that spooked and she went head first into the arena panels and had a head injury. Shortly after that I was riding a horse who never bucked and she just split in two right in the middle of the pattern. I barely missed going into the fence. Went out and bought helmets for me and my daughter that week.
The transition to wearing one wasn't hard for me since I rode English growing up and always wore a helmet. I did feel like an outcast for quite a while because I was one of two that was wearing a helmet at barrel races in my area. Now I see quite a few. |
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 Banned by Booger
Posts: 2168
Location: Huffman, Texas | I wear one now b/c of this
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Member
Posts: 13
| As far as costs go helmets range in price from about $30 - $800. There are a lot of variables as to why the huge cost difference. In reality the price argument is null and void considering the cost of recovering from a TBI can be well over a million dollars. Please make sure your helmet is secure with a taught chin strap, it won't do you any good around your neck (a few years ago a couple of kids were dq'd in the poles a the Iowa State Fair when their helmets ended up around their necks during their runs. Seriously, what good would the helmet do there? Parents were mad but too bad, the rule is the helmet is on and on isn't around your neck.).
My son and I wear Troxels, I wear a schooling helmet and he wears the Cheyenne. He is the only kid wearing a helmet in the ranch riding at the AQHA shows we attend and it's very rare to see helmets in the timed events there, too. I'm often asked how we get him to wear his helmet - a) it's not an option b) he watched life flight carry a barrel racer out of the arena and wants no part of that if he can help it.
I began wearing a helmet when he was born. It's a wonder I'm alive after the concussions and other accidents I had as a kid around horses. I didn't want my kid to grow up without a parent due to something I could prevent and I felt like a hypocrite since I was a 4-H leader in an "Every Ride Every Time" 4-H state. I love my helmets - they are lightweight, comfy and I don't have to worry about them coming off while riding.
Also, you don't have to come off to receive a TBI. In December the horse I was on ran backwards after I mounted and he ran me into a pretty good sized tree limb. It left a dent in my helmet (new one ordered) so I can only imagine the headache/injury I'd have had if I'd been bare headed.
To me helmets are just like seat belts, vaccinations, regular vehicle inspections, well child visits, annual vet checks, a great farrier, sports medicine boots and the plethora of other things we do to and for our horses and kids to keep them healthy and well. They're not an option. |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I resisted for years but started wearing one a few years ago when I was tired of acting like a hypocrite in front of my daughter who I always made wear one. She never resisted. She grew up wearing one. But I didn't like feeling like a hypocrite. I think it saved my life two years ago. I broke my back pretty badly in two places and my head bounced twice; bounced. But I didn't even have a headache. I would never get on a horse for even one minute without my helmet. I admit. I think they're dorky looking. I miss my cowboy hat.... long hair blowing in the breeze.... but I'd rather have my head. Kudos to Fallon Taylor for setting a great example. |
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Location: California | I can't seem to convince my sister to wear one. She came off one of my horses some years back. I remember jumping into my truck when I got the call and trying to decide to go jump on the horse and get after him or going to the hospital. I was just so mad. I went to the hospital and it broke my heart to see her laying there with a concussion. Then she was throwing up because of the concussion. She still suffers from vertigo but will not wear a helmet. Well she had another bucker launch her on the trail. He just blew out of nowhere and my sister is a hand. She hit her head again but the worst part is that she fractured her wrist. Time for another talk with her. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I haven't seen anybody making fun of other riders who wear one. I have seen the uncomfortable look on some people's faces as I'm checking out their helmets. Like they thought maybe I was thinking critical thoughts. I wasn't. I must just have rbf.
I want to get one, but just haven't yet. I've been off for a while having a little one. It's definitely more important to me now to be more careful with everything I do. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | srs - 2016-02-29 8:46 PM fulltiltfilly - 2016-02-29 7:18 PM srs - 2016-02-29 6:31 PM When I decided to purchase a helmet, I looked to the eventer/hunter/jumper world for direction and decided upon the GPA Speed Air Evolution. It's very lightweight, the air flow is incredible, and it's highly rated. I'm a fainter in the heat but it's so comfortable and cool, I forget that I'm wearing it...even when wearing it for hours at a time. It's spendy but, if you are able, worth every penny.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/gpa-speed-air-evolution-helmet-in-soli...
(Sorry. My browser setting won't allow a direct link. ) They aren't cheap and I admit that I had a hard time swallowing the price at first. Then I asked myself what I spend on good feed, supplements, tack, vet bills, pick up and trailer, etc., etc., etc.. Compared to that, the price of the helmet was a drop in the bucket.
Good point. Is the quality really that much better then a $100 helmet? |
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I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | heidiinaz - 2016-02-29 10:06 PM I never have understood the negative Mindoro wearing a helmet. Or people making fun of others for wearing one. I mean professional athletes like football, baseball, hockey wear one. All these mentioned sports kids have to wear them. And they are not riding a 1200 animal.
I haven't gotten any negativity from other riders for wearing one. Well, at least not to my face..... |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Let's talk helmets and pricing, as I see someone has already mentioned. In reading NonaY's post about the jockey grade helmets, and then thinking about the two I have, one that was very pricey, fits great, but is heavy and hotter than the hinges in the hot Texas sun....the other is light weight, vented, doesn't fit as good and is adjustable. The Charles Owen I have is one of the helmets that is jockey grade. It's very unattractive, doesn't have a visor, is heavy, but it great quality. How many of you feel that these heavier, more expensive helmets offer better protection? Is the rating higher? Why the huge price difference between $60 - $800? I'm not being negative at all, but think it would be valuable to discuss further why some are so expensive and so much heavier, after all, it is our brain we're trying to protect.
I wish some of the upper end helmets would start making some that are attractive and cute like the Troxels are. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 101
| I've gotten a concussion even with a helmet before, but I know it could have been way worse without one. My big thing I tell people is too much money has been invested in my brain for me not to wear a helmet lol. Everyone in a sport takes precautions. I don't see why barrel racers take a risk. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Texas!! | I joined the "club" February 8th. I really like my Troxel Rebel! I have the Dakota too, but like the Rebel better. |
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Expert
Posts: 1226
| I'm glad to hear that. I have overheard others make comments about people who are wearing helmets and I just don't understand. Especially how adults can say things. It cracked me up because the same group of people that were making comments all got out ran by the lady wearing the helmet. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| There is a post on FB about the helmet conversations that essentially saids there is no way to know if a helmet would have helped -which is true but it sure would not hurt, and focus on what they do know, ground conditions, closed gates etc. I agree about better ground, closed gates when necessary but good grief, protecting your head is the one thing you can control and hope that it never has to do its job. |
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Veteran
Posts: 101
| I saw that post too, but if correct she went head first...so how would a helmet not of helped. I mean sure there are various ways to land on your head, but still a helmet could have only added protection. |
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