The old black traditional ones are not great
but usable for a those short classes in the show rings. The new low
weight, hi tech ones are pretty nice.. I don't think they cover the brain
stem enough though. BUT what is all this about headaches.. Just some
excuse????????????? I have a congenital deformity in the first 2
vertebra of my neck.. I know about headaches originating from the
neck, but my helmets have NEVER given me a headache. Used to get them
every 10 to 14 days... they lasted for 3 days.. took forever to get it
diagnosed. Only treatment is fusion when the pain is too
bad....NOT my option.. (they do that thru the front part of your neck
and what if there were problems..) Anyway, when I ride regularly,, not
the rodeo kind, I have the fewest headaches. When I go to
Chiropractor, they are then also less severe.. also helps my
sciatica... Seems to me the headaches are an excuse. We
need to be showing an example to the youngsters and others. There are
TONS of research supporting the helmet protection as well as the
seatbelt protection and the airbag. There are always some
lucky exceptions... but that is more like playing roulet..
personally I prefer to have the odds in my favor... That goes for lots of
risky behaviors... (cigarettes, overeating, illegal drugs, alcohol
abuse...........) If you look at risk factors, common sense should
tell you that the more risk factors you have the higher the chance you have
of having significant problems.. ie smoking heavy, drinking heavy and
driving anything.. even a horse.. increases your chances of accidents.
The alcoholic has higher chance of brain hemmorages when the head is hit...
ie even a fall at home. Then the smoking makes it harder for the body
to head.... then add if you have poor health besides all that.. get
the picture.. Also, if you are riding a green horse vs an
experienced one. but still not a guarantee.. You just have
your 'chances' put in a different level.. ie greener the horse the higher
the chance of injury. The more tired you are the higher the
chance of accidents.. ie long drive to ride, long ride on horse after
getting there and not sleeping well..... Common sense,
perhaps.
Mary Ann