|
I guess I'll chip in on the helmet
stuff. I'm older than dirt, been riding since forever, and never
wore a helmet till I was past 60.
Been dumped, bucked off, fell off, run over, run
away with,
kicked a couple of times, whatever.
Never had a concussion, (must be some other excuse
for the dumb things I do) One finger is the only broken bone, some scrapes and
bruises, and a lot of hurt pride are the worst injuries.
I tried on some helmets off and on by the time I
was 50, didn't like 'em, didn't fit. Started a young endurance horse, she
had a higher cruize control, was going to put me up where the wrecks happen and
I wasn't sure I could keep her out of trouble, so I looked harder for a helmet
that fit.
The first week I wore it that horse swung her head
and smacked me on the head with the bridle bit, figured that paid for the
helmet right there.
Rode her for years, never any problems, but wore
the helmet anyway.
Had 2 falls last year. One simple shy,
easy, no work for the headgear, other one horse tripped, flipped me out about 10
ft., not a hard fall but the helmet took all the gravel burns my face should
have got. Since it was scratched up and about 10 yrs old, I got a new
one.
Another new horse managed to spill me last
Sat. Easy roll over the shoulder, didn't even get winded, not sure if I
hit my head or not, didn't feel much, but the hat was dusty, so it
worked.
Since I got the first one that fit, I almost
never do anything with the horses without wearing it, even ground
stuff.
I grew up, and got old, as western as it gets,
but I do like the helmets. My kids grew up without them, too, but I
wouldn't allow that now, and when the grand kids ride they wear
helmets.
We all know stories about folks who didn't wear
helmets.
Never too old to get smarter, guys.
| 