Ridecamp: [RC] Helmets vs riding lessons (rant)

Quoted from heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx's message:
>  There is an element of calculated risk.
>  (BTW, I think I've come off of horses less than 10 times in my entire 
> life, and I've been riding over 40 years-

I've come off a horse a few times - probably about as many times as Heidi 
over about as many years.  I'd say that except for a couple times when I 
was on horses that were intending to dump me by bucking their hearts out, 
each time I went off otherwise was my fault for not paying attention.  I've 
survived spooks, horses that stumble, minor bucking, the works, and 
sometimes I can't begin to believe I'm still in the saddle, but that's 
where I stay.

I have actually only hit my head once when riding - never from a fall, and 
the once was riding someone else's horse.  I went face first into a tree - 
horse went left, trail and I went right.  I didn't happen to be wearing a 
face mask at the time; I did get a minor concussion and a nice black eye 
but no permanent facial scarring.  So much for helmets.

This is a personal rant: I'm not impressed with the numbering of accidents 
or the horrors of head injuries as justification for wearing a helmet.  I 
believe very strongly that there's a direct relationship between horse 
accidents and level of horsemanship.  It seems to me that the level of 
riding ability has fallen over the years, not just in endurance but in all 
equestrian areas.  I can't stand to go to events and watch people ride any 
more.  I can't stand to look at most photos of riders in EN - it's 
embarrassing - but at least they're no worse than those in other equine 
publications.  Bad hands, bad posture leading to stiff horses with off 
balance riders that fall off a lot.  So what's recommended?  Get a 
helmet!  Oh please!

Two words:  Riding lessons.

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