I apologize for responding to this one so late in the game. I, also, apologize for making my helmet post after being told it was taboo. My only excuse is when I come home after 4 days of camping in my tent and have over 400 posts from RC I tend to read things out of order and missed the taboo thing till the damage was already done. I'll try not to call anyone a moron or a dumb ass, in public, for not wearing a helmet. Your life is your own and there's been a couple of times, down the road, where I've considered suicide as an option, so, I do understand where it is you're coming from. I'm that curious to know what is on the other side. haha. jk.
Anyway, I ramble on with subjects we're not supposed to talk about (suicide, helmets, Tom Site's mental health) so let me get to the subject of one of my favorite endurance riders: "give em Hell, Adele." I know her. Not all that well, she's smart enough to avoid me at most rides, but I do know her and she is one of the best endurance riders we have down here in the Southeast, and that includes my gal, Val. Adele is that good. Check out her record on AERC if you don't want to take Howard's word for it. You'll see a bunch of first places and quite a few BCs. I'll never forget watching her do her first 100 at a Florida ride last year, and seeing just how tired she looked after 85 miles (her horse looked terrific) convinced me I would never attempt such a thing, no matter how crazy I get with this sport.
I bet you can count the number of times Adele has fallen from her horse in her lifetime on one hand. And, anyone, and I don't care who you are, anyone, who does as many miles as Adele does with her training and the rides she goes to is going to fall off their horse at least once. And, all it takes is that one time to take you out of the game. Yea, OK, I'm alluding to the banned helmet thread, but I don't want to lose any rider. We're a family, a club, a small group that needs to take care of each other.
Adele, I hope to see you soon out there. Don't change a thing you're doing. I know you don't post very often on RC, but when you do, you certainly have something to say. I hope some of them out there, who need to listen, did.
cya,
Howard (who will never catch Adele on the trail, but every once in awhile I do get to talk with her at the vet checks)
----- Original Message -----
From: Adele Dennard
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 4:03 PM
Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] when a horse trips...
I have to agree with Truman on this one for sure. I can definitely
relate to what he has said and what others have said about the
importance of wearing a helmet. Just 2 weeks ago my horse and I
experienced the "trip" on a training ride. I can only go by what my
horse looks like with his skinned up front knees and nose and my bruised
and scabbed up right side, but we definitely went down and quickly. I
have no recollection of this event because I was totally knocked out for
about an hour and riding all alone. It took another hour for me to use
my cellular phone and babble that I was lost and to be discovered and
taken to the ER. A week later I finally gained enough sense to carry on
a conversation and stand without falling over. I can not even think what
may have happened to my quality of life if I had not been wearing a
helmet. My helmet is fine and not split open at all, but my neurologist
said that just the impact jarred my brain and bruised it. I hate to
think what my brain would look like now if I had not worn a helmet. I
consider myself very knowledgeable as far as riding goes. I started
taking dressage and jumping lessons weekly at the age of 10 and
continued until I was about 17. I then took off a little over 10 years
to go to college and raise my 2 kids. About 6 years ago at the age of 30
I got started in endurance riding and bought my first Arab. Many times I
have been complimented about my riding skills and balance at an
endurance ride and I always say my parents money came to some good use
after all. My horse Awesome and I have also done great in AERC. He has
made me proud. He and I have thousands of miles together and still he
can spook and throw me at and given time. He knows better, but wants to
keep me straight. I can remember falling off about 10 times over the
past 6 years and I have always bounced right back and ridden off. Most
falls were from my horse spooking at moving animals on the trail and I
always was able to hold onto his neck until I could let go at a safe
speed. But 2 weeks ago nothing could have prevented our fall. My horse
was not spooking, but trotting hard down the trail he is so used to by
now and apparently just slipped and fell head first. I am no major ball
player that can react to Randy Johnson's fast ball, but I do know how to
stay on a horse pretty darn well. Accidents can happen people and
experience can not prevent a bad outcome- not even a helmet can prevent
everything.. Years of riding horses and lessons taken for years can not
help you for that split second it takes to hit the ground. Wear that
helmet and be proud of it!! So what if you sweat a little more and get
an itchy scalp from all the bouncing up and down. At least you will have
another day to get on that horse and ride or experience the joys of your
family. If you do not wear a helmet now, do it for your family and
friends. I thank God that my kids and husband still have someone to call
Mommy and hug at bedtime.
Thank you Truman for keeping this thread alive long enough for me to
recover and reply and tell my story. I hope that just one person may
learn something from my story and wear a helmet. It really can be a life
saver no matter how good of a rider you may be. I hope to see you all at
SE rides in a few more months. Hopefully, Awesome and I can return as
our normal selves and kick some butt! Maybe even my new horse Calypso
that I fell with 2 weeks ago will be ready to take over Awesome's job.
Awesome can only dream for that day!!
Adele Dennard and Awesome
SE Region
