I’ve already written about the importance of wearing a helmet while you ride (and no #ROOTD is complete without one), but in honor of International Helmet Awareness Day coming up this Saturday, August 1st, I wanted to link to the Riders4Helmets press release about the day. Various helmet manufacturers will be offering discounts on helmets, and if you’re in need of a new one, now is the perfect time to invest. There is no price you can put on your health and well-being while riding. Even the most bombproof horse can spook and send you flying, giving you a potentially fatal traumatic brain injury.
It is recommended to replace a helmet every 5 years or after a severe fall.
Some other helmet tips include:
- Fit it properly. If your helmet is too loose or too tight, it will not do its job if you take a tumble and hit your head – god forbid.
- Wear a helmet when working around an unpredictable horse. Even the most experience horse professional can get injured.
- It is easy to get complacent. Just the other day I was taking my horse’s boots off and not wearing my helmet. He spooked while I was right near his front legs, reared up, and jumped back. Thankfully, he did everything he could to avoid stepping on me, but it could’ve been much worse. Try to always wear your helmet if you’re in a compromising position. You may feel stupid, but it’s better than being on life support, brain dead, unable to ride for the rest of your life, or dead altogether.
For more information on helmet awareness, visit the Riders4Helmets website.
Also, Shop Hunt Club has the cutest Mind Your Melon tee, reminding us all to wear a helmet and protect our noggin. Get it here. I own one and will be wearing it Saturday.