Troxel Blog

One of the most frequent questions we receive are inquiries from customers wondering the appropriate age for children to start riding.

This question does not come with a precise answer, but instead, a series of guidelines for parents to consider. Physical and emotional development coupled with the ability to follow directions are key attributes to examine when considering riding lessons for your child. Parents, knowing their children best, should proceed with guidance from skilled instructors.

Horses and even ponies are very large, and potentially dangerous animals. Before purchasing one for a child, or initiating riding lessons, it’s important that parents are prepared, and more importantly that the child is prepared.

“As in all sports, children should be able to gain confidence and some independence from being involved with horses,” says EMSA President, Deborah F. Stanitski, M.D. “Since safety is such a big issue I feel that the instructor should stress this aspect in terms of horse handling, stall safety, leading, cross-tying & finally riding.”

The following information is shared with the permission of the Equestrian Safety Medical Safety Association.

A child must never be mounted on a horse without a secured, ASTM standard SEI-certified helmet.

Your child should have:
• The desire to ride
• Muscle strength to hold the proper position in the saddle
• The ability to understand instructions and follow directions
• Sufficient attention span for instruction
• Neck muscles strong enough to support a fitted, secured certified protective helmet

The horse should be:
• Suitable for children with a quiet, calm nature
• Small enough to allow the child’s legs to be under the child’s body, and the foot reaches halfway down the side of the horse

The equipment should include:
• A saddle that fits the size of the child
• A saddle that fits the size of the horse

Then you’ll need a qualified instructor who:
• Has experience and patience to work with young children
• Has appropriate discipline and control of the program
• Teaches in a fashion to all progressive development of motor skills
• Has knowledge of riding skills appropriate for the age of the child
• Has requirement for a fitted, secured ASTM/SEI-certified headgear at all times when mounted
• Knows when a helmet is well-fitted
• Has facilities with a small closed ring away from motorized traffic, other horses and disruptive activities
• Is certified by a recognized, national equestrian instruction program that includes CPR-First Aid certification as part of its program

Did you know?
• No child should ride a horse without the appropriate skills and level of development for riding
• No adult should ride double with an infant or child

This brochure is available for downloading for personal use or distribution in horse-related activities such as clinics, exhibits, shows or meetings. For more information, please visit: www.emsaonline.net

How old did your child start riding? What are your thoughts on how old children should be?

To read what some of our Facebook fans thought click here

Reposted with the kind permission of the Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA)
By SuSan S. Quinn, ESQ.
former R.N., P.A.-C, President of the South Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association

As you should know by now, the USDF and the USEF have passed new safety helmet rules for eventing and dressage riders. (See the USDF and USEF websites for full texts of the new rules). Some will argue that the new rules don’t go far enough and have loopholes. Others will argue that these rules merely represent “nanny state” intrusions into our private lives. It’s a free country, and if we want to sustain head injuries with potential irreversible brain damage it’s our God-given right to do so.

Whatever your view, it is axiomatic that riding is a dangerous sport, and even the best, most experienced riders are not invincible or immune from potential life-threatening or severely disabling injury. Each year thousands of riders find themselves in hospital emergency rooms with horse-related injuries. A sizeable percentage of these injuries involve the skull and brain.

ASTM/SEI certified helmets can prevent serious head injuries and save lives. Still, many riders shun the use of helmets. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you’re one of the thousands of risk-takers who use one or more of the following excuses for not wearing a helmet when you ride. If you are (and I know there are some of you out there), allow me to play the role of the official “SCDCTA Buzzkill” and try to refute some of the common helmet non-use alibis:

1). Helmets give me “helmet head hair.”
Buzzkill response: If you think helmet head hair looks and feels bad, imagine how you’ll look when your head has been shaved and your skull surgically drilled open for the brain surgery that may follow your fall. Wearing a helmet is not...I couldn’t resist saying it...brain surgery.

2). Helmets are too hot to wear in South Carolina summers. (please add: wahhhh, wahhh, wahhh to the end of this sentence when you read it.)
Buzzkill response: One severe fall and you may never remember another hot South Carolina summer again.

3). Other people at my barn don’t wear helmets.
Buzzkill response: OK, remember how your mother used to say, “If everyone was jumping off a bridge, would you jump too?”

4). I’m not going to jump. I’m only going to ride on the flat.
Buzzkill response: Where in the rule book does it say that horses will only buck, rear, spook, bolt or act up when jumping and will be perfect angels at all times while being ridden on the flat?

5). My horse is totally trustworthy and has never done anything to cause me to fall off.
Buzzkill response: These words are the equivalent to a “kiss of death.” Just as soon as you say them (or even think them!), your horse may prove you wrong.

6). Nothing bad is going to happen to me when I’m riding.
Buzzkill response: See #5’s response above, and if you really believe this then you need to get a job as a psychic because if you can predict your future with that degree of certainty, you have a supernatural gift for the clairvoyant!

7). Only kids and amateurs need to wear helmets
Buzzkill response: If you think you’re that invincible and that nothing harmful will befall you ever while on a horse because you are that great a rider, you are not only overrating your own abilities and underestimating your mount’s ability to put you on the ground head first, but you are also seriously Charlie Sheen delusional.

To read more from the Spring EMSA Newsletter click here.

Head lice are highly contagious, especially among children who come in close contact with other youngsters at school, childcare centers, sports activities, and camps. Even when a child's hair is treated for head lice, the infestation can persist if the adult lice and eggs remain on clothing, bedding, and objects such as helmets and hairbrushes.

Washing clothing in hot water and drying on a hot setting is an effective way to kill head lice. Although an equestrian helmet itself cannot be laundered, Troxel’s removable washable Flip-Fold™ headliners can be laundered to kill lice and nits to avoid a re-infestation of head lice.

Here’s How
1. Detach the FlipFold™ headliner and immediately wash it in hot water, along with any other items (e.g., bedding or clothing) that have been in contact with the lice-infested individual.
2. Dry the FlipFold™ headliner on a hot dryer setting.
4. Place the FlipFold™ headliner inside a large, re-sealable plastic bag and immediately seal the bag.
5. Place the sealed bag inside the freezer for 24 hours.

Tips:
• Do not spray lice removal aerosols or any other chemicals in or on the helmet, as they may cause damage to the helmet.
• Do not share your helmet with others or borrow a used helmet.

   > Helmet Cleaning Tips read more >

   > Learn more about lice removal from KidsHealth.org

Have any helmet cleaning questions for Troxel? Leave us a comment below!
 

Helmets must fit properly for optimum performance. To find the most comfortable fit for your helmet, follow Troxel's fitting guide. Fitting your helmet correctly is as important as wearing one.  Fortunately, fitting your helmet can be done in three easy steps.

Congratulations Eleni Boston from Salem, Oregon – grand prize winner of our Share Your Adventure Photo Contest!

Eleni Boston from Salem, Oregon: “Canadian Flags”

Eleni's winning photo captures her daughter 'Geneva,' riding her horse 'Coosa,' at her school's Canadian Flag meet. Geneva placed third and subsequently received a bronze medal for her district competition overall placement. Geneva and Coosa will be going to State Competition in mid-May. Canadian Flags is an individual timed relay with 4 riders, each running the length of the arena, grabbing a flag and going back "home," at which the next rider goes.

As the grand prize winner of the Share Your Adventure Photo Contest, Eleni will have her photo featured on the Troxel website and will also receive the following:

• Troxel Helmet of Choice
• Troxel Helmet Tote
• Troxel Fleece Jacket
• Troxel Barn Beanie
• Troxel Water Resistant Helmet Cover
• Ariat Boots – up to $300 in value

Thank you to all who entered our 2011 Share Your Adventure photo contest! The theme of the contest was adventure, asking for people to share their adventures in Troxel helmets, whether the photo was taken atop a snow-covered peak, while riding the trails in a local community, or in their backyard.

We received over 200 incredible photos—from Trail Rides through the hills of Ireland to astounding shots of the lush landscape of Mongolia.

Of all the adventurous entries, we selected the 21 most inspiring photos and opened it up to our Facebook fans to vote for their favorites to get our top three winners.

We were really excited to receive so many entries and had such fun reviewing all the photos.  

Second place goes to:

Shannon from Duson Louisiana: “Montana won't ride without her pink Troxel Helmet”

Our first runner up is 4-year-old ‘Montana.' Montana refuses to ride her horse Lynda in her arena without her Troxel helmet. This photo shows the first day Montana and Lynda rode in her new arena at her home in Duson, Louisiana.  Montana's family was so eager to ride in the new arena they almost forgot to get her helmet out of the trailer.  She made her parents proud when she told her father "Dad, you know Montana don't ride without a helmet, that is what Mom would say.  Can you please go get my helmet out of the trailer?" 

Shannon will recieve Troxel Helmet of Choice and an Ariat Belt!

Third Place Goes To:

Martha from Scottsville, Kentucky: “Western Adventure”

Best friends Vickie and Martha decided to save their pennies to create an adventure to celebrate all the milestones that have passed over the last twenty years. The photograph taken at the rim of Bryce Canyon represents one of the happiest and carefree weeks of their lives, while they rode 100 miles through the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest.

Martha will receive Troxel Helmet of Choice and an Ariat Accessory.

Thank you again to all who entered our 2011 Share Your Adventure Photo Contest! We appreciate your support in Troxel helmets.

Sign up for our e-newsletter to learn more about future contests with Troxel!

Ride Safe!

After facing my fear, I wanted to share 10 valuable things I learned:

1. “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie. How not to bridle a horse. Watch here.

2.   Horses have blind spots, learn where they are and don’t stand in them. The irony of horse rider fear is that the more nervous you are the more likely that your horse will be nervous. They feed off of our body language and are very sensitive to our state of mind. The safest spot to stand around a horse, is at the side of the horse near and close to the horse’s shoulder area.

3.   Horses are like people, they need to be warned, if someone walks up behind you and pats you on the behind, it is very likely that you will spook.

4.     Where your eyes go, so follows your body. So if you look down at the ground, eventually that’s where you’re going to land. Bottom line: LOOK UP.

5.   Remember to breathe.

6.     Peppermints = horse bribery. So grab a few extra after your next meal out

7.     A tip to help you remember to ride on the correct diagonal: “Rise and fall with the leg on the wall.”

8.     If you don’t tighten the girth, your saddle can end up on the side of the horse (WITH YOU IN IT!)

9.     You're never too old to learn to ride or get over your fears

10.   Always remember your helmet :)

Today was my last practice before my big show this weekend. I was all ready to go and when I got out of the car, I realized I forgot my most important part of my riding attire?go head and take a guess. Yes, I forgot MY HELMET. Talk about embarrassing. Luckily, North Coast Equestrian Park has a barn full of spare helmets for people that forget their helmets.

So once I got all tacked up and ready to go (helmet on), I prepared for the big competition. Here is a video of my trainer explaining what I will be required to do, and who I will be competing against:

I'm down to my last two weeks of lessons before my big show/competition! I swear it was just yesterday that I decided to embark on this little getting-over-my-fear-of-horses expedition.

This week I learned how to do an ordinary half circle. To give you a sense of how quickly I caught on to these ordinary half circles, I will share some comments my trainer said:

“That was a whole circle, Karisa;  we are working on half circles here.” “No, that was a figure eight.” “That looked like a half circle after a cocktail.” “What are you doing?” “Where are you going?”

Over the past couple weeks I have learned how observant horses can be with body language verbal cues, however today I discovered an entirely different ability.

A couple times while I was cantering my trainer Sally would ask me to cue my horse to walk. Each time she would say, “go ahead and walk” and my horse Libby would stop cantering, and walk before I made any commands. Once we realized that the horse understood English, we decided to try spelling out the word “W A L K” instead and the horse still stopped!

Not only does the horse understand English, it can also spell! Watch the video:

Does your horse respond to any words or interesting cues? Please leave a comment!

I'm not gonna lie: this whole riding experience would be a lot easier if saddles had seat belts. So many times I was trotting along, minding my own business, and the moment I would look down for a brief second, my horse Libby would stop abruptly and send me nearly toppling over her! Each time, my trainer would observe and calmly remind me, “He who looks down ends up on the ground." Trying to correct your balance is harder than it looks!  Where your eyes go, so follows your body. Very true. So if you look down at the ground, eventually that’s where you’re going to land. Bottom line: LOOK UP.

I’m still getting used to the fact that my seat/body-weight is used to increase or decrease the horse's pace. It makes me appreciate being able to just press a gas pedal to drive! At the end of the day it all comes down to balance. I think my horse secretly gets a kick out of  reminding me when I’m off balance.

I am embarrassed to admit it, but when I found out I would be trotting for the first time today, I wasn't even sure what it entailed being a new equestrian and all. I asked my trainer what the difference was between "trotting" and "running." I was immediately corrected by Kim (the star photographer/videographer) "There is no RUNNING in horsemanship!" So needless to say, I'm all clear on the lingo now, the trot is the next speed up from the walk, also known as a two beat gait.

I started my lesson with the familiar two-point position I have been practicing. I still feel extremely graceless when I do it, but I got the hang of it. For those who don't ride it looks very strange, but you have to post to the trot, rising up and down in rhythm with the horse to avoid being jolted. So basically it is telling yourself "up down up down" over and over while simultaneously using your five natural aids (Eyes, Voice, Hands, Seat/Body Weight, Legs) to remain in control.