One of the foremost and respected horsemen in the world, Lynn Palm is a pioneer among women in the horse industry. For more than 30 years, Lynn Palm has championed the partnership of horse and rider, bringing her unique perspective to hundreds of thousands of horse enthusiasts around the world.
Lynn Palm in the Chocolate Cheyenne helmet
Safety Tip:
Lead your horse with your shoulder parallel with the middle of the horse’s neck. You are the safest there, and you can see your horses head while leading. You will have best control and be safe in this leading position!
Riding helmets are designed to protect from certain types of injuries that are common to the sport. Your equestrian helmet should sit lower on the forehead with a fit snug enough that shaking the rider’s helmet back and forth causes their eyebrows to move up and down. If it doesn’t, the helmet is probably too big or needs to be better adjusted.
In my clinic tour, I regularly see riders wearing helmets that are tilted sideways on their heads or tilted back, and it lets me know that their helmet is not fitted correctly. Sometimes it’s just a matter of tightening up the chin strap or using the fit adjustment system.
Too small a helmet will sit up too high on the head and too big a helmet will slosh around too much to make the helmet ineffective. That’s one reason why helmets with an adjustable fit systems are superior.
Check your girth before mounting. It is also best to check your bridle and fit of the bridle and payment of the saddle before mounting. I great habit to get into!!
When leading your horse, walk beside him—not ahead or behind. A position even with the horse’s head or halfway between the horse’s head and its shoulder is considered safest.
