Helmet Myths
Test yourself:
Maybe you’ve heard some of these myths about equestrian helmets and wondered if they were true. Get the real scoop!
Bike or skateboard helmets are fine for riding horses.
Cycling and Equestrian standards are very different. Bicycle helmets are similar to Horseback Riding safety helmets in appearance, but are not subject to the design specifications and standards that a riding helmet must pass in order to provide adequate protection.
An equestrian helmet offers additional protection to the back of the head and the sweatband area of the helmet. Equestrian helmets are tested by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) for Chinstrap retention, penetration by a sharp object, and for impact absorption. These tests are specifically for horseback riding related accidents.
Horseback riding isn’t dangerous as long as you aren’t riding fast.
Actually, the risk of injury is more closely tied to your distance above the ground, not speed. Falls from only over 2 feet high can cause serious injury, no matter how slow your horse is!
Motorcycle riding is statistically more dangerous than horseback riding.
False! Because the hospital admission rate for injured riders (0.49/1000 hours) is greater than motorcycle riding (0.14/1000 hours), football and skiing, it is definitely considered a high-risk activity. Read more about this study in the The Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA) Spring, 2010 Newsletter.
People who get hurt were usually doing something risky anyway.
The majority of head injuries are caused by unpredictable events, such as your horse spooking. And even more surprising, 1 in 5 people who are seriously injured weren’t even riding – they were just hanging out around horses or watching someone else.
As long as you wear a helmet, you’re safe from falls.
It’s not enough to wear any helmet. It needs to fit you well, and be properly adjusted every single time you ride, including a snug chin strap.
Tilting your helmet up makes it easier to see, so you’re safer.
Nope. Tilting it up makes the helmet unstable. The visor should be parallel to the ground and just above the crease of eyebrows.
You should wear your hair up for shows and down otherwise.
That’s fine if you have two helmets. But a ponytail or different hairstyle can affect the fit of your helmet. When you try on helmets before buying one, wear your hair in the way you expect to wear it when riding.
Really good helmets are too expensive.
You can spend $500 on a helmet, but it won’t make it any safer. As long as it’s SEI /ASTM certified, you’re buying a certified protective helmet. Spending more might get you different padding, fancier decorations or materials, but it doesn’t translate into more protection.
Helmets aren’t cool.
Check out the newest designs and styles if you believe this. Newer helmets are more fashionable and comfortable than ever, and there are styles for every discipline, including Western. Go to troxelhelmets.com/products to see all of Troxel’s helmets. Go to troxelhelmets.com/products/new.php to see what’s new!
If you don’t have a helmet, just borrow a friend’s.
Your helmet needs to fit YOU – not your friend. Even if your heads look like a similar size, head shape can make a difference. Also you don’t know if a borrowed helmet has been taken care of properly.
You can keep your helmet unless you see a crack in it.
You need to replace your helmet if you’re ever in a fall. It could have a defect that’s invisible, and if you fall on that same part of the helmet again, you won’t have the protection that you should. And even if your helmet never takes a hit, it’s a good idea to replace it at least every five years (or sooner if you ride often), just because the helmet material can take a beating from all the sweat, heat, dust, and rain.
