I was riding my OTTB in a ring with several other riders. An instructor was giving a lesson to one rider, and someone's kids began playing in a shaving pile near the ring. As I noticed this, I was trotting near the instructor, who was on the ground. Knowing my horse would most likely spook at the kids climbing the pile, I warned her to watch out for us. No sooner were the words out of my mouth, then my mare spooked hugely, I came off and hit the ground on my back?, maybe on my head! Turns out I was unconscious for about a minute, when I came to and got up the world was swimming around me. The harness inside my Troxel Sierra was broken in two, but my head was intact!
I am so glad that I never, ever ride without a helmet. I was sorry to have to replace that Sierra, it was my favorite helmet!