Strap One On - Part II

How did YOU celebrate International Helmet Awareness Day? I celebrated it a day early by purchasing a new helmet from EquusNow, taking advantage of their 20% sale in honor of the Day.

A little boring history of my life as a helmet wearer, feel free to skip to the end:

When I began riding at about age 13 somewhere around the early-mid 90's, there were two things I was required to have: A "hard hat with a harness" and boots. I was handed a State Line Tack catalog and then proceeded to beg my parents for the two items. We, of course, chose the cheapest of the options and bought rubber riding boots and the "Trotter" helmet. It was not an approved helmet and I don't really remember what other options there were, but I do remember that it said something about it being an "item of apparel only" but since it had a harness it was good enough. This was over 10 years before even 4H started requiring approved helmets. I would really love to see a catalog from that year and see what the other options were. I still have the poor old thing but the velvet is crushed and discolored and the stiff vinyl harness has seen better days.

It wasn't until I got out of grad school and started riding again that I was required to have an approved helmet so I bought an Aegis Ussepa. After years of un-vented velvet I appreciated the lighter weight, the vents, the adjustable fit, and not having to be nice to it to keep it pretty. I wore that helmet from about 2006 to 2010 when it sort of fell apart. The dial broke and the plastic shell started to split along the seam that appeared to be held together with the equivalent of electrical tape. I also took a light fall in it in 2006 and that was the very first time I felt my head hit the ground and was thankful for the "real" helmet. I wasn't aware that you should replace a helmet after a fall, but it was such a tiny fall and my elbow took the brunt of the fall anyway. The head was the last thing that hit the arena floor.

I replaced it with a Lami-Cell helmet I found NIB on Ebay. I liked the look and the price was right. I thought it would suffice for schooling and look good enough if I decided to show in it. I really like the helmet but it is SO HOT in the summer. Wonderful for winter, though. The reviews on the helmet complained of the black fading and I've just started to notice that.

So now I am an owner/wearer of an Ovation Deluxe Schooling Helmet. I've only ridden in it twice but so far I'm pleased. I think the profile is pretty slim but there was a big difference between the S/M that I fit into and the L/XL I tried on at first. It is very light and comfortable, and though I am definitely sweating in it, I'm about as comfortable as can be in this horrid humid weather. I particularly like that it has a removable and washable liner and once I figured out how to get my ponytail IN the ponytail hole it's really nice. No more ponytail shoved down onto sweaty neck. With the sale price it was under $50 and that is a great price point for me, especially knowing that helmets should be replaced about every 5 years or after a fall, whichever is sooner.

In some belated news, I am a horrible person. I moved Junior's last trim appointment a week later so it would be closer to my next show (a week from today). The day after the appointment was supposed to be he chipped the inside of his LH and it sliced into his RH heel. He'll live and it's not the first time he's done something similar. You might be able to see the scars above and below the cut, and might remember how he was interfering in the hind so badly when I bought him that I had to put ankle boots on him. It had only bled a little and once I shaved it and hosed it I could tell it wasn't all that deep and he showed zero signs of lameness. I did have to go all "frontier medicine" on it and pull the nippers and rasp out of the tool drawer and figure out what to do. I couldn't leave it there but I couldn't bend it back down or rip it off so I nipped it and then rasped it smooth. When Jim came to trim him a week later he approved my work. I forgot to take an "after" shot but it wasn't very interesting looking.

And I also found two attached ticks and what appeared to be evidence of at least 2 more the other day. I think that's the first ticks I've ever found on him. One at the tip of the tailbone and one right in the middle of his face. It looked like another had been on his face and one in his forelock. Gross. Now I'm super paranoid about it. Oh the guilt.

Look at his adorable wrinkled nose!

I suppose I should acknowledge that I am not a perfect helmet wearer. Though you will never arrive at my barn and find me riding without one, I admit I do not wear an approved helmet when I show in my flat classes. This is not news, you've seen the photos/videos. I am not completely above feeling the pressure to wear more "traditional" headwear in the showring, be it a hunt cap or a cowboy hat. I admit it. I also admit that this a weakness on my part and I wish I didn't think wearing a helmet in a western pleasure class would make me look like a scaredy cat. But I did wear my approved helmet when I rode in the Cowboy Challenge (amongst all the cowboys) and I wear it when I school and trail ride. Part of the reason I replaced my helmet was because it was so hot I was beginning to consider not wearing it and I don't want to go down that path. I know that wearing a helmet decreases my risk of head injury in the event of an accident. I know that I am more at risk when I don't wear one. I limit my exposure to the 2 or 3 shows I do each year. I am also an adult and make this choice knowing full well the risks. As in all things in life: there will always be someone with more and there will always be someone with less. In this case, there will always be someone more committed to wearing a safety helmet and there will always be someone less committed. Maybe someday they'll be able to make a western one that doesn't look absolutely ricockulous. The derby Troxel did wasn't nearly as bad but the western is fugly and from what I can tell has already been discontinued. Surprise. The link is the ONLY person I found who was brave enough to post pictures of themselves wearing it. ALL of the advertisements show it without a person so you can't tell.