Horseback - riding safe should be crucial to any hobby Fannie Merritt Farmer who keep horse — whether you ride Western , English , bareback or saddleseat — but during National Helmet Awareness Day on July 10 , 2010 , the Riders4Helmets campaign is emphasizing the grandness of wearing helmets while riding .
The Riders4Helmets crusade started in March 2010 to raise money for 2008 Olympian dressage riderCourtney King - Dye , who suffered a serious head injury while riding . Out of this fundraising campaign , coordinators Jeri Bryant and Lyndsey White found ahelmet - safety education website , which received official countenance from national equestrian organizations .
White , who has ride horses her whole life and has always worn a helmet , is especially faithful to the issue .
“ Having ridden since the eld of 4 , I have had my fair part of tumbles , like all rider do , ” she says . “ But a drop while ride at a crisscross country consequence at the historic period of 16 resulted in a mild concussion and a skull jacket crown that was completely snap in two pieces , [ which ] reinforce why helmets really do preserve your head . ”
aesculapian examiner record reports show that at least 60 per centum of horse cavalry - relate demise are due to head injury , and helmet can reduce that number by 70 to 80 percent , says Jenifer Nadeau , an equid medical specialist at the University of Connecticut Extension .
When it comes to selecting the gross backyard - riding helmet , no average helmet will do .
“ A bike helmet does not protect against equestrian - related falls , since the height and direction of a fall from a bike is dissimilar than that from a horse , ” Nadeau read . “ And also , a cycle helmet does not fully protect the back and forehead as exhaustively as a riding helmet does . ”
Backyard riders should instead seek an ASTM / SEI certified riding helmet , she says . ASTM International test helmets and sets minimal safety standards in regard to impact sustainability , harnessing - system safety , foreland reportage and other safe concerns .
To select a decent fitting free helmet , backyard riders should measure their head with a cloth measuring tape from about 1 inch above the eyebrows around the head ’s circumference .
“ The helmet should not make a red line across the brow ; then it is too tight . If it wobbles , it is too loose , ” Nadeau says .
The riding helmet should also descend with a chin shoulder strap that secures tightly across the pharynx , so that the passenger can feel the strap when swallowing . The strap will be located on the sides of the twit helmet in a V - shape , with an adjustor warp at the V ’s base , locate just below the ear .
“ If you tilt the helmet forward , it should not obscure vision , and tilting it back should not let on the forehead too much , ” Nadeau recommend .
A riding helmet should be replace after a nightfall or impingement to the helmet or after five year , when the stuff begin to break down . Some sign that a riding helmet should be replaced let in :
Helmet manufacturer are partnering with the Riders4Helmets hunting expedition for National Helmet Awareness Day to offer helmet discounts to riders . More than 100 retailers in the U.S. , Canada and Spain will be participating . Backyard riders canclick hereto see a complete list of retailers . If your preferred retailer does n’t offer discounted helmet , ask them to contactLyndsey Whitefor more info .
