subject: Are You A SmartRider? [print this page] Are You A SmartRider? Are You A SmartRider?
I shake my head when I see kids, trainers, 4-H leaders & riding instructors (who are supposed to be examples!) riding without helmets. How many times do we think 'it won't happen to me, my horse is well trained, I'm an experienced rider and can handle any horse, helmets are stupid and they make me look silly'. All it takes is a slip or a fall, a 'surprise', even something as small as an insect bite or sting. Head injuries are the principal cause of mortality and long-term morbidity in patients who have horse-related trauma and the promotion of safety equipment has focused solely on helmets. Helmets are a must have if you ride. But there are very few recommendations on appropriate protective riding boots and safety stirrups. Some states & provinces have made it law to wear approved riding helmets and on June 29, 2001, the Canadian Province of Ontario enacted a helmet law that requires approved helmets and proper footwear or safety stirrups be used for persons under the age of 18. Penalty for violation is a fine of up to $5,000.
Prevention programs should promote the education and training of inexperienced riders by equestrian sports professionals regarding safe handling and riding of horses, complete protective equipment use including the use of proper riding boots (preferably slip on boots that are lace free with minimum 1" heel), breakaway safety stirrups and approved equestrian helmets. Many modern riding boots don't have enough of a heel on the boot to prevent it from sliding through and have lace up closures making it impossible for the boot to slip off in a dragging. Many of these boots are more for fashion purposes than for practical riding purposes. Riders use stirrups that are too large for their foot, making it easier for the foot to slip all the way through even with a boot and will not breakaway if the rider gets hung up, causing serious injury and possibly death. Helmets should be approved equestrian helmets not bike, hockey or skateboard helmets as they have not been tested within the specific parameters of horse back riding. Horses can be unpredictable, act independently and from instinct and don't have and 'kill" switch like a motorcycle or ATV!
It only takes a few extra minutes to put on a helmet, change out stirrups for ones that are safer or throw off your sneakers for riding boots. And in the whole scheme of things, what's a few extra minutes for a safer ride?
