Do you wear a helmet when you're on the ground?

Question

I suppose this is kind of a poll/opinion thing.

I usually never do, I only put it on when I'm about to ride or if I'm working with a horse that I want to be extra careful around. But then yesterday, I was brushing my horse's front legs, and he kicked out at a fly with one of his hind legs and it made contact with my head. I got 5 staples in my noggin, and everything is totally fine now, but I know that at least for the next little while, I'll be wearing my helmet on the ground. It would not have been as serious as it was had I been wearing it.

So, do you wear your helmet if you're around horses, though you may not be riding? Why or why not? Thanks! I totally respect all opinions :)

Answer 1

No I do not but when a kid is under the age of 13 in my barn, they must wear a helmet on the ground unless you are a boarder handling your own horse. Used to be older but I've "chilled" a bit.

Answer 2

If my horse is bridled, I am wearing a helmet. Not because I have to, it's just a habit that's been ingrained in my head since I was six. My very first riding instructor made everyone put their helmet on before they bridled their horse, that way no one would forget to have it on their heads when it was time to mount up. So I'm wearing it while I lunge, lead my horse around in the bridle, ride, and then it doesn't come off until after my horse has been brushed down. Just a habit. I don't wear a helmet for grooming, though.

Answer 3

Ouch, glad you're OK.



This is a prime example of why I've never been able to figure out people that are so adamant about wearing helmets when riding but don't feel the need to wear them when working with horses on the ground.



I don't wear a helmet. My choice. But, I can think of way more times that I could have been seriously hurt on the ground than in the saddle. All horses can have their fractious moments, even the gentle quiet ones. And, when in a pen with more than one horse, you never know when a disagreement is going to break out amongst the horses and you'll be caught in the middle. A horse can even throw its head because of an insect issue and hit you in the head. When saddling, many people don't pay attention to how they are putting their head at risk when reaching under the horse for the girths.



A lot to consider when working around horses and putting your head in a compromising position. Bottom line for me would be if you're going to wear a helmet when riding, you most assuredly should wear one when working with horses on the ground too.

Answer 4

Ouch - that's why you always keep an eye on their back legs/where they're twitching when grooming outside when it's warm because flies swarm around them. Damn flies!



I only wear mine when I ride - I've never ridden without it.

Whenever I've loose schooled my pony in the lunge pen, my mum has always made me wear a hat. He's quite a spooky pony and has a habit of running to/hiding behind the nearest person if he spots something scary and you're on the ground and because I'd have no control of where he's going exactly, it's a justified reason. Also good if lunging a young or unpredictable horse.



We're all extra careful with the horses in the snow, especially after an accident that a friend of a friend's sister had in December just gone. This girl (well, she's about 20) gets young horses over from Holland and Germany and brings them on and then sells them. She was leading one of her horses out to the field in the snow and it went mental, bucked and kicked her in the side of the head.

She broke her jaw, had to have 30 something stitches and couldn't do anything for a minimum of 6 weeks as she was unable to wear a riding hat because of the swelling and the stitches and she had all these young horses and no one to ride them. I think she had friends, her mum and her sister help until she could ride again.

Answer 5

lol um ouch?



On the ground, I usually don't wear a helmet unless I forget to take it off after I've ridden - probably because I see no use in wearing a helmet on the ground as it would have to be really unlucky to have a horse kick or hit your head area but hey, it happens. I guess it's just up to the person and how much they are willing to risk their safety around horses, and I think it's good that you want to be wearing your helmet while doing ground work :) It shows that you're dedicated and that you haven't let a small incident ruin the relationship you have with your horse :)

Answer 6

I'm just like Victoria lol. I don't even own a helmet so no I don't wear one. I regularly wear flip flops to the barn and if I am wearing flip flops, I'll lunge my horse barefoot and ride barefoot. I also ride in shorts. Can't get any unsafer than me :)



I will be getting a helmet when I move back home to handle stallions in the breeding shed, but that' the only thing it will be used for.



EDIT: I should probably answer the why or why not part of your question lol. I don't wear a helmet because I find them uncomfortable. I grew up not wearing helmets so it's habit not to. I had to wear them at camp growing up and I hated them. They were so hot and uncomfortable. So that's why I don't wear them :)

Answer 7

When I'm working with my horses I usually do not, unless Im going to do some lounging (free or on line) and I can tell my horse/s are a little frisky that day.

I do usually ware one when I'm working with anyone else's horse though.



Last summer when I was giving lessons to this little girl and her pony I made sure she and I had helmets on at all times... have to be a good roll model... well glad we were wearing them because we were doing some free lunging and the pony reared up and her front hoof knocked the girl in the helmet, had she not been wearing it we would have had a hospital visit that day!



I guess it all just depends on what I'm doing, what horse I'm doing it will and the horse's mood.

Answer 8

The only time I wear a helmet on the ground is when I'm lunging a particularly troublesome horse or my own horse when I know he's going to act up.

I've also been kicked in the head though. Hurts a lot!!

Answer 9

I almost always wear a helmet when I'm on the ground. I feel it's safer, and you never know what can happen when you're around horses. One other reason I wear my helmet when I'm not riding is because I worry about losing my helmet at the stable (a girl once took it home thinking it was hers, but I got it back) and I feel better if it's on my head. :)

Answer 10

I wear my helmet if I am riding and normally if I am lunging or running my horse around the arena. But if I am just grooming or tacking up then no. Unless I am with a horse I dont know or that is green. With my horse I dont though. I wear my helmet in the ring if I am teaching a lesson.

Answer 11

I don't wear a helmet on the ground. I'd call something like that a freak accident, especially since I only ride and care for my own horse who is (for the most part) very calm. I hope your noggin heals up quickly!

Answer 12

It all depends, If i am going from one horse to another (ex: groom ride then groom again...get next horse ready ride ect.) then yes i do, and sometimes in the winter i leave it on till i get all done and i am putting my stuff away, but my horse is really good so i don't usually worry about him do silly stuff. 80% of the time i do not where a helmet on the ground.

Answer 13

I personally dont, it just seems like such an annoying thing in the way. When i ride i deffinately do, but on the ground no. I do see your point but, maybe it is a good idea. I have had the exact same thing happen but luckily i didnt get injuries like that, and my horse has also pulled his head up and hit me in the face about 3 times, so yes horses are still dangerous on the ground.. :)

Answer 14

I never wear a helmet on the ground. I've come close to being kicked in the head once, but I suppose I've been lucky.

Answer 15

Nope, but my horses are at my house, so I'm around them more often than those who board.



While we're at it, I also wear flip flops or go barefooted. Never wear a helmet when I ride unless it's required. I also go riding in tennis shoes.



So yup, I can be about as unsafe as you can get! Miraculously no hospital visits or broken bones for me even after 10+ years of horses. Sometimes common sense outweighs all safety gear.

Answer 16

No, I do not wear a helmet on the ground.

Answer 17

I wear mine when i am doing ground work with my horses.You never know when they go to buck. You can get kicked in the head. I also wear it when i am riding. Safety first:)

Answer 18

No. If I had an unruly rescue or was working with a fresh-off-the-track TB, I might consider it. I wear it every single ride on every single horse though.

Answer 19

I wear mine when leading the stallions and handling for live covers, otherwise no.

Answer 20

Nope, and I don't while riding either.

Answer 21

Never have, never will.