Friday, May 4, 2007

Protecting One's Head, Do You?


Recently this past weekend, in an area just a bit northwest of Milwaukee, there was a fatal horse accident. Apparently, a woman went riding along with her 13 year old daughter and I don't know the total details, but the woman's horse spooked and she lost balance and went off the horse,only her foot was caught in the stirrup and she was dragged for how far I'm not sure, while the 13 year old daughter frantically tried to stop her Mother's horse. It resulted in the woman's death due to head injury. This poor kid's Father had only died a month or so prior to cancer. She wasn't wearing a helmet. Well, it got me to thinkin'. I've never ridden with a helmet and I trail ride, which is most likely where an accident is going to happen or at least a painful one. I've had my share of close calls and been pretty lucky. The older I get the harder I heal and my Doc knows that well. I was talking to my Doc, who raises and shows American Saddlebreds, and she dragged me out to her car and showed me this helmet, which she has purchased for her daughters. I've decided that I'm going to start wearing one out on the trails. This helmet covers the full head, including the back. It is a Tipperary Sportage which comes in three colors and different sizes and is reasonably priced. How much is one's head worth or one's life for that matter?

10 comments:

Rising Rainbow said...

I live with a daughter who has brain injury. That's enough for me to wear a helmet. I think the dying part doesn't scare me nearly as much as the ending up in a wheel chair or brain damaged some how. While I don't wear a helmet in the show ring, I do wear one on the trails and whenever I'm on a green horse.

whitehorsepilgrim said...

Luckily you still have personal choice in the US, unlike Britain and indeed much of Europe where the "nanny state" is trying to force riders (and cyclists) to wear not just helmets but also fluorescent clothes and, for riders only, back protectors and steel toecap boots, etc. Guard your ability to take personal responsibility closely - Big Government would love to take it away!

Callie said...

Well, luckily I live in the state that created Harley Davidson motorcycles, so helmet law will more than likely not be passed here. They've tried in the past. I will wear a helmet when riding Kola, because we're still learning each other. Misty I trust and she trusts me, so it's unlikely that I would wear a helmet with Misty. Some states have passed helmet laws, others have not.

Anonymous said...

Hello!
I just stumbled on your blog. I have never seen it before but I like it!
As for my family we wear helments. There was a day (many of them where I did not.) A few years ago I had an accident and had brain swelling. I am fine now (well just as good as before but I have always been a little off..lol..)
Well I better get back to work. I enjoyed reading your site!

Dora Renee' Wilkerson
http://www.bricoreandfamily.blogspot.com/

Kathy C said...

I've always made my children wear helmets when ever they step on a horse, and as of last year I started wearing mine full time as well. I'm not sure why, mostly because I figured it would be a good example to the girls, especially now that I have a teenager.

Anonymous said...

That was a very tragic story about that mother who died. Our prayers are with that family.
I have two daughters and we are involved in 4-H so the girls are required to wear helmets for that, but I always make sure they wear them whenever riding. You cannot ever trust any animal 100% at any given time, they are still animals and can still be unpredictable. It's much better to be safe than sorry.
Bye the way, Wisconsin is a wonderful state, we're cheeseheads also! :)
Thanks for the great blog site. I'm just getting hooked on the blogging world.

Callie said...

Thanks to all for the comments and welcome to the blog world to fellow cheesehead, Harmony!

Trail Ridin' Mama said...

Hello, what a sad sad story. I too heard this recently and feel so bad for the daughter and the rest of the family.

We too are also cheeseheads and somewhat new to the blogging world. :o) I enjoy your blog very much.

Beth said...

Here is a link to the article regarding this woman's death.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=599937

I know the family and the horse. It is very tragic...but the story reports wrong, she was not drug. My friends daughter is good friends with Abby and was actually on the farm when it happened. It was a freak accident that could happen on any horse with or without a helmet. The father died in 2004 from cancer.

Callie said...

Thank-you Beth for sharing the article. I'm sorry if I didn't get it straight. As most stories are reported wrong. Thanks again for the comment. I'm going to the link right now to read the article.