Re: re: helmets and structural soundness

["Susan Swope-Attardi" <Nagzarus@worldnet.att.net>]

I have something to add to the helmet discussion that I would never have
considered myself until an active Pony Club mom told me about it last
summer.  Her 15 year old daughter was on her way to Sydney, Australia last
August for the World Pony Club Championship.  The child uses a Lexington
brand helmet, similar to the design and construction of the Troxel.  Though
the helmet appeared in good condition and had never had any serious
"crashes" this mom and daughter had the forethought to have Lexington
products take a look at the helmet to check it for soundness.  Sure enough,
Lexington found the helmet to be structurally UNSOUND just through a couple
of years of basic wear and tear and replaced it there on the spot.  Food for
though.  I know that while none of my family's current helmets have
sustained a serious fall, they all get worn religiously and tossed around
here and there constantly!  I think the lightweight helmets are GREAT but
maybe they don't hold up for centuries like the old fiberglass hard hats
used to.

Susan Swope-Attardi
AERC #M17728
Southeast Region
Kentucky

----- Original Message -----
From: Karen Sullivan <greymare@jps.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 1:17 PM
Subject: RC: re: helmets always


> I am responding because I feel this is an important issue and I will try
to relate it to endurance riding.....very often, in riding at a good pace we
are ducking branches and brush.  Don't know how many times a branch has just
glanced off the top of the helmet-sure glad it wasn't my bare head.
>
> I started wearing a helmet at age 32 or so......after a very gentle but
green filly bucked me off and I did a double somersault and landed on my
butt. I realized how easily it could have been my head, and me with two
little kids at home.  My next horse was a green Arab, and I was sure there
would be spills.....so I bought the Troxel helmet in Sportack.
>
> Since then, three good friends have come off their horses backwards, and
split open the backs of their helmets....I also started my kids on our pony
and made the rule, a helmet every time.  I also wanted to set a good example
for my kids, and also the other kids and families in our county.
>
> I LOVE the helmet!  It is lightweight and floats on my head and I
generally forget it is there.  I used to wear a baseball cap, and that darn
thing had to be pretty tight, or it would fall off, same for cowboy hats.
The helmet is far more COMFORTABLE than either.
>
> Yes, I always wear it now.
>
> Karen
>
>
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