Ridecamp: RE: [RC] Maybe I am a Dragoness

I would, in all likelihood, be dead or a quadriplegic today were it not for a helmet.  At a ride 4 years ago, I decided to use a new girth, and when I mounted up and swung into the saddle, my horse went ballistic in a full rodeo buck and then reared vertically and I slid off the back of the saddle to the ground, fortunately face first.  He took one more step backward and stepped on my head right where it would join my neck, but fortunately, he stepped on the helmet instead of head, and his foot slipped off to the side, scraping my ear and scalp but causing no other damage. 

 

I had someone hold his head when I re-mounted and he was fine the rest of the day.

 

There is NO WAY to predict when an accident will occur.  No matter how uncomfortable they are, I ALWAYS wear one.  ALWAYS.  Oh yeah - I no longer try new gear at a ride...  :-)

 

Mike Sofen

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of halterlady
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 5:50 PM
To: Merryben@xxxxxxx; ridecamp
Subject: Re: [RC] Maybe I am a Dragoness

I totally agree.  I really bothers me when I see young parents riding with their young children & not wearing helmets.  I have said something to a few of them, but they don't seem to hear.  Guess they just think I am a fussy old lady & it could never happen to them.  Never say Never!  I hope it never does, but you never know.  From someone who has been sent to emergency more than once.  I also refused to let them cut off my clothes.

 

Pat Fredrickson
www.halterlady.com
pat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

----- Original Message -----

From: Merryben@xxxxxxx

To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 4:49 PM

Subject: Re: [RC] Maybe I am a Dragoness

In a message dated 5/19/2002 9:58:12 AM Central Daylight Time, Sundaez@xxxxxxx writes:

Last month I fell off my horse and was knocked out
briefly (yes I was wearing a helmet).

This reminds me of something at a ride this weekend.  I was taking start numbers and mentioned to my friend that I noticed one of our riders had gone back to get his helmet.  He is not a junior any more and the rules don't require him to wear it but I jokingly said don't tell him, cause it is a good habit to get into.

A couple of teenaged girls were standing there and one of them said "helmets are really overrated."  I asked her how many people she knew who had died because they weren't wearing one and she said none.  I told her I knew two and helmets were not overrated.

Later on a friend of mine told me this..........The only people who need helmets are those who have brains........mb