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I would absolutely replace the Tipperary. Just because it shows no damage doesn't mean it was not compromised in the fall you took in it. Most manufacturers will expressly state that an impact can compromise the protective nature of the helmet even if there is no apparent damage.

 

Kristen in TX

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From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of D'Arcy Demianoff-Thompson
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 5:21 PM
To: Truman Prevatt
Cc: ridecamp
Subject: Re: [RC] head injury--reassurance- helmet construction

I am confused.  I did replace the helmet after the first fall.  I replaced it with a Tipperary that wasn't compromised at all. 

 

D'Arcy

On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 3:07 PM, Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

If you notice an equestrian helmet or a bike helmet for that matter - they look "cheap" all that foam and cheap plastic on top. They are built that way for a reason and the design has undergone a lot of research and the ASTM standard of testing. These helmets are designed to absorb the energy of the fall and in doing so they compress and the plastic cover breaks. They are not designed to protect you against sliding down the pavement at 30 mph like a motorcycle helmet because that is not the type of fall you are going to take from a horse. They are designed to absorb a fall that is mostly down and dissipate the force in the foam material.

That is why it is recommended that if you fall, replace your helmet because it has been compromised because it has done it's job.

The mistake was not replacing the helmet after the first fall.

Truman

I had two falls last year that I landed on my head.  First one, over the top of the horses head when she stopped abruptly, without warning, not wanting to go across and 12" water drain, landing on DIRT.  I was wearing an ASTM certified helmet (Ariat), it CRACKED IN HALF!  I decided at that point I needed to do a lot of homework on helmets and their construction.        

 

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"There is always a well-known solution to every human problem--neat, plausible, and wrong." H. L. Mencken


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D'Arcy L. Demianoff-Thompson
cest.mon.virage@xxxxxxxxx

"Go Ball State University Cardinals"