Sorry, one more post on the helmet issue:
Joe, I agree with your response on the helmet issue. I have been reading
the numerous post on helmets & I, too, feel that some of the posts were a
little hard on Teddy. When I read some of the opinions on helmets, the next
logical step would be to avoid participating in activities that "could be
dangerous" & then where would endurance or for that matter trail riding be.
With this line of thinking, horseback riding could be banned from state or
national parks because it is "higher risk" than hiking & your medical
insurance company might decide to choose not to cover accidents resulting
from "high risk hobbies" like riding a horse (even with a helmet). Injuries
can occur even with a helmet & why should the "couch potatoe's" insurance
premium go up because you choose to be riding the race horse instead of
watching the horse race on TV?
I guess I feel if adults are fully informed of the risk they are taking they
should be allowed to make the decision to wear or not to wear a helmet, seat
belt or whatever. Every time I get on one of my horses without a helmet I
am aware of the risk I am taking. You may not agree with my choice but my
decision comes with full knowledge of the possible accidents that can occur.
A non rider could make the an arguement that horsebackriding is a dangerous
sport and you are taking an unreasonable risk. They would be correct (the
stats prove it). You would probably answer that you know there are risks but
...
KANF