Re: Cowboy Hat Dangers
- From: none@xxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 23:39:31 -0500
On Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:25:00 -0400, "Lynn Tucker"
<ltucker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<none@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:r63ef2l0456bf42m5epd1i65k34u894fqr@xxxxxxxxxx
I find it a mystery why so many people wear cowboy hats when they ride
their horse. OK, it's a tradition, or at least the western movies made
it tradition.
But thing about it seriously. These hats are wind catchers with their
large brims. So, the rider is constantly getting on and off their
horse to capture their blow away hat, or they are constantly fighting
to keep it on their heads when they should be paying attention to
their horse and their riding. I've always wondered how many people
have wrecks while riding their horse as a direct result of the hat,
either because they are fidddling with their hat and not paying
attention to their riding, or the hat blows off and spooks the horse,
or many other possibilities. When I take to the trail, I like to get
on my horse and ride, not keep having to get off and pick up my hat,
or fidgeting with it when I am out on the ride.
If you must wear some headgear, would it not make more sense to wear a
knit cap like those made for winter. Ok, the fashion of that would
suck, but it's unlikely to blow off. Or how about some sort of
brimless cowboy hat? Yeah, that would look awfully stupid, but it
would stay on the head much better. Then again, in the real world,
what really should be worn is a safety helmet. Yeah, I got one of
them, I use it when I ride a green horse, or want to do some speed
manuvers out in my pasture. But for the trail, I just wear what comes
naturally, my hair. Yeah, as I age, some of that blows off my head
too, but at least I dont have to stop, get off my horse, and pick it
up........
I get most irritated when I see 4H kids at horse events doing barrel
racing and other speed events. They take off from the line, fight
with their hat, it blows off halfway down the run, spooking the horse
and I wonder why in the heck they put it on their head in the first
place. I also question what's wrong with their parents, their leaders
and their trainers to allow it. Add to that, barrel racing is a timed
event, and the wind resistance against that hat brim might cost the
one or tweo seconds needed to win the race. I say leave the cowboy
hat in the pickup until you get off your horse, then wear it when you
got your two feet on the ground and go to get your winnings. Better
yet, leave it in the store for the pretend cowboys in the city.....
The reason for a cowboy hat is not just tradition. There was a reason that
cowboys wore these hats. My number one reason is for sun protection (face,
ears and back of the neck). Number two for protection from the rein. The
water runs around the brim and down the back out past the collar of the
slicker and not down the back of your neck.. Are there other reason, anyone?
If it is just too windy for a cowboy hat and I don't wear my helmet, then I
use a ball camp. The brim still protects my eyes and nose from the sun. In
the winter I use my helmet and a cover that goes down over my ears and back
of my neck for warmth.
As for 4H kids, here in Ontario, Canada, they must wear a helmet. Insurance
companies will not cover game events that don't enforce helmet use on
juniors (18 and under).
...Lynn
I can understand the sun protection, although I am a person who farms
and I am used to the sun after driving a tractor and other farmwork.
I get a little sunburned in Spring and after that, I get that "farmer
tan". I just have never been a hat person. I do agree with those
that said about the "proper fit" and use of those "strings" to hold
the hat on the head. But if this was actually followed in the real
world..... apparently not. Everytime I go to a local 4H show I see
hats flying off heads constantly, and these kids could easily go
without that hat (for sun protection) during their one minute of glory
doing the barrels or poles. I am not intending to get into a
discussion about safety helmets, because I am not the an avid user of
one myself. But I am an adult and I make my decisions for myself.
Then again, I am a trail rider and mostly just walk my horse. I'm not
saying there are less dangers on a trail but I make my choices. On
the other hand, I thought it was a 4H requirement in 4H that these
kids MUST wear a helmet. Apparently it is in some places and not
others. Around here it's not. I believe it should be. Kids are
inexperienced, often ride horses that are also inexperienced, and most
of all, ride much faster and they take far more risks than old timers
like myself.
I have never cared much for "professional" horse shows, but I enjoy
going to all the county fairs and watching the 4H kids with their
horses. Yet, everytime I go I see the battle, rider VS hat, and I
feel like going up to these kids, sticking a helmet on their head, and
tossing their ill fitting cowboy hat in the garbage can. Then too,
there's the 14 year old neighbor kid that came flying down my driveway
on his horse and fighting his hat the whole time, the next thing I
see, he gets tossed off his horse and is laying in my driveway cut and
bruised. Once I saw he was relatively ok, and caught his horse, I
actually took his cowboy hat and threw it in the ditch. I told him to
run his horse again, WITHOUT the hat and tell me if he had better
control of his horse. He came back doing a full gallop and had much
better control of his horse. I handed him his hat and said "wear this
when you are NOT riding your horse, not during" and I explained to him
about paying close attention to his ride and his horse, not to his
hat. He has been a much better rider since then.
.
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- From: Lynn Tucker
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