Re: awful time with daughter re riding

I grew up as a tomboy with no helmets, pads or other safety gear and there were many a time I took a head-dive over handlebars when jumping ramps on asphalt. I even took some head hits from line drive balls when I played shortstop & wasn't fast enough.

I've always made Amie wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, horse or roller blading. She's used to it. Seeing the clinicians @ the Equine Extravaganza looking comfortable in their western hats sparked a "why can't I?" conversation that ended with me pulling the mom trump card.

A week after that show she fell off Rebel (she was going straight & he suddenly went right) she got a foot stuck in the stirrup, hit the ground head first, bobbed up and hit again before getting her foot released. She had a mild concussion and it broke the dial fit system on the helmet. I pointed out that she would have been in considerably more pain if she'd only had a cowgirl hat on.

She has found that every Troxel schooling helmet she's ever worn causes her forehead pain and that, for her, IRH helmets are more comfortable. She still sweats in them and still finds them somewhat uncomfortable but she can live with it.

Since your daughter has gone so many years without wearing a helmet I don't know that you'll convince her to wear one now unless you can find an extremely annoying beeping device to attach to the horse...like those nagging bells in cars when you don't put your seatbelt on.

As a parent you want her to be as safe as possible. As a 16yo who has done things her way for years she isn't likely to bend to your sudden change of mind. Only you know whether this is likely to cause a long-term dent in your relationship with your daughter and only you can decide if its worth it.

--
Tara
.

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