Being Safe is Trendy

The horse world is full of trends. But there is one trend that every rider should jump on the bandwagon, safety.

Go to any horse show and you'll begin to notice the common threads among style. Burgundy jackets, Samshield helmets, Parlanti boots. If the Regina George of the horse show is wearing a Charles Anacona coat and custom boots you are going to buy a Charles Anacona coat and custom boots.

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But I want riders instead of focusing on being trendy, to put safety as the priority in and out of the show ring.

A lot of times in different forums I will see posts asking for recommendations on helmets and it makes me want to pull my hair out! It doesn't matter what brand, how much it was, or even how good you look...it is about a properly fitting equipment. 

Each and every time we get on a horse we are risking injury or worse, that is nothing we should take lightly or be too comfortable with - we have to always be putting safety first. Find the helmet that fits your head, not the one you saw on Instagram.

When I was shopping for a helmet last year I was really hoping for a Samshield. I had always loved the look but when it came time to try them on not only was the fit terrible but it was so bad that it was uncomfortable. Eventually, I ended up purchasing a OneK, they make a Long Oval shaped helmet that was perfect for my egg-head! It is so comfortable and I love the way it looks!

Although I am patting myself on the back for protecting my melon a way better example of safety being cooler than looks is Sandy Ferrell, professional hunter rider who has won multiple championships at the A-Circuit level wears a safety vest in the hunter ring. It is common place to see vests in the eventing world but to see a safety vest over a shadbelly causes a double take, but after experiencing a bad fall it has been part of Sandy's show attire ever since!

I love the example she is setting for rider's of all levels and to be honest a vest is something I too have been considering, because why not have an extra layer of security?! Although it is nice to be nicely turned out for a lesson or a horse show, like I mentioned above, safety is paramount.

As riders the only way we can make it a trend is just to start it, if we all take our part to make safer choices in our actions and our equipment plus support our fellow equestrians who are taking extra safety measures instead of making fun of them we can make safety ​happen at the barn and the horse show.

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