Being in the field of equine nutrition, I try to diversify
myself and attend many different breed and discipline shows to get out of my
comfort zone. Most cases, I find myself
picking up some helpful tips that may help me with my own horse; sometimes, I’m
cringing inside, wondering what in the world they are trying to
accomplish! Anywho, there’s always
something that I appreciate about each one.
Case in point: I’m in Ohio this
weekend for an open horse show, predominated by Quarter Horses and Paints. One thing I have always appreciated about the
stock type horse is their chill demeanor, pleasant attitude, and as content in
a Western saddle as they are in an English saddle. I have always gravitated towards this type of
horse. As a young girl riding in both
hunters and eventing, the first love of my life was a Quarter Horse gelding
named Ozzie. Later, I purchased a 4 year
old solid Paint, and we did a little bit of everything: hunters, eventing, and even barrel
racing! They are truly the “all-purpose equus
caballis”.
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| My Romeo, such a good boy. At one of his last shows. |
Even with all of their perks, the horse itself is not
perfect. After all, they are still a
prey animal, and the flight instinct will still engage when threatened. And just like us, they are entitled to have
an off day. And as you probably, guessed
it, I’m about to drop the bomb on these 2 wonderful breeds….or shall I say, the
rules that govern them. Okay, here we
go:
An Open Letter to AQHA and/or APHA:
Bravo! You, AQHA/APHA
have two of the world’s largest equine breed registries, and harbor the two
largest youth organizations in the world.
With over 30,000 youth, you sing the praises of being the “leader in
youth developmental programs, as evidenced by other breed associations which
have taken these same concepts and made them available to young people in other
organizations” (AQHYA website). Well, I
think it’s time that the tables are turned, and the teacher becomes the
student.
Let’s talk about helmets.
I mean, seriously, what gives?!?
I honestly didn’t know they even made the “hunt cap” anymore. Last I saw one was as a mantel
decoration! For those of you who have
never seen one before, they are decorative only, and serve no purpose other
than to complete the hunt ensemble.
Without a harness to secure it to the riders head, you can guarantee
that your outfit won’t be complete when your butt hits the dirt, not to mention
your noggin.
Not even the youngest of riders, those under 10 years of
age, are not required to wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet with harness secured
in a majority of the classes, according to your rules. The only time they are required for youth is
anytime over fences (AQHA SHW320.2).
Other breeds and disciplines have adopted strict helmet
regulations for youth riders in the name of promoting safety to the future
leaders of our industry. In 2011, the
USEF made it mandatory for all Dressage riders under 18 years of age to wear approved
helmets at all times. As of April 1st
of this year, riders competing in US Dressage shows, including youth, adults,
professionals and amateurs, are required to wear an approved helmet at all
levels of competition. Canada was
actually the first to institute this regulation for Dressage, and the US
quickly followed suit.
What’s that, you say?
Your horses are safe enough to be ridden without? It doesn’t take a rotational fall on cross
country or impact at a high rate of speed during racing for a serious injury to
occur. Check out this website: www.riders4helmets.com There
are stories of injuries from even the simplest tasks, like mounting. What made the officials at USEF decide to
implement a mandatory helmet rule in Dressage?
Because of riders like Olympian Courtney King-Dye, who suffered a severe
brain injury in 2010 when her horse tripped and fell, the Dressage community
began to look closely at rider safety.
Yes, enforcing approved ASTM/SEI helmets to all youth would
include those riding Western. So what? Have we created judges so ignorant that they
would place a helmet-donning Western rider with a well-ridden Horsemanship
pattern under a poor rider with a Western hat?
Will the judges see the riders with helmets, chuck their notes in the
dirt, and say “I’m outta here”? Please. If that’s the argument, show me in the
rulebook where it states that attire is to be evaluated. It’s not in there, trust me.
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| Helmets!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! |
As leaders of youth development and education, why openly
ignore the most basic and important aspect of horsemanship? Why not encourage youth, the future of your
organization, to be safe riders from the get-go? And honestly, what’s the harm? What negative impact has ever come from
decreasing the risk for seriously injury?
(ironically, as I’m sitting here typing this letter, I had to jump out
of my seat to dodge a spooked horse, ridden by a youth).
In January of 2013, the FEI instituted a mandatory helmet
policy for all riders when mounted at FEI Events, with several exceptions that
are certain to be removed by 2014 or later.
Trust me, it’s coming down the line and eventually every single person
on horseback will be required to wear an approved helmet. It’s time to think about being the leaders in
this area of equine safety, and a good place to start is with your own
youth.
