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Post by janwilky on Jan 2, 2013 13:48:17 GMT 1
Starting to think about getting back on a horse after my bad accident, so I must be feeling better! For those who didn't see the post on here, I got catapulted off over my horse's head and (as far as I know as I have no memory of it) I landed in front of him and he came down on my face with a front foot. I was lucky - my hat almost certainly saved my life - but I had multiple compound fractures to my face and had to have reconstructive surgery. I've now got 7 titanium plates in my face. My surgeon has been absolutely fabulous, and he knows jolly well I'll be back on a horse as soon as the bones have set, but he did ask whether it's possible to get a riding hat with a face guard to protect my face in the (hopefully extremely unlikely) event of a repeat performance. I did a bit of Googling and all I could come up with are either bull riding helmets with monster face cages ( ) or polo hats with metal faceguards. Then I found a polocrosse helmet equineweb.com/new-derby-polocrosse-helmet-face-guard which protects the lower part of the face (not the bit I smashed though!). Anyone have any experience of face guards on riding helmets? I think the polo guards are intended to protect the face mainly from flying balls. I would be worried that in a major impact, like the one I had, the guard might crumple and cause more damage than the hoof itself. And I'm not sure that wearing a non-standard piece of kit might actually make me feel more nervous than just getting a new normal hat and getting on with it, assuming that the probability of the same scenario happening again is pretty low. I'm thinking a body protector and a good replacement hat might be a more sensible idea. Just in case anyone thinks I've lost my marbles completely, I'm not planning to just jump on Lucas and go out for a solo hack - not yet anyway ;D and he's currently turned out with Amanda's herd having a happy muddy time. Amanda has very kindly offered to give me a quiet sit on her lovely mare, Dancer, and see how we go from there.
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Post by wabuska on Jan 2, 2013 14:18:28 GMT 1
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Post by antares on Jan 2, 2013 14:38:16 GMT 1
Not sure of any equestrian specific hats with cages, how about some kind of motorbike helmet? Obviously not the prettiest but maybe the safest
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Post by jill on Jan 2, 2013 15:02:44 GMT 1
Glad you are feeling better Jan, hope you get your confidence back as quickly. As regards face guards, I would suspect they would do more damage than a foot on its own - imagine if your wounds had had bits of metal or plastic in them? And a heavy full face helmet would totally change the balance of your head I would think?
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Post by mandal on Jan 2, 2013 15:22:01 GMT 1
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Post by ladyndibs on Jan 2, 2013 15:27:01 GMT 1
I would be really reluctant to try a crash helmet, I've worn one a lot but there are some down sides that would be more apparent on a horse. A full face mask dulls all sounds so you probably wouldn't be aware of traffic until it was too close. Even the good ones are extremely heavy and has already been said will change your balance. Your vision will be restricted and initially even with the visor open your voice is likely to sound differant to your horse.
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Post by janwilky on Jan 2, 2013 15:35:05 GMT 1
Kanga - thanks, that's one of the websites I found. I reckon I'd look pretty silly riding a cob in one of those don't you think ;D. Plus I'm not sure you'd be able to see well enough to be safe on the roads etc. Antares - the surgeon suggested some kind of motorbike helmet too but I thought the same thing as you about the weight and cumbersome size. I would have thought anything too heavy would affect your balance plus make you more likely to land on your head if you did fall off! Thanks Jill, feeling much better and I think you've neatly summed up what I'm worrying about. As far as I could tell, the worst of the injury was caused by the metal buckle on his hoof boot. I'd probably have been killed if the same thing had happened and he'd been shod. I don't think I fancy a metal cage in front of my face, but at least I can tell the surgeon honestly that I've looked into it . I had my jaw un-wired last week which was excruciatingly painful (no anaesthetic this time ), and while the surgeon had me pinned in the chair with a pair of wire-cutters in my mouth he casually remarked that "this is the moment that most people declare they're never going to ride again!" . Luckily I couldn't speak at that particular moment... ;D The odd thing is I don't think I'm going to feel nervous about riding again, presumably because it all happened so quickly and I didn't have time to get scared - all I remember is a lovely ride in the sunshine, a few big and unexpected bucks and then I was coming round with a damp bum and, oops what's happened to my face?! Maybe I'm just being bloody-minded: I did have a big loss of nerve after Lucas bolted with me two years ago but I spent the summer re-building my shattered confidence, with Amanda's help, and I'm blowed if I'm going to let myself go back to being a gibbering wreck! I'm going to be sensible, there are a lot of questions to be asked of both myself and Lucas and I don't think I'll be hacking out for a while, but I do want to get back in the saddle before too much time elapses that I start to lose confidence again. As to how I'll feel when I actually climb aboard - we'll just have to see p.s. thanks Mandal (wow, that looks SCARY!) and ladyndibs
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 16:03:47 GMT 1
not the same but having landed face first over the handlebars of a pushbike and having to have surgery I can understand your worries.
tbh I dont' think I'd hack out in a face guard I imagine it would restrict your vision, and something like a motorbike helmet would definitely affect your vision and hearing and like others have said, your balance and center of gravity etc.
what about an air jacket type thing, would the inflation of that help prevent face first landings in future as you are more bounced upwards?
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Post by specialized on Jan 2, 2013 16:06:37 GMT 1
Then I found a polocrosse helmet equineweb.com/new-derby-polocrosse-helmet-face-guard which protects the lower part of the face (not the bit I smashed though!). Anyone have any experience of face guards on riding helmets? I think the polo guards are intended to protect the face mainly from flying balls. If you've ever watched polocrosse you will find it is to protect from flying raquets - they are not fussed about it being 'non-contact' The only other type of helmet I can think of for face protection is the cricket helmet - I wonder if any of the manufacturers could help.
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Post by misty on Jan 2, 2013 17:46:57 GMT 1
What ever you decide all the very best to you!
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Post by june on Jan 2, 2013 20:22:34 GMT 1
I know someone who was wearing a polo face guard when a horse stood on him and it protected his face. It was one of the old style polo face guards though. I'm not sure the new ones are as strong. They only fit polo hats so you would need to buy a polo hat. If you can't find anything suitable then shout as I may have an old style one lying around somewhere that isn't being used.
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Post by janwilky on Jan 2, 2013 20:38:58 GMT 1
I know someone who was wearing a polo face guard when a horse stood on him and it protected his face. It was one of the old style polo face guards though. I'm not sure the new ones are as strong. They only fit polo hats so you would need to buy a polo hat. If you can't find anything suitable then shout as I may have an old style one lying around somewhere that isn't being used. Thanks June, that's reassuring - and kind, I'll bear it in mind
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Post by Lisa in Plymouth on Jan 2, 2013 21:05:52 GMT 1
Hi Jan Sorry to hear about your accident, it sounds very painful. I totally understand your reason for wanting your face covered but it's also worth bearing in mind that anything protruding from your facial profile can put you at risk of serious injury. A polo helmet with face guard is designed to protect the rider from flying objects. If you were wearing a hat with a fixed peak or faceguard and you hit the floor/horse/wall face first the protruding part of the hat can push your head back causing very serious neck injuries. This is why in racing and cross country the usual hat is a crash skull with silk. The silk provides a nicer look but the peak will bend back on impact. Many crash skull manufacturers now make a skull cap with a detachable peak that comes off in an impact situation. I suppose it's a matter of weighing up which will be the higher risk to you but if you have a young or unpredicatable horse where there is a risk of you coming off at speed or a rearer with head and neck thrown back at you then be very wary big bulky headgear. I hope my explanation makes sense! Hope you have a speedy recovery and get back to your riding asap. Lisa x
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Post by cheekychops on Jan 2, 2013 21:12:25 GMT 1
Um..Ice hockey helmet?? Great to hear that you are itching to get back in the saddle again :-) Take it easy!
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Post by Lisa in Plymouth on Jan 2, 2013 21:12:44 GMT 1
Here is a better explantion! The consultant who treated showjumper Tim Stockdale for his broken necksays he is seeing more spinal injuries as a result of riding accidents than from rugby. And he queries whether more hats should have flexible peaks. Aheed Osman, of the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries in Oswestry, told H&H he had seen a “dramatic rise” in such cases — across all levels of ability. “Fifteen years ago, most of the sporting injuries I saw were from rugby,” he said. “But now riding appears to be the most common sporting activity for causing spinal injuries.” Mr Osman has had three riders — including Tim — on his ward in the past few months, but only one rugby player. He believes the reasons are twofold. “Riding is becoming increasingly popular and rugby, particularly schoolboy rugby, has changed a lot. “There is better coaching, better preparation — and the contact rules have altered slightly,” he said. Tim spent six weeks at Oswestry after falling from a young horse. He hopes to start riding again at the end of this month. “There were three riders in that unit, which had 30 beds,” he said. “So to have 10 per cent taken up by riders seemed quite high. “Perhaps in rugby there is a bit more awareness about the perils,” he added. The other two injured riders — retired police officer Ian Bolshaw and Seline Hodoglu, who is 15 — were also thrown while trying new horses. Mr Osman said he would always advise people to try a new horse on an artificial surface and to check the tack. He also believes some of the injuries he has seen could have been reduced — or even avoided — if the rider had been wearing a hat with a collapsible peak. “Mr Bolshaw went over the front of the horse and the [fixed] visor caused his neck to be pushed back,” he said. “As a medic, I look at the mechanics of injury — and it makes a lot of sense mechanically to have a collapsible visor.” But according to the Spinal Injuries Association, Mr Osman’s experiences are not necessarily reflected in the 11 spinal units across the UK. Director Paul Smith said different areas tended to see different problems. “And while riding is a risk activity, statistically far more spinal injuries are caused by falls and RTAs [road traffic accidents],” he added. Mr Osman agrees — but stresses that it is possible to minimise the risk to riders. “Fortunately, it is a rare injury,” he said. “Hopefully, by raising awareness, we can reduce it further.” Tim is fundraising for the centre. To donate, go to: www.justgiving.com/British-Showjumping-2012. This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (9 February 2012)
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