I Want to Scare the Hel(met) Onto You!

See this helmet? The 12-year-old child (not Lily) who was wearing it walked away with just scratches from a fall where her barrel-racing pony somersaulted over her. WEAR YOUR HELMET.

Lily suffered a concussion when she fell off on Monday, even though she was wearing her helmet (which split and I haven't photographed). Lily could still have bleeding on the brain. We have to continue to watch her closely. And she can't ride again for at least two weeks for fear of re-injury. The doctor told me this today, and then x-rayed her spine, which is "negative."

Thank God her 4-H leaders showed her the film, "Every Time, Every Ride." She always wears a helmet, and made me promise to wear one, too. I'd hate to think what might have happened if she hadn't been wearing one. (You can buy the "Every Time, Every Ride" video here for $15 -- you have to scroll down the page to find it.)

Monday Lily was riding just the kind of ride where you wouldn't necessarily wear a helmet. Just playing around bareback with the horse in the backyard/pasture. It was a light ride to get outside a little after violin concert practice. Then something happened -- and she got a concussion and slammed her spine into the ground.

I'm in shock. If you ride horses, you fall off. Though she seems fine, I wish I'd taken her to the ER immediately. Instead, I first made her (with her agreement) get back up and ride some more (Bad Mom but a True if Stupid Horse Mom) and then I kept an eye on her.

What was I thinking?

I know the doctor thought I was crazy (Bad Mom) when I took Lily in to see him today. He said she had a second-degree concussion. And he told me all the things to worry about, and I'm about caught up on all my worrying.

She had a concussion, doing nothing, riding her own horse in her own yard. Wear a helmet -- always!

If you need more convincing, go scare your pants off (and your helmet on) here.

Yes, we're going to hang the split helmet on the tack room wall as a reminder for when we get overconfident about our mortality. Or worried about our hair.

And if you want more reasons to put on that helmet, go visit Behind the Bit. She's serious but a lot funnier than these other links.

Comments

[Mikey]

Yikes!! Glad she's ok, but DANG...
I did one of those when I was 7 or 8. Came off riding English, pony spooked at an ambulance and I came off and hit a rock. Split the helmet, cracked my face, broke my arm...
My girl wears a helmet. Every time. Even if it's just to walk around a barrel. Every time.
Now we have to work on ME. Despite that accident, I wear no helmet today and set a very bad example. You know, I do believe next time I go to town I will buy a helmet, largely in part because of this post. And to set a good example for my kid and others.
Your post was successful :)
And when people laugh at me, I shall send them here :)

[Nuzzling Muzzles]

My trainer never wore a helmet unless she was in a show. I always wondered about that. One day she told me that she had her first fall and injured her back. She seemed shocked, as if she didn't think she could fall because she had been riding her entire life. It happens. I know of another good rider whose horse stepped in a gopher hole at a full gallop and somersaulted. The rider broke her wrist. I'd suggest not just wearing a helmet, but all the pads that skateboarders wear as well. Concussions in kids are frightening, because they always think they are fine, and then the symptoms start showing up hours later. I'm glad both girls were protected by their helmets. It's scary thinking about "what if"...

[Jackie]

Wow, I was just looking at the American Riding Instructors link and it says that jockeys suffer fewer head injuries than pleasure riders! Pretty crazy. But understandable, since they are required to wear helmets.

You didn't scare my pants off, I always wear my helmet! I hope Lily recovers soon and doesn't lose her confidence from this incident.

[Kristine]

Glad to hear that she's ok. That really just underlines the fact that we need to wear helmets. Thank you for sharing!

[risingrainbow]

I'm glad to hear that she is ok. That's really scary stuff.

[photogchic]

Wow---glad she is ok. Scary stuff. Started wearing a helmet 3 years ago because it was mandatory at the barn I was at...now I never ride without it.

[Grey Horse Matters]

Glad everyone is okay from falling off. I still can't believe that some people don't wear helmets. It is just common sense, so many injuries could be avoided if only helmets were worn at all times.

[Grey Horse Matters]

Glad everyone is okay from falling off. I still can't believe that some people don't wear helmets. It is just common sense, so many injuries could be avoided if only helmets were worn at all times.

[ELL]

I feel for you! that is so scary. and so hard to know what's serious with this sort of injury! When we were kids there was so much less worry right? You fell out of a tree and hit your head and got dizzy and puked big deal! But there is so much more known about these things now. I too have a nurse friend and she would be very upset with me if I failed to call her in that situation, any time day or night! So next time CALL your nurse friend! She will know what is serious or not and will be happy you called her regardless of what busy-ness she was in the midst of!!! I bet she has already scolded you.

[Kathy C]

Anne, I hope she is feeling better by now. How very scarey. All us silly horse mom's would have had her get back on, so don't feel too guilty about that.

I had Nicole get back on after being bucked off a 4 year old (the longest summer of her life) and a week later finally took her to the chiropractor to get realigned. I swear, after that summer it's a wonder she still rides.