The need for Horseback Riding and Equestrian Helmets is sort of "no brainer" especially when you look at the facts related to head injuries in horse related activities.  This information from Troxel Helmets medical advisor makes all this very clear.

About 7,000,000 people participate in horse activities in the USA annually.

Whether riding Western or English, the height above the ground and the variables introduced by the horse itself, create an environment where head injuries are relatively common. Despite the agility and experience of a rider, it is often impossible to adjust one’s position during a fall to avoid a high energy, head impact with the ground, rock, or other objects.

Facts from a range of equestrian studies:

·     70,000 people are treated in emergency rooms because of equestrian related injuries accounting for an estimated 2,300 admissions annually. Head injuries account for 18% of emergency room injuries.

·     Lifetime riders who report riding six or more times per year reported a 13% lifetime rate of being hospitalized because of a riding injury.

·     Head injuries account for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths.

·     The risk of head injuries appears to be similar in English riding as compared to Western riding. Rates increase with aggressive riding such as jockeys and eventors.

·    The mechanism of the majority of equestrian related head injuries relates to your dis