Do you wear a helmet when lunging?

[AliCat518]

2bee are you serious? Horses are flight animals and sometimes react as such. You've never handled a horse that spooked, reared, bucked etc? You must know very little about horse behavior.

[Flashy Gray VA]

if you need a helmet to handle a horse from the ground either;

A) You don't need to be handling said horse.

B) Said horse should be on meat wagon.

Yeah, I guess all those guys who work the gates at the track, handling horses from the ground only, who routinely wear both helmets AND safety vests, really have no idea what they're doing and shouldn't be handling valuable racehorses. Who by extension should be on the meat wagon because the people who handle them from the ground choose to use protective equipment.

Honestly, I am one of the rare posters on COTH who is both personally a stickler for wearing a helmet always but I'll also defend the rights of those who choose not to, 100%.

As such, it pains me when those who choose not to wear helmets in various situations around horses make blanket and disparaging statements about those who do. To each his own.

[jump4me]

I rarely lunge, but if I'm lungeing before a ride I already have my helmet/gloves on (and probably vest too since I usually ride with it).
If I'm lungeing (or simply walking/handling/etc) a potentially unruly/dangerous horse, I will wear my helmet/vest/gloves as I deem appropriate, whatever the task.
If I am, for some reason, lungeing a "normal" horse for whatever reason, I won't put on a helmet but will usually wear gloves if they are readily available.

[Foxtrot's]

I'm dyed in the wool safety conscious - try very hard to be careful - but realize many people are not in the mindset, or have not had any near misses, or have never been taught.

Seriously, any horse can 'be stung by a bee'. Be careful and be smart.

[ddashaq]

I'm dyed in the wool safety conscious - try very hard to be careful - but realize many people are not in the mindset, or have not had any near misses, or have never been taught.

Seriously, any horse can 'be stung by a bee'. Be careful and be smart.

Oh yes! I got wicked bad rope burn from my extremely quiet and well broke gelding a few years ago when I stupidly decided I did not need gloves to lunge and he was having a yee-haw kind of day!

[goldenrow]

Absolutely I do.

After concussion #2 - in the grooming stall - and concussion #3 - loose horse came charging into the indoor arena while lunging - I put my helmet on when I get to the barn, take it off when I leave. Neither horse involved needed a 'Meat Truck.' One is now a lesson pony, and one is teaching a little old lady PSG. Good grief.....

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Don't own a helmet, but don't have a problem with those who do. That being said, if you need a helmet to handle a horse from the ground either;

A) You don't need to be handling said horse.

B) Said horse should be on meat wagon.

For real? What do you say about people you do have a problem with?

I think it's lots easier to get hurt on the ground than in the saddle. They can't reach you nearly as well when you're on their backs!

[LarkspurCO]

I knew a girl who was leading her broke-to-death horse down the road by my house. The footing was loose coming down a slope, and both she and the horse slipped.

The girl fell down and the horse stepped on her head. I am quite certain she is alive today because of her helmet.

Myself, I am such a klutz I don't even need to be near a horse to hit my head. I should be wearing a helmet wherever I go. Yesterday, I fell down stepping out of the horse trailer. I didn't bang my head this time, just twisted my ankle, bruised my knee and got a huge splinter in my hand.

[Appsolute]

Don't own a helmet, but don't have a problem with those who do. That being said, if you need a helmet to handle a horse from the ground either;

A) You don't need to be handling said horse.

B) Said horse should be on meat wagon.

Well to be fair... there are MANY spoiled horses out there, that CAN be retrained. I can think of a few that were spoiled, and could not be trusted on a lunge line.

I wore a helmet when working with spoiled brats on the lunge line... but, they got schooled, and ended up good citizens.

Does that mean that they shouldn't have been re-trained and sent to the meat packer instead?- NO

Does that mean I was not competent enough to handle them because I choose to protect my head while I did it? - NO

One in particular was an 18+ hand (modern type), 4 year old Percheron mare who had learned she could throw her weight around, and could KICK in people's direction and get her way. You BET I wore a helmet when dealing with that brat. But once she learned that bad behavior meant more work, not less she turned around.

[Appsolute]

I think it's lots easier to get hurt on the ground than in the saddle. They can't reach you nearly as well when you're on their backs!

Totally agree with this as well. 80% of the time when dealing with an unruly horse I feel that I have more control from their back then I do from the ground… and I wear a helmet 100% of the time I am up there.

[Marshfield]

Don't own a helmet, but don't have a problem with those who do. That being said, if you need a helmet to handle a horse from the ground either;

A) You don't need to be handling said horse.

B) Said horse should be on meat wagon.

I will never get the anti-helmet sentiment. It only take a moment, the most bombproof horse can trip leading to a fall and a TBI

I wear my helmet while lunging, just as I wouldn't ever hold a lunge line without gloves.

Sometimes you're lunging the horse who is fresh after no turnout due to rain. If a buck jerks me off my feet, I want my helmet on when I hit the ground.

[BuddyRoo]

Never really occurred to me, but longing isn't a primary part of my regular interactions with horses and those that I've longed didn't seem to pose such a risk that it would've crossed my mind to put on a helmet first if I wasn't doing so simply for the convenience of not heading back into the barn to fetch a helmet.

Reading this thread, I can see how it might be wise. I just don't deal with young/green horses these days and haven't longed a horse in years.

[CatPS]

Only if I'm going to ride immediately afterward, and that's really just for convenience. As adamant as I am that I think everyone should wear a helmet any time they are mounted, I think it's a bit silly to say you should wear a helmet for grooming, leading, etc. Helmets are important while mounted because they help prevent injuries specific to falls from height and at speed. I suppose I could keel over on the sidewalk one day and get a catastrophic head injury, but the odds are so slim compared to the odds of getting a head injury from a fall.

I've lunged some HOT horses, and only one has ever made me feel concerned for my own safety. And honestly, if he had managed to do something that hurt me, I don't think a helmet would have made any difference at all.

ETA: sturdy gloves for lunging, ALWAYS. And I'm extremely particular about how my lunge line is coiled. I like having all ten fingers.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

Gloves are a habit I need to form. I hate wearing gloves for anything. But I certainly see why they're a good idea for lunging.

[SwampYankee]

Gloves, always; should you get a wrap of the line around your hand, it'll rip off your glove and hopefully not your arm.

Helmet, sometimes; depends on the horse. With colts, yes, because of the "exuberance" factor.

An old farrier told me: "The hind feet'll hurt you; the front feet will kill you." Bear that one in mind in the breeding shed and with the babies, too . . .

[2bee]

Don't have time to play with everyone tonight, but here is a couple replys.

Or you aren't dealing with live cover, stallions and young horses just being started and are fairly ignorant of the dangers that such horses can present.

I know that when I am holding a one ton with a one ton + stallion mounting her, I am dam glad to have a helmet on.

I know that when I take a young stallon out of the pasture, who hasn't been lunged in six months and he gleefully runs and bucks while on the lunge for that first minute and suddenly swoops in fast towards me before I have a chance to correct him -I am glad I have the common sense to have a helmet on.

But each to their own, I know I won't be selling any of my horses to someone who thinks that such a horse should be on the "meat wagon."

I wouldn't worry about selling any of your horses to someone of my opinion. If I arrived to view the animal and saw it's handler wearing a helmet on the ground, I/they would pass.

For real? What do you say about people you do have a problem with?

I think it's lots easier to get hurt on the ground than in the saddle. They can't reach you nearly as well when you're on their backs!

Have them, their helmet, AND their poorly behaved horse ride on to the meat trailer.

Well to be fair... there are MANY spoiled horses out there, that CAN be retrained. I can think of a few that were spoiled, and could not be trusted on a lunge line.

I wore a helmet when working with spoiled brats on the lunge line... but, they got schooled, and ended up good citizens.

Does that mean that they shouldn't have been re-trained and sent to the meat packer instead?- NO

Does that mean I was not competent enough to handle them because I choose to protect my head while I did it? - NO

One in particular was an 18+ hand (modern type), 4 year old Percheron mare who had learned she could throw her weight around, and could KICK in people's direction and get her way. You BET I wore a helmet when dealing with that brat. But once she learned that bad behavior meant more work, not less she turned around.

I agree, 95% of the problems are caused by people. I'm too old and slow now to take on any real ornery projects. I've saved a few from the meat truck, any known kicker was re-taught through body language or axe handle depending on the animal......never felt I was in enough danger to warrant a helmet though. JMO






With all this 'safety' non-sense I think maybe I'll go buy a helmet for my shower tonight. I'm pretty sure the chance of busting my ass in the shower after I polish off this 6 pack is a whole lot greater than a horse 'gettin me.

[TimeAndPatience]

Yup. Helmet and gloves. Not a meat wagon candidate at all. A young and happy horse that can throw some awesome bucks and have a good airsy gallop once in a while.

Wore a helmet while handwalking as well. Meat truck? Nope. Limited turnout and stall rest and a happy boy that had some energy.

That's all.

[Electrikk]

For some horses and ponies, I'll make a point to put a helmet on for lunging. Most of the time, I'm already wearing a helmet though because I'll be about to ride. I'm more likely to fall down for no reason and hit my head on the ground than to get charged at by the horse.

Plus, I know how incredibly klutzy I am. If it can happen, it will happen to me.

[Appsolute]

I agree, 95% of the problems are caused by people. I'm too old and slow now to take on any real ornery projects. I've saved a few from the meat truck, any known kicker was re-taught through body language or axe handle depending on the animal......never felt I was in enough danger to warrant a helmet though. JMO

Well, you probably do not have as much experience as many on this board who have handled dozens, or hundreds of horses. I certainly do not think the race track folks are silly for wearing protective gear.

I am not a kid any more, but I still take on the difficult horses, and after as many years I have had with horses, and the number of rank ones I have worked around, I choose to protect my head.

So far.... I have NEVER needed it on the ground, helmet has saved my life just once, and that was when a horse went a$$ over tea kettle and landed on me.

Its kinda like a seat belt, knock on wood I haven't needed one to save me, but I do not mind putting it on... especially if I am going to ride with an inexperienced driver (kinda like riding a green horse).

[AliCat518]

2bee, I know you responsed to a few, but have you really not ever had a horse rear, spook or buck in hand?? Anything can happen with these animals...even the most docile. Do you also not wear your seatbelt because you're a good driver?

We just bought a coming 3 year old. She's quiet as heck on the ground and doesnt care about much, but do I take extra precautions with her? Duh! Theyre unpredictable animals. But sure, people who choose to be safe shoulnt be handling green horses.