Riding hats. Why we should always wear them and the arguments for and against

Although to some, this post it going to be a little frustrating and maybe what I am going to write will be a tough pill to swallow.

This week alone i've seen two very scary hat related stories I wanted to make you all aware of so there they are -

First is this Race Post photo that is of Edgar Prado's helmet after falling off while racing..
Just look at it for a minute and let that sink in...

Then today a good friend of mine and fellow equestrian Alix sharing this -

All of these in one week.

Now I know that in the world of showing and hunting, a lot of people still wear beaglers, bowler hats, and top hats. They are 'correct dress' traditionally and are still 'correct dress' and allowed in the show ring.

Less and less people are choosing to wear them though due to stories about the above. Plus a lot of show societies are not allowing them in classes anymore.

See this article by Horse & Hound about SHB (GB) after they banned hats without a strap here

Now, don't get me wrong, I think that top hats, bowlers and beaglers look absolutely beautiful, they really do. They're traditional and all. But, saying that, I do think that whenever on a horse you should wear a riding hat up to safety standard which cannot come off your head if you were to fall off..

The above photos are from two completely different situations one is a professional race jockey, the other a amateur rider. There have been dressage riders who have had accidents. Even Charlotte Dujardin said in this interview that she has suffered from a fractured skull from riding without a hat and won't ride without a helmet on again. Same for Courtney King-Dye who rode without a helmet, the horse tripped and took her with it, she also suffered a skull fracture..

So with a top hat, bowler or beagler, just how much would they actually help in a fall while wearing one? Who knows, and i'm certainly not going to try and find out..

I've seen this video with someone showing a Charles Owen Beagler coming off and a Patey staying on, then again I've seen photos of a Patey coming off in a fall too! So really with the risk of it might come off, why do people continue to wear them? As the H&H article above writes, is it vanity or tradition, or both?

My vibe I get from reading more and more on the subject is that non safety standard hats are on the way out. See here and here for examples of questioning why everyone should wear safety standard hats.

Many a time in facebook debates people have argued "It's my head, my decision" in the sake of argument in wearing a top hat, beagler or bowler but had they stopped and thought of the long term of who would look after them if they were to suffer a debilitating fall which left them disabled and unable to look after themselves? 

The stories i've read are that those who have had accidents have had husbands and family to look after them, but what if they didn't? And what if they had been killed, leaving family and friends behind.

I think it's definitely a thinking point to ponder on... So on that one, I'll leave it there

Beaglers! My new one and some advice if looking to buy one

My new Beagler. Temporary Aspinal bag so it doesn't get ruined. My favourite gloves ever, the Chester Jeffreys roper and my show cane made by my lovely Dad back when I showed as a child!

Late year when I knew i'd have to be entering the ring a lot to groom and strip Beanie for the judges I bought a beagler. Rushed as I hadn't had a riding hat on for years, but measuring my head came out as 59cm or in riding hat sizes a 7 1/4.

I had a look round and found the Charles Owen Beagler and the Beagler Classic. But without having £155 odd quid to fork out I kept looking and stumbled upon the gatehouse Beagler.
Yes, Gatehouse do one too!

We I purchased one and soon dawned on me that despite me measuring my head I did in fact need a 7 1/8 but just did not have time to get a different one so padded it up and got on with it.
Old faithful did me well but decided that I needed to sell it to someone it would actually fit and not near slip off my head in the ring. God, how embarrassing would that have been!

So I went on a fact finding mission and with the help of a few purchase reviews on the internet and the help of the Equifest group users i've decided that I needed a Beagler, not a Beagler classic.

I put some feelers out in a few groups asking if anyone had a used but in good condition navy 7 1/8 Beagler and much to my surprise almost immediately I got reply from a lady down the road saying she had her old showing one that she used a handful of times and she'd like to sell it to me.
So I paid my money and it arrived and my god I love it! It is perfect! It fits perfectly and is no way going to fall off my head. Georgie is the same size so can borrow it for in-hand showing, win win!

My advice for anyone looking to buy a hat, beagler style or not, always try it on first!
I'd read reviews online and asked owners if theirs came up small or large or were an odd shape! It's always good to do some investigation before forking out for a new hat. Don't do what I did and get one that doesn't fit and you don't have time to get a replacement!
The Charles Owen Beagler Classic does fit in a completely different way to a Beagler so if you've read this and are thinking of getting one, try and ask your local saddlery if they can get a couple in for you to try or ask around and see if any of your friends at the yard etc have one you can try on!