So, with all the debates on Facebook lately about helmet or no helmet or even inadequate helmets while riding I thought I’d share this and please feel free to post it forward. This is a picture of my friends head. This happened while sitting quietly on her horse at a show. She had her approved helmet on but had not fastened the chin strap. The helmet was fitted and new just as it should be but it didn’t help her due to it not being properly secured. While sitting quietly herhorse took a step back and tripped over the edge of a trailer ramp that had been left down, her horse fell and in its scramble to get up STOOD on her HEAD. Her helmet had come off in the fall and Karen’s skull was crushed, and yes that is a hoof print on her head.
I was extremely lucky to visit Karen in hospital after she was released from intensive care. I say lucky because I should have been paying my last respects at her funeral as the surgeons didn’t know if she would pull through.
After the incident Karen was left with muscular weakness, crippling headaches and lost her sense of smell. On top of this her short term memory was lost and some long term. She had a young daughter and husband whom she couldn’t remember and was extremely confused for a time after the accident. Now, ask her if she would ever consider riding with out a helmet or if she would put her daughter at risk by allowing her to ride with out one. Is vanity really worth risking this for.
Found via http://equineink.com/ who found this on Facebook with the request to post it forward.
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