It's Time For A New One!

I asked Paint Girl this week if she wanted to do some horsey shopping next weekend. Wait, wait- not shopping for a horse! I mean horsey stuff. You see, I want a new riding helmet.

I didn't put two and two together until last night. Since actress Natasha Richardson's death from a head injury during a skiing accident last week, I think head injuries were subconsciously fresh on my mind.

Around 13 years ago, I used to snowboard.

I should clarify. I was learning to snowboard. This is how I spent most of my time on the mountain:

Usually I was in this position because my legs became limp strands of fettuccine noodles after shredding about twenty feet and I had to sit down and rest. Or, I just lost my edge and fell back on my bum. I did not wear a helmet back then. In fact, not many people did. It just wasn't the thing to do. Although I haven't been on my snowboard in years, I know that if I were to head to the mountain this weekend, I would see more people wearing helmets now. I should point out that one of the biggest dangers in snowboarding is not just falling and hitting your own head, but having others collide into you. While sitting so restfully on that mountainside, I can't begin to tell you how many times other rookies came careening towards me, completely out of control.

I almost always wear a helmet when riding My Boy. That becomes always when I trail ride. I just feel more vulnerable on the trail, there is so much more that is unpredictable and that can go wrong.

The helmet I have been using is around 14 years old. I purchased it when I took hunter/jumper lessons. I even bought a nice velvet cover for it, so that it looked fancier, but I never used it. It is a nice helmet, but big, and English style. I call it my "bowling ball helmet", as you can see why.

The helmet I am going to get is the Troxel Sierra. I think it attempts to be somewhat stylish and "western" in it's appeal.

Many of my family members have this helmet and I've tried theirs on. It feels comfortable. I am so proud that all of my beginner family riders have made it a habit to properly protect their noggins, like my auntie Cowgirl's Grace below.

I do struggle with how a helmet feels on my head, and yes, how it looks. I always want to pull off my helmet for photos. I'm going to admit it, baseball caps and cowboy hats just look cooler. But I have also reached a point in my life where I know that safety comes first. It doesn't take much to cause a concussion or a life-threatening head injury.

After all, there are too many things I have yet to do, like learn to rope, publish a novel, or marry my cowboy.

And maybe, just maybe, try snowboarding again.