I already knew about the Parelli craziness regarding helmets.
As far as I can tell one of the leading things the Parellis teach their followers is to be afraid to get on their horse.
First of all, accidents happen.
Second of all, somebody HAS to ride the not-perfectly-trained horses.
You can never guarantee that something won't happen. I've seen dead quiet, bombproof beginner horses buck people off because something happened. If your horse gets stung by a yellowjacket or a hornet, it's GOING to buck, no matter HOW well trained it is. Horses are flight animals and there is always that slight risk they'll freak out.
Now, true, there are things you can do that reduce your chance of injury even more than wearing a helmet and, if necessary, a vest. Developing a good, balanced independent seat so that you are less likely to fall off is one. Proper fall training (sadly very hard to find) is probably the *best* way you can reduce injury chances. In two almost identical falls (the only difference between the fact that the first fall was from a slightly taller horse) rider #1 ended up in hospital with concussion, bruised ribs and a bone chip from her pelvis whilst rider #2 rolled to her feet and got right back on with no injury beyond a fairly nasty bruise on her shoulder. Rider #2 had fall training (and before you ask, yes, the first rider was wearing a helmet. It probably saved her life).
I will bet dollars to donuts Linda Parelli has not taken fall training. And independent seat...ha! Her release is terrible and she's way behind the motion. I'll be nice on the crookedness and assume she's planning on turning when she lands. She'll be lucky if that horse jumps the next fence after her hanging on its mouth like that.
Oh, and there's another thing you can do to reduce injury: TIGHTEN YOUR FREAKING GIRTH.
As far as I can tell one of the leading things the Parellis teach their followers is to be afraid to get on their horse.
First of all, accidents happen.
Second of all, somebody HAS to ride the not-perfectly-trained horses.
You can never guarantee that something won't happen. I've seen dead quiet, bombproof beginner horses buck people off because something happened. If your horse gets stung by a yellowjacket or a hornet, it's GOING to buck, no matter HOW well trained it is. Horses are flight animals and there is always that slight risk they'll freak out.
Now, true, there are things you can do that reduce your chance of injury even more than wearing a helmet and, if necessary, a vest. Developing a good, balanced independent seat so that you are less likely to fall off is one. Proper fall training (sadly very hard to find) is probably the *best* way you can reduce injury chances. In two almost identical falls (the only difference between the fact that the first fall was from a slightly taller horse) rider #1 ended up in hospital with concussion, bruised ribs and a bone chip from her pelvis whilst rider #2 rolled to her feet and got right back on with no injury beyond a fairly nasty bruise on her shoulder. Rider #2 had fall training (and before you ask, yes, the first rider was wearing a helmet. It probably saved her life).
I will bet dollars to donuts Linda Parelli has not taken fall training. And independent seat...ha! Her release is terrible and she's way behind the motion. I'll be nice on the crookedness and assume she's planning on turning when she lands. She'll be lucky if that horse jumps the next fence after her hanging on its mouth like that.
Oh, and there's another thing you can do to reduce injury: TIGHTEN YOUR FREAKING GIRTH.
End of rant. For now.
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