I started riding horses when I was eight years old. When I turned 16, I could drive myself places, which meant I had the ability to choose whether or not to put my seat belt on. This, regretfully, allowed me to start making the decision about whether or not I wanted to wear a helmet. Of course, at 16 years old, the only thing I wanted was to be like the cool cowgirls, and buy a custom hat to wear at big shows and rodeos, so my helmet was sent to the back of the tack room, to collect dust for four years.
Luckily, during those years I didn't have any serious accidents. I didn’t fall off and hit my head. I didn’t have some sort of scarring accident, but at 20 years old, I’ve decided to start wearing a helmet again.
I made the choice around 3 a.m. during finals. I was wired on caffeine, emotionally drained, and struggling to retain the concept of an inducible versus noninducible gene complex. I was so angry at my brain for not just getting it. Then it kinda hit me. My entire existence, everything I want to be, relies on the capacity of my brain, and I was endangering that every time I headed full speed down that alleyway. I want to be a surgeon. My brain function is the most valuable thing I have.
I’m not the only one who has recently decided to start wearing a helmet. They’re beginning to pop up all over the barrel racing and the Western riding discipline in general, and it’s about time. In any other sport that involves going over, around, or past something at a high rate of speed, the athletes all wear a helmet. It just makes sense.
But why the sudden increase in helmet-covered heads at shows? There are a few different reasons.
Firstly, recent accidents and the publicity of them, such as the loss of Lara Dewees, a professional barrel racer who died of complications from a brain injury she retained after losing control of her horse and falling onto the asphalt. While tragic, the event shed light on the dangers of not wearing helmets, regardless of the skill level of the rider. The story spread rapidly across social media. North Carolina barrel racer Isabella Hixenbaugh has always worn a helmet when barrel racing, but also feels recent events have contributed to the increase, stating that, “There have been a lot of accidents lately so I feel like more people (are) starting to wear them so it doesn't happen to them too.”
The growing trend may also be related to a certain, colorful, NFR World Champion. Fallon Taylor is anything but shy when it comes to her vibrant and fun fashion choices, and her opinion on wearing a helmet. At any rodeo, she can be seen sporting one of her helmets from a line she designed with helmet company, Troxel. She serves as inspiration for many young barrel racers and feels it’s necessary to set a good example of safety for those who aspire to be like her. Furthermore, her partnership with Troxel has allowed for a number of fun and funky helmets to hit the market. From tie-dye and Aztec pattern decorated helmets, to bright pink mohawks you can put on top, helmets can now be a fashion statement. I personally bought the paint splatter one, and I will be the first to tell you that helmets have come a long way in four years. The comfort and lightness of the new helmets are incredible.
Fallon Taylor has done something that needed to be done -- she has come from a place of influence and used it to spread awareness about the dangers of head injuries and the importance of making sure you are as safe as you can be when you head into that arena, all the while making it cool to wear one, and proving that you don’t have to wear a hat to be a “real cowgirl.”
It is not uncommon to see a child wearing a helmet, but much of the growth in the wearing of helmets is found among adults, and that is not only for their own safety, but to set and example for younger generations. North Carolina 1-D State Champion Diron Clements (below) has recently decided to start strapping on protective head gear before he runs. He expects his sons to wear helmets when they ride their bikes and things, and he recognizes the importance of leading, and the recent trend is something he wants to be a part of and lead.
No matter where the trend began, it’s a bandwagon we can all hop on and be safer for doing so. People lose their lives constantly due to preventable head injuries, not only in barrel racing, but in things like skateboarding, biking, and skiing too. All the practice and all the trust in the world can’t prevent freak accidents from happening. Of course, it’s a personal choice to wear one, and when to do so. Some people feel comfortable not wearing one when slow working, but still put one on when it comes time to run. Of course, no one can force you to wear one, and we are all entitled to our own decisions, but you can be sure that the next time you see me in the holding pen at a show, I’ll be wearing mine loud and proud.
