More than 1,900 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Do you think riding helmets should be required by law?”

• No 40.18% (798)
  
• Yes 30.26% (601)
  
• Only for youth (18 and under) 26.18% (520)
  
• Only while on public land 2.17% (43)
  
• Only while showing 1.21% (24)

Readers shared their feelings about helmet laws in the comments below.

Poll sponsored by Troxel Helmets.

Results of weekly polls from TheHorse.com are published in The Horse Health E-Newsletter. Published every week, this e-newsletter offers news on diseases, veterinary research, health events, and in-depth articles on common equine health conditions and what you can do to recognize, avoid, or treat them. Sign up for our e-newsletters using the form above or on our e-newsletter page.  

Look for a new poll on TheHorse.com every week!

• No way !
  
• Safety of all riders
  
• Young or no experiance and all bull riders!
  
• Not governments’ business
  
• only if you have a brain to protect.
  
• Stay the heck out of my business
  
• Head injuries are no fun – ask anyone who has had one. Horses are horses. Better safe than sorry.
  
• The unpredictability of a horse’s reactions requires that riders protect themselves from head injury
  
• because its very safe, and horses can spook and it’ll give you brain injury
  
• I think it’s a good idea but I’m tired of laws, regulations and infringement on my rights
  
• Because accidents happen even to professionals and you don’t recover from a brian injury as easily a
  
• Anything can spook your horse and even the best of riders can fall and land on their head.
  
• We hang liability signs for visitors…we should read and apply them to Ourselves. Duh.
  
• to each their own–freedom of choice!
  
• nightmare to enforce
  
• I think everyone should wear one, but not because the big government requires it.
  
• good idea, but difficult to enforce
  
• Helmets are a very good idea, however the government is way to involved and invasive in our lives.
  
• Let the parents raise their own kids.
  
• safety
  
• No. Don’t turn people into criminals because they didn’t wear helmets. Allow choice to be smart.
  
• Let’s keep the government out of personal decision making.
  
• Simple – For safety. Head injuries can be life threatening or a person can become wheel chair bound
  
• Because they prevent serious head injuries
  
• protects the head which ususally hits first
  
• because whether not you know a lot about horses thats how alot of people get injured or die
  
• While wearing helmets is important, I don’t think a mandate should exist for adults.
  
• this is still a free country
  
• Everyone has the right to be stupid.
  
• We all bear the cost in medical insurance, disability programs, welfare programs,special ed programs
  
• To large an effort to enforce a law like that.
  
• its each indivudals right to choose to wear a helmet or not
  
• it would save lives!
  
• we are regulated enough. People should be free to use their good sense or not
  
• Head injuries are often forever! They can create major disabilites that create problems for all .
  
• I believe adults have the right to choose to wear a helmet
  
• Once you’ve landed on your head and can tell about it, thank a helmet, I can.
  
• I always wear a helmet but am reluctant to force other adults to do so by law.
  
• America is *suposed* to be a free country. We don’t need anymore laws than we already have.
  
• I personally wear a helmet every time I ride, but I am not going to tell you you must.
  
• Some people or childere do not know how to ride that well
  
• IT’S A PERSONAL CHOICE
  
• Too many unenforceable laws now; common sense should be practiced.
  
• Head injuries affect more than just the rider. They affect families, employers and co-workers.
  
• Because they can save your life
  
• Because maybe people don’t wanna ride with helmets
  
• because otherwise you could fall off and break you head open!
  
• America, Land of the free. There are to many “I want to control my neighbor and their children” laws
  
• Because no matter the age a fall from a horse can land you on your head, and the result a headwound
  
• It simply another way to protect against a horrible injury
  
• people should have the free choice to decide for themselves and/or thier children
  
• I’m an RN I’ve see helmets save several lives.
  
• as an adult rider, I know the risks I take
  
• not waraign one is stupid, but we don’t need laws to protect stupid people.
  
• Just one more control of our personal preferences.
  
• i think people should be smart enough to wear helmets, but i don’t think it should be a law
  
• It’s my body, and like motorcycle helments I should have a choice.
  
• government not needed to legislate common sense
  
• A relatively cheap life insurance or even worse being braindamage.
  
• they are strong and unpredictable animals ridden at times by inexperienced people
  
• I think people should have a choice in their actions. But I do wear a helmet myself, every ride.
  
• People are too stupid to choose a simple safety item that can prevent horrible injuries
  
• in Ohio any 4-h event requires 18yrs and under to wear one or they are not allowed to participate
  
• Some people are detered from wearing helmets because their barn-mates don’t wear them.
  
• I “now” wear a helmet; I did not require that my kids wear one; now I definately would.
  
• Why should this be dictated by someone else?
  
• riding helmet should be worn regardless of age and type of riding SAFETY should be always number#1
  
• There are certin places where helmets should worn. Stables. ect. Christorher Reeves had a helmet.
  
• I always ride with a helmet and so do my kids. It’s required at shows, but to make it law? No
  
• We were falling off of horses long before these liberal jerks decided that we need babysitters.
  
• If you ride a motorcyle or snowbile you wear a helmet; why not on a horse?
  
• There are enough laws, we need to wear them because we have been taught the benefit of the helment.
  
• We can’t and shouldn’t make ever behavior mandated by law
  
• We don’t need more of government telling us how to live.
  
• another infringement
  
• I still believe it is a personal choice.
  
• It is too dangerous nowadays t ride without a hat.
  
• I think the laws should be similar to those for kids and bicycling. Adults can decide for themselves
  
• Needs to remain a matter of personal choice.
  
• You should be smart enough to know it is safer to wear a helmet. Should be in club rules also.
  
• too many laws already
  
• I think it is important to point out reasons and benefits BUT it is wrong to impose will upon everyo
  
• No matter how good a rider you are or how calm your horse is, all horses are unpredictable.
  
• I beleve in helmets, however, let’s keep “Big Brother” out of it!
  
• Even the best horse can buck.
  
• while I wear one, it is personal choice, not government regulation.
  
• One can never be too careful.
  
• You decide, there is an inherant risk when riding anytime
  
• helmets save money and lives. I’ve never understood why youth should wear one but not adults. DUMB
  
• its a free country
  
• For youth, while showing and on public land.
  
• FREE COUNTRY
  
• The governmant has too much control over us allready!
  
• personal choice
  
• health care and insurance is expensive enough with out having to pay for preventable injuries
  
• NO! Last time i checked cowboys never used helmets!
  
• You can’t (unfortunately) legislate good sense. I’ve ridden for well over 50 yrs but wear a helmet.
  
• another way of harrassing the tax paying Public
  
• It should be a choice-Im not hurting anyone else if i don’t ware one
  
• adults should be able to choose but I think anyone is crazy not too.
  
• Goverment doesn’t need to be involved, it’s common sense to wear a helmet
  
• Laws need to be enforced. People need to look after their own brains
  
• No more laws!
  
• It should be left as a personal choice.
  
• we need the current equine lovers to keep what’s between their ears and under their skulls protected
  
• People dont need to be told what to do “for their own good”
  
• Youth under 16, is more like it. No need for more laws. Use common sense.
  
• Better safe than brain injured.
  
• I suffered a crushed vertebra in a fall but head and brain were ok because I wore a helmet
  
• save your brain.
  
• People need to be protected from their own stupidity when it costs us money
  
• I had an accident once–completely outside of my control–I was wearing a helmet at the time. If I h
  
• People should use common sense about their health in all things. I always wear mine.
  
• because it can save their life
  
• We can’t regulate eveything in this country. People still have the right to be stupid.
  
• It’s like wearing a seatbelt, its needed for protection if something should happen.
  
• To prevent brain injuries in case of a fall
  
• for the safety
  
• If you don’t wear a helmet you’re stupid
  
• you are a fool if you don’t wear a helmet
  
• No! I always wear one but I don’t need more gov’t in my life! Who would even want to enforce it?
  
• choice
  
• There are more and more head injuries from falling off horses or horses falling that helmets can sav
  
• I can’t say that a helmet would have ever prevented the injuries I have had…it should be a choice
  
• Adults will never be smart enought to use helmets all the time, but we can protect the youth.
  
• Not a topic for gov’t. Ranch work vs. pleasure riding?
  
• This should be enforced by breed and discipline competition associations and parents, hopefully.
  
• This is not a law that can be enforced or policed 24/7/365 ! Brains should win, but not always !
  
• Helmet is not a substitute for learning to ride
  
• For safety sake, people should use helmets, but I don’t feel the government should make you do it.
  
• It’s safer
  
• for youth, yes
  
• because I don’t want the government ruling everything I do. I do wear a helmet.
  
• way to risky not to wear one
  
• Because I feel if you regulate everything, it takes your freedom to decide away.
  
• safety
  
• Its an individual choice
  
• anything could happen!
  
• It’s your own responsibility to protect yourself. It’s a free country, or so we think.
  
• Its your own body
  
• my body, my choice !
  
• Won’t fly, impossible to enforce, helmets are the smart choice, I use them every time I ride.
  
• we need more individual responsibility in NZ not being told what and where we can do this or that
  
• helmets save lives, it’s that simple
  
• All people *should* wear helmets, but youths are more prone to skull fractures.
  
• safety head injuries number 1
  
• More legislation is not the answer. Better education is much better than a fine and a criminal recor
  
• We already have too much government interference in our lives.
  
• all youth should; for adults it should be up to the individual’s discretion.
  
• It should be the adult rider’s decision to wear a helmet or not.
  
• people should have the freedom to make their own decisions without the government
  
• head injuries are expensive for people and for society, and helmets make a great difference in sever
  
• yes, no more cowboy hats
  
• i think we are lawed and taxed to the extremem it is your horse and your choice
  
• Everyone should, but motorcycle riders can splatter their brains, so can stupid equestrians.
  
• There should not be a law to prevent people from doing every single stupid thing to themselves
  
• The difference a helmet makes is amazing, it’s so simple to wear one.
  
• But I think riders should use them
  
• i wear one but how could you enforce it effectively?
  
• People should be free to choose
  
• I feel it is a personal choice and I always wear one, usually only adult at breed show as example
  
• I feel that the government has enough this to worry about with out setting up regulations on helmet
  
• prevent devastating injury
  
• If adults are stupid enough to ride without a helmet, let them. But kids are different.
  
• It should stay being a personal choice
  
• I don’t believe government should be allowed to dictate control over our own bodies.
  
• It’s my head!
  
• How would it EVER be enforced?
  
• too many stupid people go without them
  
• We have enough too many laws
  
• no more regulations, please!
  
• We do not need yet another example of govt. intrusion on our private lives.
  
• reduce severity of injuries and decrease cost to public of long term care for head injured
  
• no, but good sense tells me to wear one, it’s a risky hobby
  
• Because we will pay for the injuries in insurance and health care costs.
  
• people are stupid if they don’t wear a helmet no matter who what where when
  
• brain buckets save lives
  
• the consequences of head injuries affect us all
  
• I feel once a person is 18 they can make the decision to protect their brain or not
  
• FREEDOM OF CHOICE
  
• our heads are important!
  
• We can police ourselves.
  
• You can’t legislate common sense. Children, though should be protected even if adults are stupid.
  
• You only have one head and brain
  
• a helmet may not save every life but it is a positive start!
  
• keep your laws off my body
  
• you have to protect the idiots from themselves – a horse is an animal, and you never know
  
• ive been a instuctor for over 40 years. Arms and legs will heal brain do not heal well.
  
• It should be an individuals right to choose, whether they want to wear a helmet or not!!!!
  
• Vanity seems to outweigh common sense in most people. Like motorcycles..a helmet is a necessity
  
• Ethier having a Concussion and being paralyzed or dead…I choose helmet.
  
• Just as in motorcycle helmet use, which has documented wearing helmets lessens brain injury.
  
• Only in showing is the idea controllable. On private land it’s impossible.
  
• Are you kidding me? EXACTLY how much government do we need in our lives?
  
• It is the choice of the rider to ride in a helmet and if they don’t want to they shouldn’t have to.
  
• Prevent costly head injuries and rehab. Ask any ER doctor.
  
• Most of the time you land on your head. Head over heels !!!!
  
• It should be up to the rider to exercise good judgement, NOT THE GOVERNMENT!
  
• common sense!
  
• Brain Damage is not pleasant!
  
• Already case in Ont.Canada – as brain injury survivor wouldn’t think of not using one
  
• Continued support for Darwinism!
  
• brains dummy, brains!
  
• Personal choice to get injured or not.
  
• we have enough laws
  
• It’s a smart idea and I wear one, and insist that minors who ride with me do too. But enough laws!!!
  
• I’ve never seen a motorcyle make a disicion on it’s own….until your an adult, brain-buckets = YES
  
• I believe that is most things, commom sense should dictate when and where to wear a helmet.
  
• Government needs to stay out of our business!
  
• Accidents happen – protect yourself
  
• we are already nannied by the government, freedom to decide whether we endanger our own lives
  
• I think children you always where a helmet, I choose to for my safety.
  
• Would you have the helmet police to enforce that?
  
• I don’t think that the goverment should have to tell people the right thing to do! I
  
• Because many serious closed-head injuries are soooooo preventable!
  
• I always wear one but we do not need any more laws-gun laws-horse laws or any other laws.
  
• I ride arabs and used to ride endurance and I wear helmets ALL THE TIME! It’s like putting socks on.
  
• If you have every fallen off a horse you would not ask the importance of a helmet.
  
• Think of those who may have to care for you should you get seriously injured.
  
• Brain trauma can be reduced and ultimately public monies saved (disability payments)
  
• it should be up to the individual, you accept a risk being around horses.
  
• For youth to protect them. Adults make their own choices
  
• It is our job to protect our children, adults may make their own decisions
  
• we don’t need govt. to tell us how or what we have to do to enjoy our horses. STUPID IDEA
  
• Keeps reckless people from incurring permanent brain injury which the taxpayer may have to support.
  
• because horses can be unpredictable..its for safety
  
• No, because some sports like Barrel Racing, (18+) you wear a hat. 😉
  
• There’s too much goverment involved in our lives. I’ve rode and trained all my life w/o a helmet.
  
• It’s is the persons choice on private land. But I think riders at (12 or younger) should at shows.
  
• Under 18 persons are under parential care, non-adult and are carefree like in nature
  
• Unenforceable. People should be smart enough to wear one. Killing off the dumb ones helps us all.
  
• helmets prevent head injuries.
  
• Helmets should be kept a personal preference and highly recommended for youth.
  
• I hope we still live in a free country
  
• Should be a personal choice for adults
  
• Personnel Choice
  
• individual rights to assess for ones self
  
• i think it should be up to the individual and/or parent
  
• It’s best to wear one but should be matter of choice.
  
• So everyone is safe.
  
• It should be an individual choice. There are enough gov’t regs without adding more
  
• That would be stupid, it hasn’t even been proven to protect.
  
• I can choose when it is effective to wear one
  
• everything has a law now. there will be no freedom of choice if this keeps up
  
• The last thing we need is more government intervention
  
• you start that, then they will want to charge a fee to ride, or need a lic.. NO way
  
• it is MY right to choose!!
  
• It is still a free country, isn’t it. Who is going to enforce this law?
  
• Yes unless rider has full medical and liability insurance. Why should the public pay for stupidity
  
• I don’t think our goverments job is to mandate helmets.
  
• We have too many laws “protecting” us now.
  
• children under 18 are under the care of parents, 18 and over are adults,government stay out of it!
  
• So you don’t fall off and crack your head
  
• nO MORE GOVERNMENT
  
• No, but should be highly recommended. And I use one religiously.
  
• Protect your head from brain injuries
  
• Yes! All minors definitely.
  
• would be uniform law make it safer for everyone.
  
• similar to a seatbelt law in a car.
  
• It’s another freedom
  
• You can’t legislate stupidity and it would be an unenforceable law for the most part.
  
• A head injury is forever!!
  
• While I think everyone should wear a helmet, I do NOT think it should be a law.
  
• should be personal choice. we don’t need the government telling us what we can or can’t do in all fa
  
• We can’t expect our kidsto wearhelmets if we don’t set a good example.
  
• It could potentially save your life.
  
• I have been paralyzed twice and if I had been wearing a helmet while riding I wouldnt have had that.
  
• no!its a personal choice,we all have our reasons for doin the things we do, you go figure
  
• I would normally say no; however, the law allows me to be sued if one gets hurt.
  
• People should have a say so in their own well being.
  
• wearing a helmet has saved my life as well a wearing a vest.
  
• people should be able to make their individual choice
  
• Freedom of choice… Parents can make responsible decisions for their children.
  
• I think that it should be your own choice not the GOVERNMENT telling me I have to do something.
  
• Health and safty is getting out of control!
  
• Nobody is immune from accidents, no matter the age of the person. Even the quietest horse can spook.
  
• rider’s safety
  
• We need to protect our kids, as for stupid adults, there’s natural selection
  
• TBI injury is a very costly. Helmets can reduce injury and associated costs
  
• Thy are required by law for bicycles and horses are a bigger risk of injury
  
• everyone should where a helmet while riding but it should not be mandatory.
  
• because it will be safer.
  
• Adults can be as smart of stupid as they like, but we are obligated to protect children.
  
• People need to be respoonsible for their own actions. Strongly recommended is ok.
  
• to prevent unecessary injuries that could occur
  
• already have enough laws protecting us from ourselves. use common sense
  
• to help with health care costs and you only have one head why chance it?
  
• They can cause whiplash and every rider knows the risk associated with horses.
  
• better be safe than sorry
  
• if you trust your horse, there is no need to wear a helmet
  
• TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT!!
  
• YES! they are important and save lives!!
  
• Free choice in a free country. I always wear a helmet.
  
• Adults can crack their skull if they want to( I wear mine ALWAYS)
  
• Accident prevention is a good practice.
  
• They are required for most vehicles which react only to our input, horses are exposed to a lot more
  
• It is the smartiest thing to wear Would like a chioce
  
• Go to any trama unit and you will understand why the ans. is absolutely
  
• it could make the difference between life and death
  
• everyone needs saftey. What is your brain worth to you?
  
• They are just as important as seat belts. You are not riding a bike,but an animal with its own mind
  
• riding without a helmet is dangerous!
  
• Attempts to make stupidity illegal usually fail
  
• This should be a matter of choice for adults, and mandatory for children under 16
  
• After anyone is 18, it should be personal choice.
  
• becuase the government should not have the right to infringe on personal choice.
  
• Laws don’t make people compliant. Education is best!
  
• i question who will enforce it & if that department has the ability to
  
• You can not rely on people’s commensense to safeguard themselves or their children.
  
• I agree we should wear them but disagree the government tells me what to do. So No.
  
• Riders should wear helmets, but we don’t need the government enforcing this.
  
• Head Injuries are costly to society
  
• I get severe headaches wearing anything on my head so wearing a helmet is out of the question for me
  
• Yes, it saves lives.
  
• I am more concerned about the neck… NASA has many lightweight material protect the neck !
  
• better to be safe than sorry later
  
• We don’t need more laws, we need more responsible parents and riders.
  
• Riding is not a safe sport. There should be mandatory laws to help make it safer.
  
• Ride without a helmet, accept any bad consequences – just waive your right to sue somebody
  
• save lives
  
• This is a PERSONAL choice for an adult to make – not the freaking government !
  
• Adults should be able to make their own decisions.
  
• I don’t think we need any more laws! If you want a helmet wear one.
  
• Because most people are too stupid to wear a helmet voluntarily.
  
• Safety of riders, and to get rid of helmet “uncoolness”
  
• i think it should be up to the individual rider.
  
• i’m tired of everyone trying to save me from myself!!!!
  
• Must we have laws for everything that COULD be hazardous? Freedom to choose.
  
• society has to pay the price when you become a vegetable
  
• We are not responsible for individual choices that involve personal safety
  
• Yes, though it would be nearly impossible to enforce.
  
• That would be going a little to far. Rider beware!
  
• It should be MY choice, stupid or not
  
• keep gov out of our choices
  
• Adults can make their own choices, children should be able to grow up safely.
  
• I am a nurse and have seen the result of even a small head injury!
  
• impossible to enforce. Helmet Police ?
  
• Everyone should wear a helmet, but a child should be protected by law.
  
• Common sense should not become a law…who will enforce it? Crazy!
  
• it should be the riders choice.
  
• The more the government gets into our everyday lives, the more our freedom in America gets limited.
  
• WE all have freedom of choice, but helmets should be mandatory if you are not on your own property.
  
• plain and simple accidents happen
  
• I always wear my helmet, I think people need to start thinking for themselves & be responsible.
  
• If young riders learn the pluses to using helmets, they will continue as adults.
  
• Helmets save lives. It’s logical. Saved mine from serious injury four times.
  
• Not a law but I won’t ride without one and I wouldn’t let children either.
  
• Halmets with a secure chin srtap are the safest to wear to protect your head
  
• we have enough government intervention in our lives already adults can decide for themselves
  
• Severe head injury can be mitigated in accidents. Probably cannot mandate on private property.
  
• Well, both on public land and for 18 & under. You can’t make someone do something on their own land.
  
• only for business to help protect the owner from lawsuits
  
• too many laws on the books already.
  
• who is going to police it? I wear a helmit but I believe it is a personal choice.
  
• I have been riding for 45 years and have been dumped many times, but I never fell on my head yet.
  
• Individual responsibilitiy. It is NOT the Government’s job to protect us from ourselves!
  
• horses are dangerous, so why arent western people required to wear them? kids cant always make call.
  
• I believe that helmets shoud should be worn at all times riding, but it should be a choice.
  
• here in canada they are required at all public stables and wavers must be signed
  
• another expense for oour already overtaxed police force
  
• THere are too many restrictions already in my life. I do not need another.
  
• I say yes for kids and out at shows/public…you never know what is going to happen
  
• Riders know the risks. It should be their decision.
  
• just like riding motorcycles, why NOT prevent what head injuries you can? No one is immune to an ac
  
• Very simple reason: safety
  
• Never wore helmet to ride a horse!
  
• I don’t want someone telling me I have to wear a helmet, if I choose to or not, is my decision.
  
• riding can be dangerous, why should everyone pay for the head injury when it can be prevented
  
• If people choose not to wear helmets, it’s natural selection (ex: motorcyclists not wearing one)
  
• freedom of choice
  
• I ALWAYS wear a riding helmet. I think that one saved my life in a fall many years ago.
  
• I think people are fools who don’t use a helmet-yet I don’t think it should be law.
  
• head injuries r very costly to the health care industry which can be minimized/prevented if u had 1
  
• Everybody falls off, and helmets increase time of impact, lessening the force on the rider’s head.
  
• one cannot legislate common sense.
  
• Freedom. Our lawmakers are city slickers, and don’t know a dam thing about Horses, just kick-backs
  
• Helmets are great – just don’t want government telling me what to do.
  
• I wear a helmet, but I think it’s a personal decision and it would just be one more unenforced law
  
• It’s safer to ride with a helment than without a helment.
  
• by all means! whenever on a horse…you only have 1 head/brain!
  
• To save the lives of ALL riders-experienced or not!
  
• preventable accidents which the taxpayer often has to bear the cost of could be avoided.
  
• It’s the person’s RIGHT to decide!
  
• preventable accidents which the taxpayer often has to bear the cost of could be avoided.
  
• good idea but OH doesn’t even have a helmet law for motorcycles. don’t have staff to inforce either
  
• Just shaking your head hard can lead to mild epilepsy, a fall does so much worse.
  
• It is NOT the job of the govt to regulate private citizens. Parents should decide. My family wears.
  
• Less government, more common sense. Weed out the stupid people from the gene pool.
  
• Some activities, ok. General riding, no.
  
• Not another d*** “law”! Leave me and my personal choices alone!!
  
• Not another helmet law!
  
• Helmets save lives.
  
• If you think your hair is more important that your brains, you’re probably right.
  
• People shoulb be responsible for their own actions/choices.
  
• Who would govern the law? I don’t want our government up my butt all the time.
  
• Adults should have the right to be stupid
  
• The last thing we need is the nanny state controlling one more aspect of our lives.
  
• I think the gov’t already has enough say, waivers will release insurance co. and others from suits.
  
• I believe everyone should wear one for safety but you can’t force adults to wear one.
  
• It affords protection and that is necessary
  
• Yes, in public it should be a law. It is for the greater good.
  
• Many riders do not carry health insurance. A helmet can prevent injury that taxpayers would have to
  
• i feel that wearing helmets should be the persons choice.
  
• My accident recovery took 8 yrs but my helmet saved my life.
  
• Keep goverment out of it. Educate and make good choices.
  
• Don’ttake away our right to choose. sometimes a helmet is not available
  
• I use a helmet but it shouldn’t be a law
  
• should be riders choice
  
• helmets have saved my daughter and me from more serious ijuries
  
• It the responsible thing to do for our kids.
  
• some things should be left to individual choice
  
• keep the gov’t out of it
  
• No it’s a right to be stupid-I just don’t want to pay for others head injury hospital bills
  
• The law of common sense should prevail that helmets are the smart way to ride.
  
• Should be left to the rider’s discretion. There are too many laws as is.
  
• Educate riders on benefits;let them make the decision
  
• I wear one 100% of the time – but I don’t think the gov’t should have a hand in this.
  
• Riding helmets should be the choice of a horse rider and we don’t need more legalities.
  
• personal choice on a horse that you know particularly well.
  
• in order to remove the public responsibility for the fools who don’t wear them
  
• 18 and under definitely and for speed events
  
• What will you do, arrest people?? This is stupid–people need to decide for themselves.
  
• Safety First for everyone
  
• I always wear a helmet and encourage adults to, but children MUST wear a helmet when they ride with
  
• It should be a choise, but very advisable
  
• freedom of choice, I live in Wyoming
  
• I always wear a helmet, but this law would be hard to enforce
  
• Absolutely should be required. Most legit sports require them, why are we any different?!
  
• Let the adult make his own choice as he is supposed to be wiser than youth
  
• Darwins Law: Eliminate the stupid ones so they can’t keep breeding! :0)
  
• I wear one, but I choose to. A horse = Freedom. No more government intervention!
  
• Helmets only help in very minor accidents.
  
• Life itself is risky. Where do you stop legislating safety? How about a kill switch?
  
• It’s a personal choice. Who’s going to enforce it anyway?
  
• How can you even begin to enforce a helmet law unless it’s at a show?
  
• We don’t need any more “nanny” laws.
  
• for safety reasons, yes, but I’m not sure who would implement the law.At our barn helmets are a must
  
• You only have one brain…is it not worth protecting?
  
• I am responsible for myself. I do not need the government to be big brother.
  
• In Australia one has to wear a helmet due to the insurance laws, that means all forms of riding.
  
• All of us with common sense should use them, but should not be a law
  
• what do you think the western hat c