I NEVER wear a helmet while I ride unless I'm riding a new horse or a young horse or a possibly dangerous horse.

I think your sis should mind her own business and hush.

Have fun! = D

You should mostly wear a helmet when you ride, almost all the time. You never know what will happen. Even the most experienced riders should wear a helmet.

yes, your should always wear a helmet not matter what! equestrianism is the most dangerous sport! any horse could spook and you could fall off and hurt yourself severly!

You don't have to all the time. like when your just in his stall. I would where it the other times though.

I do every time that I'm on the horse.
Accidents happen and when they do they happen fast.

my trainer makes me wear a helmet, gloves, knee high boots and breeches whenever i am on a horse.

you should always wear a helmet when you are on a horse. that way if anything happens you are covered.

Always wear a helmet when you ride. i know someone who died you didnt wear a helmet. only sit on you horse like that if its tied up

Where i work, it frowned upon to wear a helmet. helmets just get in the way. (I work on a QH cattle ranch) helmets are only useful for young, unpredictable horses or going to English comps where you're forced to wear them

I wear a helmet. I'd be dead right now if I didn't wear one every time I got on a horse. I was sitting on my very calm, very well trained horse, not doing anything, when he suddenly jumped and flung me 15 feet through the air. My pelvis was completely shattered and I now have 4 titanium screws holding it together. I spent years in a wheelchair, but I can walk now and hope to be back to riding soon. My helmet was approved and I suffered a mild headache. Period. One time I was cleaning my lesson horse's hoof when she cowkicked me in the face. I had my helmet on and the visor prevented a fractured eyesocket. I did get a black eye, but the helmet provided enough protection that the kick did not land squarely and do immense damage...and the horse was a Belgian. My son wore a helmet every single time he was around horses as a small child and wore one to ride once he got old enough. I personally know of a young lady who was killed by a horse kick as she was just walking by.. And a woman I know was killed when a horse [owned by one of my students, so this isn't hearsay] stepped on her head after she fell off him while trail riding. I'd rather look silly or be a bit uncomfy than dead. I put goofy covers on my hat for fun, but a helmet is part of my barn gear.

I strongly believe that you need to wear a helmet at all times when mounted. It is actually more dangerous to mount your horse in the stall than it is in the arena. I know your horse is calm, but there is no such thing as a bombproof horse. If you fall in the stall it is very likely that you will hit the wall in such a confined space. And that can be very bad news. And even though your horse is reliable, it only takes one accident to kill.

There was a girl I knew many years ago who in my mind will always be 13 years old. That's how old she was when she fell off her horse and hit her head. Her name was Melanie. And when I was at her funeral, I vowed to always wear my helmet. No, they don't make you 100% safe, but nothing can. But the people who love you want you to be as safe as you can.

I suppose it depends on how much you value your skull and its contents. You'd be foolish not to wear it when on your horse, regardless of whether you're galloping and jumping 4ft, or if you're sitting armchair-like, admiring the countryside. Accidents happen.

A good friend of mine nearly died when her extremely laid back horse kicked her in the head, in the stable, when she wasn't wearing a hat. She was on her own and has no memory of the accident (or that whole week, in fact) so nobody knows what happened, but I think it's safe to assume that the horse got spooked by something and kicked out.

She was in hospital for nearly three months, and on two separate occasions her parents were phoned to tell them that she may die imminently - she didn't, but she could well have done. Needless to say, she ALWAYS wears her hat now - from the moment she gets out of the car at the yard, until she gets back in again.

It's easy to become complacent, particularly if it's a horse you know well and is generally "harmless". The reality is that no matter how long you've known him or how little he responds to his environment, he is not a robot and if he catches you out you're done.

I've worked with horses, shown hunters and jumpers, ridden on drill teams, and owned them for 40 years. I also worked in human brain-injury rehabilitation for 20 years, and have seen horrific results with head-injured equestrians who did not believe in wearing a helmet, especially while working in the barn or in a stall.
I can vouch for the fact that being killed by a horse is FAR better than surviving with a brain injury. People who have more than a mild concussion are never the same again, nor are their families.
I'm sure you wouldn't relish being in a wheelchair drooling and with a feeding tube because you're so messed up you can't even swallow. You may be left with the inability to talk or dress yourself. You'll never ride again or enjoy your friends (because they WILL desert you). You will never be able to work and support yourself and will be completely dependent on others.
Your sister is very wise; listen to her and wear that helmet whenever around ANY horse, even while dismounted.