April 2022 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN April 2022 Page 23 By Malorie de la Mare Dear Mal, I am torn over something that everyone has a ready an- swer for. I am normally the type of person that knows what they stand for, but when it comes to horseback riding helmets, well, l am just not sure! I am 13 years old and have been riding since l was 5 and have never had more than the typical tumble. My parents never made me wear a helmet and l always looked at helmets as unneces- sary. Anyway, now that l am older l want to learn more and become a serious rider, and if it takes wearing a helmet, I’ll do it. While l really am fine with wearing one, l also wonder why people are so adamant about wearing them because there are so many things people do every day that are just as dangerous. For example: driving down a modern highway. There are so many car accidents, wouldn’t people get less brain injuries if they wore helmets? And people never give that a thought! I am being torn in two because of the nagging questions in my head. Thanks in advance. -Questioning Helmets Dear Questioning… In three words: wear a helmet. To be honest, I am impressed that such a young person would put so much thought and deliberation into a topic about which the world seems to be of one mind. I like the fact that you’re looking at Go ahead...Ask da Mare Teen is Helmet Skeptic this issue critically, and that you’re considering the many ways humans injure themselves doing stuff that they don’t even think about. Driving a car? Dangerous, especially since the incidence of reckless and aggressive driving has skyrock- eted. But let’s get back to you. And horses. And your precious brain. Very smart people, who are paid to research things, have found that horseback riding can be more danger- ous than downhill ski racing! Really! Here’s what researchers at the University of Connecti- cut found: “Horseback riding carries a higher injury rate per hour of exposure than downhill ski racing, football, hang-glid- ing and motorcycle racing. Medical Examiner reports show that 60% or more of horse-re- lated deaths are caused by head injuries. Helmets can reduce this possibility by 70-80%. ” People complain that they don’t like the look of helmets, or that they make their heads sweat. Perfectly valid complaints, but not relevant to the core issue: safety. There are thousands of ways our lives can be profound- ly changed. That’s why we think about the things we’re do- ing, and the ways we can make our daily lives less dangerous. While it’s true that people fall down steps and end up with catastrophic injuries, that’s not a reason to abolish steps, that’s actually a reason to ensure that steps are safe and that hand- rails are installed properly. So, young friend, please wear a helmet. Your brain, your future and your safety are too precious to risk. Dear Mal, It’s spring, and the flowers are popping up everywhere. To my horse, though, it’s apparent- ly still winter. He doesn’t seem to want to give up his winter coat! He’s 30 years old and very healthy. Good appetite, no sign of arthritis, good feet. I’ve tried curry combs, brushes, bathing… but his coat is very stubborn. Do you have any advice? -Hairy Dear Hairy… Some horses are just a bit slower when it comes to catch- ing up with the seasons. You should do a couple of things: First, think about last year. Did he have the same issue? Has anything major changed in his daily care? Second: call your vet. Horses of a certain age can develop Cushing’s disease, which will affect shedding and coat growth. If your horse has Cushing’s disease there are treat- ments that can help manage the symptoms, but there is no cure. It’s important to involve your vet, because a horse with Cush- ing’s can develop other serious conditions, such as laminitis. Before you consume yourself with worry, though, get your vet involved so you can determine whether it is indeed Cushing’s or something else, such as a para- sitic infection. Good luck! Have a question for Mal? Email her at PAEquest@aol. com. The news East Coast horse owners need to know COMING IN THE MAY ISSUE! To advertise call (717) 509-9800 or visit eastcoastequestrian.net/advertising_info.php Devon Horse Show Preview! Distribution from racks on the Devon show grounds! Deadline: April 12