I HAVE RIDDEN A LOT OF MILES ON HORSEBACK
I tried a helmet, but I wear bi-focals & the strap jostled my glasses to the point that I had massive headache in less than a minute. My brain could not track the movements correctly. Quit trying.
AS for “CANTERING IN THE DESERT AT 25 MPH”-—I would like more details. A CANTER is NOT A FULL OUT GALLOP.
I competed in LONG DISTANCE EVENTS ON HORSEBACK for over 30 years-—1985 to 2005.
I NEVER saw any rider who had a horse that “CANTERED” at 25 MPH. Kentucky Derby horses can go into low 30 MPH-—but they are running less than 2 miles on a WELL GROOMED SURFACE.
I rode on almost everything & rocks were common-—ESPECIALLY in the desert.
I rode 17 different horses & completed over 5,000 miles of events with a 93 % COMPLETION RATE. 50 miles — 100 miles — 5 day 250 miles. GREAT SPORT-—VERY ADDICTIVE-—and YOU MUST “KNOW YOUR HORSE & RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE”.
I rode with a visor against the sun.
Rode in snow-—WIND—sandstorm—rain-—100 milers start in the dark & finish in the dark.
Chill out. I know a canter is not a full out gallop. I also don’t have a speedometer on my horse. Regardless, if a horse stumbles when going fast, in a desert wash, there will be a ton of rocks around to slam your head into. Better to have a helmet on if it happens.
My horse HAS stumbled but never gone down. Yet.
I don’t like helmets for riding but they aren’t a bad idea either. I wear bifocals and my helmet has never jostled my glasses. Just get sweat in my eyes. I wear a helmet in the winter months and a cowboy hat in the summer. MY CHOICE as a compromise. What you do is your business. I don’t tell anyone how, when or if to ride a horse.
I learned riding on a spook monster who often bolted during my first year. She would get really stupid in a bolt. Eventually broke her of the habit but I remain a bit paranoid. Although my current horse DOES plan on living forever...which is not a bad habit for a horse, IMHO. If he lives and I keep my shoulders over his back, I’ll probably live too. Helmet or not.
I’m old enough and he is young enough that he’ll be the last horse I’ll own or ride. He has far more good sense than the horse I learned to ride on, though. That’s a good thing.