Australia May Say Goodbye to Cowboy Hats

AP ^ | nov 15 2004

[george wythe]

The sweat-stained felt hats worn by Australian cowboys, as much a part of the Outback as kangaroos and sun-baked soil, may be heading for the history books. They fail modern industrial safety standards.

It all stems from the death of a cowboy, who suffered massive head injuries after being trampled in a fall from a horse while mustering bulls in July 2001. His sole protection was the tattered hat provided him for shading from the sun.

The New South Wales state government brought charges against the ranch owner, who employed 23-year-old Daniel Croker, convicting and fining the company $72,000 last month for breaches of safety, including failure to provide the horseman with an equestrian helmet.

Ranch manager Nicholas Ennis told investigators he knew of no ranch in Australia that made cowboys wear helmets except while mustering on motorbikes.

[RightOnline]

Ohfercryinoutloud.

Now let me see these pantywaists enforce this.

[MPJackal]

"Here in Texas this at least sounds illegal. Mustering indeed."

That is correct. In Texas it is called Ketchup-ing the bulls. Ketchup....Texas steak sauce. I know, my wife is from Texas.

[humblegunner]

Here in Texas this at least sounds illegal.

Done a lot of things to cattle.
Mustering ain't none of 'em.

[livius]

I love the OSHA horse!

Actually, what we have here in Florida is a bright yellow and black sign at any stable or ring that informs all and sundry that "equine activities" are inherently dangerous and may result in injury or death - and it's your own darn fault. That seems to take care of the trial lawyers.

Florida is big horse country. Western riders virtually never wear helmets here - English riders do, at least when training. Personally, I suppose that helmets help in the case of minor tosses and spills, but I've never been entirely convinced that a helmet would help you survive a true wipe-out. (And I think they interfere with your balance.)

[george wythe]

Too, bad. I once thought that if things went too far here in the States, I could migrate to Australia, a land of continued rugged individualism.

There might be a backlash. Leftists are getting more ridiculous by the minute, especially the leftist bureaucrats and judges. Eventually, average folks will strike back.

[Fiddlstix]

ROFLMAO!

GREAT PIC!

[Muleteam1]

>>How many of these people making silly rules have faced real-world conditions?<<

I would have greater respect for these nitwits if I knew their intent was purely political. Somehow though I think they are simply morons trying to be political. I've run trap grids in the Chihuahuan desert of southeastern New Mexico during periods when daytime temperatures reached 115 degrees. I found the best guard against that type of heat was a rope (loose straw) cowboy hat with a wide brim. Grief I can't even imagine wearing a boiler plate on my head.

Multeam1

[76834]

Over the last few years I have noticed rodeo cowboys wearing hard hats. Dangerous job and dont have a problem with it. Whats galling is to have the nanny state government shoving it down peoples throats.
Incidently they make a "Cowboy" style hardhat. You can see an example here:

http://www.tasco-safety.com/hhats/hhats04.html

[chesty_puller]

I've got two bulls in a pen out back. I'm gonna do me some damn mustering! YAAAAHOOOO....

[razorback-bert]

Muster...an act of assembling; specifically a formal military inspection


I want to see bulls do a dress right.

[Duchess47]

Wasn't Christopher Reeves wearing a helmet? I don't believe it did him much good.

[Charles Martel]

Well, this might just be the ticket. If it meets Australian nanny-state safety specs, of course.

The "Western Outlaw" hardhat.

[MEG33]

Says it all.

[Hank All-American]

Maybe this Texan should head out there and show those Aussie women how they can save a horse by riding a cowboy.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Yeah, that helmet sure helped Christopher Reeve when he got thrown. /sarcasm

[mad_as_he$$]

English riders need helmets. Teaching a horse English just ain't natural and annoys the he$$ out of them

[HairOfTheDog]

He didn't break his head... I also wore a hard hat jumping, and I broke arms, but never hit my head.

I don't usually wear a hat of any kind riding, I don't like them.

[crazyhorse691]

Christopher Reeves was wearing an approved horsie hat and all it got him was Kerrys attention.

[Muleteam1]

I can't recall where I first heard that saying but my dad, bless his heart, is now passed away. Not sure what made me a conservative but it happened somewhere around the time I grew up and the appearance of LBJ on the scene. I guess maturity allowed me to see through the lies of that fat-headed scoundrel.

Muleteam1

[humblegunner]

Don't take any more pictures please.