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.)
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
English riders need helmets. Teaching a horse English just ain't natural and annoys the he$$ out of them
Christopher Reeve was wearing a helmet.
Shoulda been riding that OSHA horse, I guess.