What sets rodeo queens apart from mainstream pageantry is the emphasis on Western fashion and the need to demonstrate the ability to ride a horse well. The cowboy hat is an essential part of these requirements and simply goes hand in hand with the cowgirl image. No self-respecting queen would be caught wearing a riding helmet when on horseback, or would she?
In the "olden days" no one wore a helmet when riding except the English riders, and many of those helmets weren't much more than a velvet covered plastic shell for show. In the past twenty years research and technology have advanced to show that wearing an ASTM approved riding helmet can be essential in the prevention of death and serious head injuries resulting from falls from horses. Also in that time a new generation of riders have come about who are first generation equestrians who are used to wearing helmets while riding bicycles, skateboards, motorcycles and the like. These new riders, along with their parents, find it odd that someone would put their child on a horse without some sort of protective head gear. So as pageant coordinators and judges what do we do about this? It is my opinion that helmets should be allowed to be worn during rodeo queen competitions and afterward during a titleholder's reign.
I know they aren't Western and the "Western" helmet that is currently on the market isn't very stylish but how can we say no to these young ladies who meet all of the other qualifications yet choose to wear a safety helmet while riding? Bullriders wear helmets, and mutton busters are almost always required to wear a helmet now, so how is a rodeo queen competition any different? It really isn't.
If you are a potential rodeo queen candidate who wears a helmet while riding don't hide the fact by competing in the pageant without one, but then wearing one during your appearances on horseback if you earn the title. You're setting yourself up for some disgruntled coordinators and committee members. Wear your helmet during the competition, making sure it fits well, your hair is pulled back neatly in a ponytail, and the straps are secured so they don't fly around during your ride.
As coordinators and committees we want our titleholders to wear their crowns while making appearances and most crowns can't be worn on a helmet. There are a couple of options to this dilemma. The first is to forgo this requirement with the understanding that she does wear her banner (which, in my opinion, should be worn at all times no matter what, but that's going to be another post) and that as soon as the titleholder is off her horse she has her well-shaped Western cowboy hat and crown on. The second is to require your titleholder to have a tasteful helmet cover over her helmet that a pin-on crown can be affixed to and then moved to her cowboy hat.
Judges cannot penalize contestants who choose to wear helmets while riding for the sheer fact they are wearing a helmet. They can take away points in the appearance category during horsemanship if the helmet is dirty or ill fitting but not for simply wearing a helmet rather than a traditional cowboy hat. Every major breed and event organization allows for the wearing of a helmet without penalization, including the National High School Rodeo Association and the National Little Britches Rodeo Association.
Last year I had an email conversation with a mother who's daughter was not allowed to compete in the local saddle club princess pageant. The little girl, and her family, were devastated that their club was unrelenting on their requirements that all princess and queen candidates wear cowboy hats and were told that when the girl became a better rider and didn't need a helmet then she should compete. The issue of wearing a helmet while riding isn't necessarily about ability as even the most accomplished riders take serious falls from their well trained horses that leave them on life-support (see story about USEF Olympian Courtney King-Dye).
The choice to wear a riding helmet during any type of equestrian event, rodeo events included, is a personal decision based on safety. It is not our place to tell qualified rodeo queen hopefuls no, or to penalize them, simply because they choose to wear a helmet during a rodeo queen competition and afterward during a queen's reign. Yes, the cowboy image is an important part of rodeo queen pageantry, but even more important are the life skills learned and honed by this type of competition. How can we, as coordinators and judges, in good conscience keep these young ladies from benefiting from all that rodeo queen pageantry offers simply because they choose safety over fashion and tradition? We can't, and we shouldn't.
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Please note that helmets made for other sports such as skateboarding,
bicycling, etc are NOT safe to wear while riding. If you chose to wear a
helmet yourself or if you choose for your child to wear a helmet it is essential it
be an ASTM approved helmet for equestrian riding. Falls from horses are
much different in regards to height, speed and trajectory of the fall
than falls that occur in other sports. For more information on helmets
please visit the safety section on the Troxel helmet website.
This article is written as an opinion to be discussed and pondered and in no way, shape or form should the information presented be construed as legal advice or information.
