HELMETS AND HORSEBACK RIDERS

To determine patterns of helmet use and attitudes toward helmets among horseback riders, we analyzed a subset of data (n = 1,834) from a cro ss-sectional mail survey of horseback rider conducted from July to Dec ember 1991. Riders were randomly selected from the mailing list of a n ational mail-order company that sells horseback-riding equipment. Of 9 00 English-style riders, 517 (57.5%) wore helmets on their last ride, compared with only 81 of 684 (11.8%) Western-style riders. Among 546 r iders who did not own helmets, their most commonly cited reasons inclu ded believing that helmets were unnecessary (43.8%) or uncomfortable ( 29.9%). Of the 1,263 helmet owners, nearly 62% had one or more complai nts about helmets, but 41.1% of owners reported that their helmet had prevented at least one head injury. Increasing helmet use will require major educational efforts with horseback riders and design changes by manufacturers.