title: Helmets and horseback riders.
abstract: To determine patterns of helmet use and attitudes toward helmets among horseback riders, we analyzed a subset of data (n = 1,834) from a cross-sectional mail survey of horseback riders conducted from July to December 1991. Riders were randomly selected from the mailing list of a national mail-order company that sells horseback-riding equipment. Of 900 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 riders who did not own helmets, their most commonly cited reasons included believing that helmets were unnecessary (43.8%) or uncomfortable (29.9%). Of the 1,263 helmet owners, nearly 62% had one or more complaints 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.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rivara
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Condie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013177:Sports