November 21, 2025: When the Hat Comes Off — And Biosecurity Goes On
Hats, Helmets, or Nothing at All
This week started with a simple observation. The barn’s English riders faithfully wear helmets while Western riders often choose a cowboy hat, a baseball cap, or just go full commando head. Once I started looking into it, I learned there is a whole lot of history behind those choices.
English riding evolved from European cavalry and formal sport, where riders wore stylish top hats and bowlers in the 1700s and 1800s. None of these offered any protection if a rider hit the ground, but they looked elegant and that mattered to the show ring. For decades, English riders clung to velvet hunt caps that looked like helmets but provided almost no real impact protection. Meanwhile, other sports like skiing, cycling, and hockey gradually embraced protective headgear as concussion science developed.
Serious injuries eventually pushed equestrians to change too. By the late 1970s and 1980s, organizations in the United States and Canada began requiring actual helmets for Pony Clubbers, eventers, and show jumpers. ASTM-certified helmets became more common as riders realized tradition alone was not worth a traumatic brain injury. Today, most major US equestrian organizations either allow or require approved helmets in any discipline. Many riders choose them every ride, while others still split the difference based on what they are doing and who they are riding. Tradition still has a place, but safety is slowly winning more hearts and heads.
For the record, the queen went commando on her head!
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum says this about the history of a cowboy hat:
“The cowboy hat is possibly the most defining staple of the cowboy’s iconic image. The round, curved brim and pinched crown has made the cowboy hat the most recognized piece of Western wear, but it didn’t always have this look.
John B. Stetson, a famous hat manufacturer from Philadelphia created the “Boss of the Plains” hat in 1865. By today’s standards, the hat was rather ordinary in design, with a round flat brim and smooth, rounded crown. Stetson made the hat out of fine fur from beaver, rabbit and other small animals to withstand the elements. Thanks to its durability, the “Boss of the Plains” was ideal for the demands of the working Westerner and became incredibly popular.
Over time, the cowboy hat underwent changes in shape to better suit the needs of its owner and evolved into the form we are more familiar with today. The brim curved up on the sides to stay out of the way of a rope, and the crown became pinched to allow better control.
Today the cowboy hat has become as much a part of fashion as it is function. Adorned by cowboys, cowgirls, rodeo athletes, musicians and movie stars alike, the cowboy hat is a truly traditional item of the West.”
So, cowboy hats were never meant to protect someone from a fall. That was not the job they were built for.
Today the culture still reflects those roots. English arenas are dominated by helmets while Western arenas still celebrate the tradition of a good hat. Some riders only pull out a helmet when they ride unfamiliar horses or tackle new challenges. Some riders wear one every ride.
As for me, I find my own balance. When Bee and I are out doing our normal rides around the property, I throw on a ball cap. It keeps the Texas sun out of my eyes and the hair out of my face. But when I get on a horse I do not know well, like the horse that I needed a step-stool to get a saddle on (Mighty) at my lesson barn last week, I put on a helmet without hesitation. The fall from a much taller horse is farther than I care to test, and protecting my brain feels like a very smart long-term plan.
No judgment either way. Helmets will always be safer, cowboy hats will always have a place in Western culture, and ball caps will always be the official uniform of relaxed barn moms everywhere.
A Little Helmet Humor for the Trail
Before we move on, let’s take a moment to appreciate the many nicknames riders have invented for helmets. If you ever need a laugh while buckling yours on, here are a few favorites.
Brain Bucket, Head Armor, Skull Saver, Noggin Guard, Cranium Cage, Think Tank Tank, Dome Protector, Thought Box Shield, Noodle Armor, Melon Protector, Brain Bowl, Head Shell, Safety Salad Bowl, Smarty-Potty (because it prevents dumb decisions), Sense Holder, Idea Jar, The “Not Today, Gravity” Cap, Mind Muffin Topper, Gray Matter Guard, Head Hugger, Knowledge Knockstopper, Neuron Helmet (very fancy), The Whoa-Whoa Helmet, The Mama Said So Cap, The “My Insurance Deductible Says Hi” Hat, 🤠 Western-flavored Funny Names The Cowboy Confidence Booster, The Yeehaw Hard Hat, Buckaroo Brain Bucket, Rodeo Safety Soup Bowl, The “I Love My Spine” Lid.
If you’ve got some of your own, comment on the social media post! Whatever you call it, if it protects your brain, it is worth wearing.
A Serious Turn: EHV in Texas
While we were joking about hats and helmets, the barn conversations took a much more serious turn. Texas issued an alert about Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 after a large multi-day event in the Waco area. Several horses were exposed, the virus spread quickly, and cases popped up in multiple parts of the state.
Here is what horse owners need to know.
What EHV-1 Is
EHV-1 is a contagious virus that affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It can cause fever, respiratory illness, abortions in broodmares, and in the worst cases, a neurological form that affects coordination and strength. Horses may stumble, lose tail tone, or struggle to stand.
How It Spreads
More easily than most people realize:
Direct horse to horse contact
Coughing or sneezing droplets
Shared buckets, troughs, grooming tools, tack, or trailers
Humans carrying viral particles on hands, clothes, boots, and gloves
EHV can move through a barn faster than rumors in a tack room.
The Tricky Part: Latent Carriers
Horses can carry EHV-1 quietly for life. The virus goes dormant in nerve tissue and causes no symptoms at all. Then stress happens:
Hauling
Showing
Illness
Weather swings
Herd changes
That stress can reactivate the virus, causing the horse to shed particles even if they look perfectly healthy. This is one of the reasons EHV is so difficult to control and why biosecurity matters so much.
Is There a Vaccine?
Yes, but with limits.
U.S. barns commonly vaccinate for EHV-1 and EHV-4 as part of the standard “rhino” vaccine. (Yes, Bee is vaccinated). These vaccines help reduce respiratory symptoms and reduce viral shedding, which slows barn-wide spread.
However, current vaccines do not reliably prevent the neurological form of EHV-1. They help, but they are not a forcefield. Vaccination is still strongly recommended because fewer viral particles shed means fewer horses get sick.
How EHV-1 Is Treated
There is no cure for EHV-1. Treatment focuses on supportive care while the immune system fights the virus. Common veterinary steps include:
Anti-inflammatories like Banamine or Bute
Antivirals in some cases, especially early
IV fluids to maintain hydration
Sling support for horses that struggle to stand
Soft bedding and turning the horse frequently
Bladder monitoring, since neurological horses may not urinate normally
Strict isolation for 21 to 28 days
Veterinarians also check temperatures twice daily because a fever is often the first sign of infection.
Why it is serious in Texas right now
According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, the current outbreak is linked to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event held November 5 through 9 in Waco. We also know that the Barrel Futurities of America suspended their World Championship event in Oklahoma this weekend after two horses tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy, the neurological form of EHV-1.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture confirmed that both positive horses had traveled from Waco to Oklahoma after competing at the WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race. The large number of participants and the movement of horses from Texas to Oklahoma allowed the virus to spread faster than usual.
Other states are watching this closely and strengthening biosecurity measures at major equine events.
How Our Barn Is Responding
Our barn is taking this extremely seriously. The most important step right now is simple. No hauling in or out unless it is medically necessary. Movement is one of the easiest ways for EHV to spread, and this one policy protects every horse on the property.
Additional measures that can be taken include:
Daily temperature checks
Not sharing grooming tools or tack
Disinfecting water buckets, hoses, and cross-tie equipment
Monitoring or isolating any horse that has recently traveled
Reducing barn traffic to essential visitors only
Reviewing EHV vaccine status with your veterinarian
These steps help reduce risk and keep our horses and community safe.
Thanksgiving Visitors Incoming
Bee and I are looking forward to showing off our new digs to the family over Thanksgiving. Bee is especially excited about the carrot delivery service she is expecting from Henley and Cullen. I am quite sure they will all be entertained. Bee loves an audience and she loves kids even more.
Final Thoughts
From cowboy hats to helmets, from viruses to visitors, this week reminded me that horse ownership is part adventure and part education. The conversations may shift from fun to serious in a heartbeat, but the love for these animals stays steady through it all.
Stay safe, stay informed, and give your horses an extra carrot from us.
Until next time,
Christina and Bee 🐝💛