Black Equestrians Want to Be Safe. But They Can’t Find Helmets.

NYT SPORT: Black Equestrians Want to Be Safe. But They Can’t Find Helmets.
By McKenna Oxenden
Section: Sports
Source: New York Times

For Black riders with natural hair, finding a helmet that fits can be virtually impossible. Some are trying to raise awareness of the problem, but manufacturers say it’s not a simple fix.

Chanel Robbins has been riding horses most of her life, ever since her grandmother traded a cow from their family’s farm in Ontario for a pony when she was 7.
Galloping through the fields on her pony, Star, offered an escape from thoughts that weighed on her — that she didn’t have a relationship with her biological parents, for instance, or that she was the only Black girl in the neighborhood, aside from her sister.
About eight years ago, she reconnected with her father, a native of Jamaica. As the two grew closer, Ms. Robbins decided to style her hair in locs, like her dad. But there was a problem: Her riding helmet no longer fit, and she couldn’t find one that did.
“I finally freaking feel like myself, and now society is asking me to change,” Ms. Robbins, 27, of Alliston, Ontario, said as she choked back tears. “I just want to be able to ride.”

Published Date: March 3, 2023 at 02:00AM

Read More at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/sports/black-equestrians-helmets-safety.html