Riders4Helmets extends our deepest sympathies to the family of five year old Caden Moon who passed away on June 10th after a horse fell on top of him during a trail ride. The Mercer County coroner’s office reported that Caden was pronounced dead at 7.30pm Sunday evening of head trauma. Caden was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident which happened at Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails near Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Watch the video below for further details.
Riders4Helmets reminds everyone to please wear a helmet every time you ride.
Praying for the family of Caden. So very sad.
So incredibly sad. I own a boarding business, and stress to all my riders to please wear a helmet. My 6 yr. old granddaughter has grown up knowing she can never be on a horse with out a helmet. She saw why when my mare last year bucked me off on a rocky trail. I broke my arm and pinky. And while that really sucked, I am beyond grateful, that it was only my arm and pinky. I was wearing my helmet, and my head was unscathed! All of my boarders except one wear helmets. The one who refuses says that she has lots of concussions,and is fine. She is not worried if she fell. Personally, I call that STUPID!
WHY, WHY, WHY, would a parent allow a 5 year old to be riding unprotected? You fasten your seat belt in a car, you hold their hand crossing the road, you take care of them when they are sick. WHTA is wrong with people. How horribly tragic that this could have been avoided, and knowing that these parents, for the rest of their lives, will have to live with that fact, that this boy would still be alive, “if only” they had made him wear a helmet.
As a child, my mother would never let me ride without a helmut. Now, at 57, I still do. I even put one on while lunging when my 17 hand mare does her unwelcome caprioles! Keep spreading the word!
I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a little child like that, especially due to my negligence in not providing a helmet for him. It makes me so sad. I hope the parent’s take responsibility for their actions and don’t sue the property owner for having “dangerous trails” or something similar. This is such a tremendous tragedy for everyone involved. I hope the family can find some peace in years to come.
I always wear my helmet as a good example. I am 48 in a few weeks & have been riding since I was 3. I didn’t wear a helmet when I was young but as a grew older & wiser I decided it was like wearing a seat belt. 99% of the time you don’t need it but when you do you are sure happy to be wearing it. Many things have changed through the years but I think the changes in helmets are one of the best things. They are lighter & cooler than ever before, they come in great colors & styles. There is no reason for anybody to mount up without one. And they are even much more affordable now, it’s doesn’t say your not a good rider if you’re wearing helmet it says you are a smart rider.
While helmets cannot protect from all injuries, NOT wearing one is purely foolish. From the age of 4 up to now, and I’m 58, I wear one from the time I put my horse’s bridle on until I’m back in my barn. It has saved my head a few times during a fall. And no, my helmet didn’t save my foot from being crushed when my husband’s horse fell on top of me, I’m very lucky to be alive after that day, and especially lucky to be able to walk & ride. That said, I would never go without a helmet. This story deeply saddens me, what parent would let a 5 yr old ride without a helmet? That borders on neglect in my book. What part of riding is an inherent risk sport did they not get?
I know of a child that was near/behind a horse in California, he was kicked in the head, and I believe later on died of the injury. I would stress to parents and instructors, to have children accompanied by a knowledgeable person when around any large animal, not just riding. A teenaged helper to a client of mine, while he was away for training, thought it would be OK to put a tarp on a long yearling gelding, he was pretty ok about it until a gust of wind blew the tarp on top of his head, he panicked and reared up breaking a fence board to the pasture. He has a round pen, she didn’t feel the need to move the pony that was in there, and felt she could control this young horse by tying him to a fence post, ignoring the tie rings strategically placed in safer locations. Luckily the ONLY thing that broke was a fence board. She was alone at the farm at the time.
This is an example of how even an older child doesn’t know or follow even simple safety rules.
Parents and Horse instructors need to be more aware of teaching young children about safety and to always have an adult around them when working on or with horses, AND to wear safety equipment such as boots and proper clothing and helmets when around livestock.
Celia, can’t believe someone would have the stupidity to write neglect on here. Just because a helmet is right for you, doesn’t mean its right for everyone. When God calls us home, it doesn’t matter if we have a body armor on, we are going. I hope the parents of this little can’t read your post.
Here in Canada it is ilegal for a child under 18 to ride without a helmet. I think this law should apply everywhere. I ride a you 18 hh 2000lb horse who has a temper and has dumped me on my head a few times, thanks to my helmet I came out with nothing but my pride hurt. My sympathy goes out to this family.
I won’t get on a horse without wearing my helmet. However, the child, and any person, might still have died due to internal injuries by the horse rolling on top of him. Helmets can’t prevent every injury – case in point, Christopher Reeve.