Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.
Troxel logo on thr front of the Liberty Schooling Helmet - Photo by Lorraine Peachey
It’s easy to forget how much of a risk we take every time we swing up and into the saddle. As a rider, look forward to each ride with anticipation and excitement, not dread when thinking about things that could go wrong. Since I’m not climbing up onto a bucking bronco, I’m not going to anticipate getting tossed off the side after an 8 second (give or take) wild and exciting ride.
But the unexpected can (and does) happen when you hop on a 1,000+ lb horse to go for a ride. Accidents happen, whether you are on a reliable and mature horse, or an excitable green bean. That’s why I strap on an ASTM/SEI approved helmet before Every. Single. Ride. No matter what. So even if I’m just taking Ripley out for a hack, I’ve got my helmet strapped on.
I do it for the people that I care about, and those who care about me back; I’ve read way too many stories about what the effects of a traumatic brain injury can be that I owe it to myself, my family, my friends, and even my horse to make sure that I am taking proper safety precautions before swinging up into the saddle.
When I first pulled out the Liberty Schooling Helmet from its box, I found it to look pleasing to the eye. And this thought continued on when I placed the helmet on my head — because it was low profile, and just looked super sleek to me – Photo by Lorraine Peachey
And I’ve heard all of the same excuses that folks like to use. If I had a nickel for every excuse I’ve heard … there’s “a helmet makes my head too hot/sweaty” or “ugh, I hate getting helmet hair”. And then there’s “my horse is totally safe enough that I don’t need one”, and let’s not forget the ever so popular “this helmet makes me look like I have a mushroom head … so uncool!”
But those excuses in my mind are weak. Helmets today have been designed to be sleeker, more attractive, and have better ventilation. And personally, I’m more concerned with the safety of my head than helmet hair, and let’s face it, I’ve probably got hay in my hair and have been slobbered on while at the barn anyway.
And really, no matter how safe I think that my horse is, he can always stumble too (Lord knows I do that enough). Point being, all lame excuses aside, I always, always, ALWAYS wear my helmet. And I very much am still cheering on the awesome #mindyourmelon campaign, started by Dom and Jimmie Schramm last year.
The Liberty schooling helmet also features the GPS II Dial Fit System — which includes a convenient dial at the base of the helmet at the back. The soft touch dial can be easily adjusted to get just the right fit – Photo by Lorraine Peachey
If you still need another reason to wear a helmet, go back and re-watch the #mindyourmelon Evention episode to see all the “cool kids” wearing their helmets. So let me step down off of my soapbox to tell you a bit about the Liberty Schooling helmet from Troxel that I’ve been wearing lately.
Getting a little nostalgic, I think back to my very first helmet. After about 6 months of riding in one of the shared helmets for students at the barn I took lessons at, my birthday was coming up. So while getting my own horse was at the top of my 12-year old selfs birthday list, the request for my riding helmet was more attainable.
I remember it perfectly: a navy blue Troxel schooling helmet. It served me well, and I’ve returned to Troxel for my schooling helmets several times since. The Troxel Liberty is a budget-friendly, ultra low profile schooling helmet. Along with being low profile, the Liberty also features a number of mesh covered vents in order to prevent air circulation. And air circulation just helps to keep things cooler and more comfortable.
The Troxel Libertyis available in a wide variety of colors, some of which are matte and some of which are a high gloss–so you can go conservative or bold – Photo by Lorraine Peachey
The Liberty helmet straps on by using a regular type buckle that fastens under the chin. Plus, there is adjustability built in so that the straps can be tightened (or loosened) to get just the right fit. The Liberty schooling helmet also features the GPS Dial Fit System, which includes a convenient dial at the base of the helmet at the back. The soft touch dial can be easily adjusted to get just the right fit.
Another feature that I’ve come to really appreciate are the removable liners of the Liberty helmet. Since I’m a flashy, animal print kind of gal at heart, I found myself kind of flipping out over the new helmet colors and awesomely sassy animal print head liners that the Liberty helmet is available in.
The liners help to bring a quote from one of my all time favorite TV shows, Gilmore Girls, to my mind. Because I am apt to pounce “to buy anything as long as it comes in a leopard print”. Okay, maybe that is a smidgen of an over exaggeration, but some of the BRIGHT colors paired with the sassy animal print liners look simply fab. And are So. Much. Fun.
And since I’m a flashy, animal print kind of gal at heart, I found myself kind of flipping out over the new helmet colors and awesomely sassy animal print head liners that the Liberty helmet is available in – Photo by Lorraine Peachey
When I first pulled out the Liberty Schooling Helmet from its box, I found it to look pleasing to the eye. This thought continued on when I placed the helmet on my head because it was low profile, and just looked super sleek to me. While the Liberty helmet is offered in both high gloss and matte colors, I personally prefer the shine of the high gloss shades (I’m flashy… remember?).
There are a wide variety of colors available in either the high gloss and matte colors, that you can go conservative or bold. And quite honestly, I feel that the price point of the Liberty is an affordable alternative to buying a colored cover for one of my other helmets. So instead of ordering a custom red cover, I was able to find a shiny red helmet for schooling.
And said schooling helmet is comfortable, affordable, and it gets the job done. I notice that as I ride while wearing the Liberty Schooling Helmet, the helmet fits nicely and stays in place well thanks to the GPS Dial Fit. Plus, the large mesh covered vents do allow the air to circulate nicely, so that my head does not become overly warm.
I strap on a helmet before Every. Single. Ride. No matter what. #mindyourmelon – Photo by Lorraine Peachey
The Troxel Liberty Schooling helmet: Fun. Functional. Affordable. That’s all. The Liberty Schooling helmet from Troxel retails for $54.95, and you can find it here.
Go #mindyourmelon. Go Troxel. Go Evening.
