Question: Who knew so many equestrians were also skilled poets? The Riding Helmet Haiku contest Saddle Seeks Horse held in honor of International Helmet Awareness Day last weekend is over, but the haiku themselves promoting safety live on in this blog post.
And the winner is. . . Dana M.!
The randomizer selected Dana and she chose a $50 gift card to Dover! Yay, Dana!
Read on to laugh and smile at your fellow riders’ talents.
And yay everyone who entered because your enthusiasm for noggin protecting is a beautiful thing.
There were too many haiku to publish all of them, so this is just a sampling (if you don’t see yours and you really wanted it to be published–send me an email Susan@saddleseekshorse.com and I’ll make sure you get the publicity due you).
Before we get on to the haiku, here’s something cool that’s coming up in a couple of weeks–and it’s haiku related.
In Other News
I was interviewed this week about Saddle Seeks Horse for a podcast episode of Horsemanship Radio and the host Debbie Loucks (Monty Roberts’ daughter) LOVED our riding helmet haiku contest and encouraged me to hold another one again next year!
I dreamed aloud that maybe we could get some of the helmet companies to sponsor the fun by donating helmets for the haiku contest! (So if you’re reading this Charles O., KEP Italia, Samshield, or Ovation–I’m lookin’ at you!). I got to read some of the haiku and they’ll be on episode 101.
I’ll be sure to let you know when the podcast is available to listen to.
Some of the Helmet Haiku (That Made Me Laugh, Wince or go “Aw!”)
I LOVED reading all the various entries and had amazing email exchanges with many haiku poets. Enjoy!
I watched my money flee
As I hit that darn oak tree
Bye cute Kask helmet
-Sophia
Helmets are nifty
I want to live past sixty
I hope you pick me
-Alanna from PonyExpress
Tall OTTB
It’s a long way to the ground
Helmets will break falls.
-Hannah
Edie from Michigan sent in a more traditional type of poem along with a note that said, “This nana wears her helmet for all her grandchildren to see how very important they are to me!” And she sent this adorable collage of her riding her horse Beamer and her grandkids sporting helmets. (Thanks, Edie!)
Thinking I look funny, I bet
But it’s not about the look while on one ride
Love me, love my helmet
And I’ll be OK and still be healthy by your side
Keeps me thinking, on my toes
Appreciation
Love riding my horse.
Don’t love hitting the hard ground.
But my helmet helps
-Tia
Helmet that I wear
Any horse can be foolish
Please protect my head
-Melinda
An example I set, and
A brain still intact.
All that money for grad school
Would have been a waste
And special props to Emma from Fraidy Cat Eventing who not only was the FIRST person to enter the Riding Helmet Haiku contest, submitting TWO (#overachiever) but also sent this amazing picture of her riding! Thanks, Emma!
we careen toward the rolltop
this will end badly
my life flashes before me
thank god for helmets
These all had me laughing! Great group of haikus and submissions! I second the anticipation of next year’s contest (hopefully) sponsored by a brand.