Helmet Safety for Equestrians
This blog will guide you through helmet safety essentials—fit, certification, care, and replacement so you can ride with confidence.
Discussion Topics:
- Why wear a helmet even if it’s not required
- Helmet certifications: what they mean (& don’t)
- Helmet lifespan
- How to get the right fit
- Show helmets vs. everyday helmets
- Can a bike helmet work?
- Should kids wear helmets in the stable?
- Not sure if your helmet fits right? Bring it in for a check!
Any player in any sport can sustain a head injury with even the very *best head protection. The Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings analysis is based on data trends and probabilities, and therefore a specific person’s risk may vary. Visit www.helmet.beam.vt.edu for more details.
Get the full seminar experience by watching the video .
Think Safety. Wear a Helmet.
Worldwide Equestrian Helmet Safety Standards?
The standards shown on your helmet label tells you which types of riding accident scenarios your helmet has been tested for.
Is MIPS a Helmet Safety Standard?
- Multi-directional
- Impact
- Protection
- System
- MIPS adds a thin layer to the inside of the helmet that further reduces the shear
impact on the brain
Helmet Safety Standard Label Location
How long will my new helmet last?
Your CERTIFIED SAFETY HELMET is designed for a 3-5 year life from the date is goes into use (not the date made). The start of use is the start of the very slow degradation of the liner material that absorbs the trauma of a fall.
Factors in Helmet Premature Aging
Improper Storage Conditions
- Dampness
- Temperature extremes
- Use of harsh chemicals on shell or lining. Use a product made for cleaning/deodorizing your riding helmet
- Rough handling.
- Quick drying with a heater
- Cleaning with a dishwasher cycle
- You may not see the damage just looking at the helmet
Why should you wear a helmet where it is not required?
- Riding horses is a still a leading cause of TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) when compared with other contact sports.
- Many of these were due to NOT wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Nearly half of riders will sustain a concussion at some point in their riding years, having about the same “injury accidents per riding hour” as motorcycle riders!
- If you believe someone has a concussion, they must immediately stop riding or any other activities!
- Follow the Four R's:
-
- Recognise the signs and symptoms
- Remove the injured person from all activities
- Recover until all symptoms have been resolved
- Return to ridden activity through a gradual process
- Signs of concussion: appearing dazed, slurred speech, changes in mood, ringing ears, loss of consciousness, nausea or vomiting, confusion or memory loss, head and neck pain, drowsiness or fatigue and sensitivity to light
How should a helmet for Equestrians fit?
- An equestrian helmet should fit snugly all around, with no spaces between the foam or padding and the rider's head
- The correctly fitted helmet gives a consistent snug "hug" with even pressure around the head
- The helmet must be balanced and level
- Correctly fitting harness adjustment is intended to "finish the correct fit of your helmet" always fastened
I want a helmet that has growing room!
Growing room and safety equipment are not compatible according to the Helmet makers. There are two possible exceptions:
1. Get a dial system helmet that has some built in adjustability
2. Select a helmet with a shell size that could change the sizing liner for some growth or possibly a “hair down” or “show hair up style”
Should I (or my child) wear a safety helmet “in the barn”?
- If you are working with young horses or stallions or are fairly new to working around horses, this is a wise safety plan
- The AAEP recommends that equine vets wear a helmet when treating horses due to the number of serious injuries. There is an interest in the UK to have a helmet made specifically for vets, equine dentists and even braiders, that is both comfortable & has built in lights to make their workplace a safer place.
Fit Features Vary by Helmet Maker
- SHAPE: Round, Normal, Long Oval
- DEPTH OF SHELL: top of the ear to top of the head
- SIZING: hat size, shell size with liners, dial systems
- SENSITIVITY: This varies person to person. Why it is a challenge to shop online for the correct helmet and fit
- FITTING TOOLS: to enhance a good fit, not to “fix” a poor fit.
We carry helmets from /Toddler Junior sizes through size XL / 62 cm / 7 5/8
DISCLAIMER: ** This blog is for informational purposes only.
