Riding Hats and Skulls

Horse Riding Hat safety standards

Your riding hat must conform to the latest safety standards. This will mean that is has been extensively tested to ensure that it provides the appropriate levels of protection. Shock absorption, penetration, harness strength and stability are all tested. It is also crucial that your riding hat fits correctly. If it doesn’t then then the protection it provides will be seriously diminished. A hat which is too large will be easily dislodged during a fall. A hat which is too small will be uncomfortable and so quickly discarded.

It is never a good idea to purchase a second hand riding hat. The structural integrity could have been compromised as the result of an impact. It is entirely possible that a helmet which looks perfect on the outside has actually sustained serious damage. Indeed serious issues are rarely visible and so the previous owner may not have been aware of them. Any helmet which has been involved in an accident should be replaced immediately.

Riding hats can also be damaged by excessive exposure to sunlight and from knocks in transit. Your riding hat should be stored carefully at all times and especially when you are on the move.

Horse Riding Hats Size Guide

Buying a riding hat is one of the first things you'll need to do when taking on horse riding as a hobby. Even if you are taking regular lessons at a riding school it is better to have your own hat for comfort and convenience. So we have put together some points in this horse riding hats size guide to help you get the right fit.

It is a crucial and necessary aspect of every equestrian's safety to wear a riding hat when in order to protect your head should an accident occur. Horse riding can be especially dangerous on roads, but a hat should be worn for other horse riding activities too, including show jumping, schooling and even loading horses into a vehicle.

Safety Standards

It's important to ensure that the hat you choose is secure and is comfortable for you to wear. It must also meet current safety standards. The use of hats bearing EN1384 or BSEN1384 is being phased out during 2016. Therefore, the hat you choose should carry another standard such as:

• PAS 015 (1998 or 2011)

• VG1 01.040 (2014-12)

• ASTM F1163 (2004a or 04a onwards)

• SNELL E2001

• AS/NZS 3838 (2006 onwards)

The withdrawal of the standard has no effect on those riding hats already on the market.

Fitting a Horse Riding Hat

When fitting a horse riding hat you should check that the buckles are secure without being too tight. The hat should be secure enough to enable you to glance up, down and sideways without movement, yet it shouldn't restrict you either. A snug fit must not rely on the use of a chin strap and should be focused on the forehead.

The hat's chin strap and back straps should provide a small amount of grip. The bulk of the fit should be provided by the hat itself. Hats tend to be quite firm, so it's important to allow for this when you try them on.

If you find yourself torn between two fits, it's a good idea to choose a closer fit rather than a loose fit.

1. Take a tape measure and measure your head in cm's. Place 2cms above the eyebrows, skimming the tops of your ears and taking it round the fullest part of your head. You may need to smooth your hand over thicker hair in order to find the fullest part.

2. Choose the helmet in this size range.

3. If you're fitting a style which has a great amount of padding and less vents, you may require a bigger size than that measured.

4. Position the helmet approximately 13mm above your eyebrows. Press it down until it's in the correct position on your head. It might feel snug, particularly if your old hat had worn in and loosened.

5. You should be able to feel the hat on top of your head. If you can't, the hat may be too small. In this case, you'll need to repeat the previous steps with a hat in the next size up.

6. Rock the hat gently. There should be a vacuum at the front, so that you feel suction as you lift it off, or that your eyebrows move when the hat is rocked back and forth. This is vital to ensuring a correct fit.

7. Make sure that there is space at the front of your temples (this can help prevent a headache from occurring).

8. Check the space at the back of the hat. A little space here is fine, as it's not as important as the front area. There shouldn't be too much room either.

9. Adjust the hat's harness. Start with the front strap, making sure that there's a snug fit under the chin (rather than on the chin). Next, adjust the back strap.

10. These fastenings ensure that the hat you have fitted doesn't not fall off and remains in the correct position whilst riding.

Horse Riding Hats Size Guide Chart

Measurement	Riding Hat Size	Skull Cap Size
49cm	6	000
50cm	6 ⅛	000 ½
51cm	6 ¼	00
52cm	6 ⅜	00 ½
53cm	6 ½	0
54cm	6 ⅝	0 ½
55cm	6 ¾	1
56cm	6 ⅞	1 ½
57cm	7	2
58cm	7 ⅛	2 ½
59cm	7 ¼	3
60cm	7 ⅜	3 ½
61cm	7 ½	4
62cm	7 ⅝	4 ½
63cm	7 ¾	5

Remember...

Replace your hat right away after the event that you fall off and hit your head. Looking at your hat, might not appear broken, but it could be damaged inside and therefore not provide adequate protection.

You should look to replace your hat every three years. This is because the padding can compress, reducing the level of protection it provides. Sunlight can also cause damage to the plastic and reduce strength.

Horse Riding Hat Bags & Other Hat Care Tips

Your riding hat is possibly the most important piece of riding gear that you own. It could save your life if you are kicked or fall from your horse. Good riding hats provide an excellent level of protection. But they are not indestructible and must be looked after carefully if they are to continue to provide the protection that you need. There are a number of things that you can do to help keep your hat in good condition including using horse riding hat bags and regular cleaning.

Cleaning Your Riding Hat

Your helmet is going to get dirty and a little smelly no matter how hard you try to keep it pristine. A hat cover is a good investment and will keep the exterior clean but the inside of the helmet will require attention from time to time.

Simply wipe over plastic hats with a damp cloth on the outside. Brush velvet hats to remove dust and dirt but only when they are completely dry. You can also use the soft brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to draw out the dirt. Wipe over that hat using soapy water. Don’t completely immerse your helmet in water and don’t put it in the dishwasher, regardless of what it is made of. Some owners of plastic hats claim that dishwashers work wonders but the hot environment could affect the structural integrity of the helmet.

Don’t use any solvents on your Riding Hat. This is because they could break down the protective foam, the adhesives and any plastics in the shell. You can use soap and water to wipe the inside of your helmet. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before you do this. If you find that unfortunate odours persist, don’t spray chemicals of any kind on the hat as you don’t know what effect they will have on the structure. You can invest in deodorising rock called zeolite instead. The rock can be left in your helmet when it is stored to draw out the nasty niffs.

Wet Helmets

If you have ridden in the rain and your hat is wet, then allow it to dry naturally. Don’t leave it too close to a heat source and never hang it on a radiator to dry. If your hat is velvet then, once it is dry, brush it over to liven up the pile of the fabric.

Storing Your Helmet: The Advantages of Horse Riding Hat Bags

Store your helmets in horse riding hat bags. This will protect the hats from dust and will shield them from impacts in transit. A horse riding hat bag will also protect your hat from accidental spills. However you should allow your helmet to air after use and before you put it in the bag. Keep your helmet in a cool place if possible and never leave it lying around in direct sunlight. This means that the back shelf of your car or a gate post is not a good place to keep it!

Safety is essential!

It is best to replace your helmet immediately if it is involved in an impact. It might look undamaged but structural issues will not necessarily be visible. The protective materials in helmets will start to break down eventually. Replace your helmet every five years to ensure that it offers the maximum protection.

Customise Your Look with Horse Riding Hat Silks

Horse riding can be dangerous, particularly if the rider isn't dressed in suitable riding gear. Whilst riders may fall and suffer various injuries such as broken bones, these may be considered minor in comparison to serious head injuries. The dangers make wearing proper headgear essential. It could be what stands between a minor fall and severe brain damage. riding hats aren't particularly flattering, however, they are invaluable for safety. What's more, there are a number of ways in which you can customise your hat in order to make it more attractive and comfortable including the use of horse riding hat silks.

Horse riding hat covers

Riding hats are essentially practical items and so can fall short when it comes to style and individuality. That's why designers have created various types of riding hat covers to allow riders to add flair whilst still maintaining a high level of safety. Hat covers are usually similar in appearance to a coloured skull cap which has a short peak. Often, they feature an umbrella pattern with colour variations to suit different teams or colour preferences. Some are made from velvet whilst others include silk along with Lycra or Spandex.

Horse riding hat silks

Horse riding hat silks are essentially riding hat covers made from a silk and Lycra. Some riders use these names interchangeably, however, it's important to recognise that not all hat covers are hat silks. Hat silks are also sometimes called jockey silks. They have a sheen and are available to buy in a range of colours. Black silks are particularly popular as they are very versatile and can be teamed with any riding attire in any given situation. Pink tends to be a popular colour for riding hat silks too, however, it's often combined with another colour in order to complete the umbrella design.

More and more riders are choosing to cover their hats with silks. Once placed on top of the riding hat, the silk gives the impression of a more classically styled velvet hat. The main advantage is that you can change the colours of the hat silk to suit a particular discipline. For example, for dressage and show jumping, you may want to wear a black or blue silk, but then choose different coloured silk for the cross-country phase, in order to match your cross country colours.

Fabric riding hat customisation

The fabric from which a riding hat is made and the safety features are vitally important. Therefore, as long as the hat is manufactured to the required standard, you can personally change the outer design. Adding your own fabric allows you to determine which parts of the hat are covered and which stay open. If your riding hat is vented, for example, you may not want to cover these vents with a total hat silk. You have the option of using your own fabric to cover the sides whilst leaving the vents open. You can easily create your own silk version with your own colours and materials.

Riding Hats at Equi Supermarket - Only the best

At Equi Supermarket we have chosen an outstanding collection of horse riding hats from Champion and Charles Owen. These are the most highly regarded helmets and conform to the highest safety standards. Both ranges are also distinguished by the comfort of their styles. These are riding hats for adults and juniors that you can trust to offer the maximum protection and to be comfortable enough to wear all day. There are some things in life where compromise is not an option and your riding hat is one of them. With Charles Owen and Champion riding hats from Equi Supermarket you are investing in the very best.

Should you invest in a helmet cam for riding?

With more accidents on the road involving riders being reported than ever before, our highways are clearly not getting any safer. Motorists continue to drive irresponsibly around horses and the results can be devastating. If you are injured in a road accident while riding, it can be a complete nightmare to prove who caused the incident. Drivers often leave the scene without stopping and you are never in the best position to note their number plate when you are lying on the road with a broken leg or are trying to catch your fleeing mount.

Bad drivers escaping justice

Every day, riders are injured as the result of bad driving and yet few gain the compensation they deserve. It’s too easy for drivers to deny involvement or blame the rider for the accident. Clearly you should do everything you can to prevent an incident. This will include investing in a for yourself and for your horse. But what if your horse still gets spooked or hit by a motor vehicle? A helmet cam could secure a successful prosecution of the driver and gain you the compensation you are entitled to.

Shocked and incapacitated

If you are involved in a hit and run, you may be too shocked or incapacitated to even register who has hit you. In such an incident, your helmet cam footage will record the vehicle and enable you to identify it. Better still, that footage will represent powerful evidence in court and will save you from having to search for witnesses to the accident.

Is it legal to film?

Filming in public areas is perfectly legal, so you are not breaking any laws by using a helmet camera. The footage from these cameras is increasingly being provided as evidence in both civil and criminal courts in the same way as CCTV footage. To admit a recording from your helmet camera into evidence, you should simply download the footage onto a CD and submit a signed statement that the film has not been altered in any way. This should be countersigned by a solicitor.

What about filming on private property?

It is important to note that if you are riding on private property, the landowner is entitled to forbid or restrict any filming on their land and you are obliged to abide by any rules that they set.

Could a helmet cam cause an injury?

It has been suggested that hat cams could worsen head injuries in an accident. This argument was made by an expert during the enquiry into the skiing accident which left racing driver Michael Schumacher with serious head injuries. However, this was just an opinion and the argument has never been proven.

Head cams are very unlikely to cause or worsen injuries which occur while riding but are highly likely to help you identify the motorist at fault and secure a successful prosecution. Better still, you can use your head cam to film all of your sporting activities and you may capture memorable footage as you ride.

Naturally you will be hoping that you never need to call on your footage to help you, but it is nice to know that you have this extra help at your disposal, just in case. Drivers may be less inclined to act recklessly if they see your camera and may behave less aggressively if they do stop to discuss an incident.

Legislation and important info relating to riding hats...

You can find some excellent information by clicking on the links below...

BHS guide
BETA guide