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Riding Hat Safety Standards and buying a new riding hat 2022
Buying a new riding helmet
Helmet safety is controlled through equestrian standards and certifications.
Standards are lists of tests and checks created by a group of biomechanical engineers with pass or fail criteria using simulated laboratory testing conditions to evaluate protection levels under specific test conditions.
All riding helmet manufacturers have to produce helmets to meet one of three international equestrian safety standards or marks.
- PAS015:2011 – Kitemarked
- VG1 01.040 2014-12 - Kitemarked
- ASTM F1163:2015 – Certified by SEI
A fourth standard E2016 is Snell Certified standard for extreme protection levels that take protection to even higher levels of protection and these are generally reserved for the more dangerous riding activities such as cross country riding, although it is difficult to decide if that is true when a simple accident can be regarded as an “extreme freak accident” and some of the worst accidents involving a rotational fall can happen on the flat at slower paces than one would expect, and even in the walk with a stumble that sets off a ripple effect involving a lack of balance with the riders weight going forward and exacerbating the recovery with half a ton of horse on the end of it.
Some manufacturers may produce helmets that meet all of the above standards together in one product or in different helmet specifications.
Each standard stringently tests different impacts and accident scenarios involving a horse and rider which involve impact types and sideways forces on the hat such as in a situation where the rider is rolled over by the horse.
Cycling and motorbike helmets do not offer the same level of protection and are unsuitable for horse riding activities as they are designed for a different set of accident parameters.
Riding bodies tend to enforce minimum standards so it’s important you choose the best riding helmet that is approved for your discipline and one you are comfortable with.
The standards accepted by each governing body are as follows:
British Eventing, Pony Club, British Riding Clubs and British Team Chasing
British and European: PAS 015 (1998 or 2011) and VG1, all with BSI Kitemark
American: ASTM F1163: 2004a onwards with SEI mark, Snell E2001 onwards with the official Snell label and number
Australia and New Zealand: AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards with SAI Global mark
British Dressage
British: All PAS 015 (1998 and subsequent updates)
European: VG1, EN1384 – 2017 (only in conjunction with another accepted standard from this list)
American: Snell E2001 and E2016
Australian and New Zealand: AS/NZA 3838 2006 onwards
British Showjumping
British and European: PAS 015 (2001), VG1 provided they are BSI Kitemarked
American: All SEI ASTM F1163 04a onwards and Snell E2001 and Snell E2016.
Australian and New Zealand: AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards.
Useful additional information
- The fit of the hat and the adjustment of the harness are as important as the hat quality.
- The hat should not move on the head when the head is tipped forward as that indicates that under fall conditions the hat may move, and head protection may be compromised.
- Hats should be replaced after a severe impact occurrence as subsequent protection capability will be significantly reduced due to the inbuilt protection mechanisms inside the helmet having been subject to some level impact damage.
- Riding Hats deteriorate with age and should be replaced after three to five years depending upon the amount of use and the type of conditions such as wet weather.
It is important to remain up to date with riding hat standards as these can change as new standards become approved, and also the requirements of your sports individual governing bodies because changes to the rules can be made at any time.