British Dressage alters its competition hat rules
Riders competing in British Dressage events (BD) will be able to continue to wear helmets at (BS)EN 1384 standard throughout 2015 and 2016.
BD has today (Monday 16 March) released revised amendments to its dressage hat rules, following the announcement in December by the EU Commission that the (BS)EN 1384 standard was to be withdrawn.
Hats with the EN1384 standard will continue to be permitted for use in BD competitions throughout 2015 and 2016.
Originally the organisation said it would permit hats to that standard until the end of 2015 only.
“We don’t want to permit that a withdrawn standard can be used indefinitely i.e. still being used in five to 10 years’ time, but until we have details of the new standard and when it will come in, we will keep permitting the use of the EN 1384,” said Paul Graham of BD.
Riders were left reeling when they discovered a number of hats would no longer be eligible for competition.
The change is the result of a decision by the European Union (EU) that the EN 1384 standard was to be withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) — the official compendium of EU legislation.
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This happened as an agreement could not be reached on updating the base European standard.
The decision means that EN 1384 hats can no longer be manufactured, but wholesalers and retailers can continue to sell them, and they are still safe to ride in.
BD will still be removing the (BS)EN 1384 from the list of recommended standards from 1 January 2017.
“BD will still allow the EN 1384 standard to be worn until at least January 2017, however this may be extended depending on the publication of the new harmonised European standard, the date for which has yet to be confirmed,” added a spokesman.
“BD advises that members should update their hats regularly and when doing so that they meet one of the current standards.”
Other organisations’ riding hat rules
British Eventing — will permit (BS)EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. All hats will be retagged in 2016 at which stage no hats made solely to (BS) EN 1384 will be tagged or permitted for use.
Riding Clubs — will permit (BS)EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. All hats will be retagged in 2016 at which stage no hats made solely to (BS) EN 1384 will be tagged or permitted for use.
Pony Club — will permit (BS)EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. Full details of the revised hat tagging procedure will be communicated out to the membership and volunteers shortly.
British Showjumping — will permit (BS)EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter.
British Horse Society — will permit (BS)EN 1384 hats in 2015 but not thereafter. From 1 January 2016 hats made solely to (BS)EN 1384 will not be permitted for use in BHS Approved Centres.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.