Go straight to the latest news about riding hats
Up until the early 80s, British riders were pretty casual about protecting their precious heads! If worn at all, riding hats were velvet-covered shells thinly lined with cork and either had no chinstrap or were held on by elastic; they offered very little protection from injury. Meanwhile, out on the hunting field, bowler or top hats were a common sight.
In the USA today, fewer than one in eight riders wears a helmet, but attitudes have completely changed in the UK. Most leisure riders wear hats for riding that meet recognised safety stangards. To comply with safety standards, hats must be fitted with an integral three-point harness and have a non-fixed peak. Equestrian sport governing bodies set their own minimum standards for hats worn during competition. Children up to the age of 14 are legally required to wear an approved hat when riding on British roads.
Improvements in technology mean modern hats are strong, lightweight and comfortable. They consist of a protective liner covered by a hard outer shell; should you fall and hit your head, the shell diffuses the impact over a large area, while the liner increases the length of time it will take for the impact to meet your head, lessening the chance of brain injury. Although design and safety standards continue to evolve and improve, it’s important to remember that no hat can completely rule out any chance of head injury.
There is a wide range of hats on the market, from the traditional-looking velvet covered hat, to skullcaps with optional covers, to helmets. It’s important to choose a hat that fits correctly to protect your head; to be sure, it’s best to have your hat fitted by a British Equestrian Trade Association-trained professional.
The sudden removal of the European safety standard — EN 1384 — at the end of last year threw the industry into disarray and confused consumers. But with new hat models now being released, could the change mark another major development in the movement to make riding safer?
Jo Hamilton has been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home, after a riding accident in December
A young American rider and her mother are urging others to wear a safety hat, after doctors credited her British helmet for saving her life
Six-year-old girl who fell off and was then kicked by her pony was wearing full safety gear at the time
A blanket ban on hat cameras for British Eventing competitions may not be lifted before the start of the season due to a lack of funding for research into their safety
The United States Equestrian Federation has taken a U-turn and is reversing its ban on helmet cameras
British discipline and riding bodies are reconsidering their hat rules for the future and phasing out a popular helmet standard
While riders await news on research into the safety of hat cameras, several manufacturers are already trying to find alternatives
Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Wells rode in the hat at the Global Dressage Forum in Denmark last month
Horse & Hound's showing columnist reflects on a successful showing season, despite top hat controversy and concerns over pony bitting
H&H's dressage editor has returned from the Global Dressage Forum and stresses that the sport must modernise if it is to attract widespread appeal
BE announced last week it was banning all helmet cameras following a high-profile accident. H&H's Sophia Heath explores the risks
British Eventing has announced it has banned all helmet cameras as a precautionary measure until further research is completed on their safety
A dressage rider is encouraging fellow riders to get checked over by a doctor following a fall
A leading polo club has proposed a new safety hat rule in line with other equestrian disciplines
H&H's showing blogger reports from the BSHA National Championship Show
Many riders chose to wear helmets rather than top hats at the World Equestrian Games
A popular polo player is in a coma with serious head injuries after suffering a fall last week, prompting calls for a compulsory safety hat rule
Equestrian retailers will be offering riders discounts on headgear during the 5th annual helmet awareness day
