Thinking About Riding Helmets

You may never think about your riding helmet a great deal. You might just accept that it’s there, should be warn and could save your life one day; but did you know that the design and style of the helmet that you wear today spans back hundreds of years?

The riding helmet of today has the sole purpose of safety. Now don’t get me wrong, by no means are they un-stylish but they are hardly oozing designer style are they?

The helmet itself has an outer layer of plastic, which resists impact and prevents injuries in case of a fall. However, some helmets are designed with a cloth covering the shiny plastic in order to make the helmet look more attractive.

The brim of the helmet is designed to protect the eyes of the rider form the harsh glare of the sun. It also makes the helmet more attractive in terms of design. However, the brim is not made of the same materials as the “shell” of the helmet. Rather, it is designed to crumple during a fall. This makes the helmet safer in event a rider lands on the brim.

The inside of the helmet is designed with both comfort and safety in mind. Added padding makes sure that the helmet takes the brunt of the impact in case of a fall. The design is also very sport-specific: one of the reasons why an equestrian helmet is easily recognizable.

The design of the helmet makes sure that the whole head is protected. This is unlike bicycle or skating helmets, which focus the protection in the front and back of the head. It is also designed with the comfort of the rider in mind, with ventilation and positioning factored into the overall aesthetics.

There are many variations on the equestrian helmet based on the competition. Horse racing jockeys, for instance, wear helmets that are brimless and covered with a cloth matching the colour scheme of their uniforms. Traditionalists frown upon the spreading use of brilliant coloured helmets, but more and more people find the colours black, brown and grey boring.

There are also some varieties of equestrian helmets today that have been adapted to more “western” designs. These helmets, however, are yet to be embraced by riders in rodeos (where they are obviously more needed).

Standardization varies form country to country. However, a rider who joins a competition must have a standard helmet or that rider will not be allowed to compete. People who have performed a “conformity assessment” judge whether the helmet is up to standard

The conformity assessment is a series of tests that show how safe the helmet is. Some assessments involve various tests that simulate a rider falling from a horse and even getting kicked by a horse in the head.

While the helmet is not a legal requirement when riding out with friends it is common sense to wear one. Most riding schools wont let you anywhere near a horse without one. They may sometimes be hot and yes sometimes they are uncomfortable but at the end of the day isn’t life worth it?

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This article was written by Charis Alexandra on Friday, May 1st, 2009 for Horse Searchers
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