The most important piece of equestrian clothing is a riding hat. Riding hats consist of a hard shell lined with shock absorbing material and provide vital protection for the rider's head should they fall from a horse or be kicked by a horse. As well as wearing a riding hat at all times when riding, it is also wise to wear a riding hat whilst lunging or handling any horse from the ground.
Riding hats should always be replaced immediately if they suffer a severe impact as a result of a fall from a horse, being dropped onto a hard surface or kicked by a horse as although no visible damage to the riding hat may be seen, any severe impact to the riding hat can result in diminished protection. In addition the protection offered by any riding hat diminishes over time as the padding inside becomes compressed and so any riding hat should routinely be replaced every 3-4 years even if there are no visible signs of damage, wear and tear, etc.
When buying a riding hat it is always best to buy a new one and second hand riding hats should be avoided as there is no way to be certain that any second hand riding hat, even if it looks in tact, has not received a severe impact in the past that could result in diminished protection.
Any horse riding hat should have a chin strap which should be adjusted correctly and fastened whenever the riding hat is worn. The riding hat should also conform to the current horse riding hat safety standards.
When trying on any riding hat, it is important that the riding hat fits both comfortably and securely. Without the chin strap fastened the riding hat should fit securely enough that the rider should be able to nod and shake their head briskly without the riding hat moving.
Types of riding hats
Types of riding hats.
Riding hat size chart
Riding hat and skull cap sizing chart.
Riding hat safety standards
Information about horse riding hat safety standards.
