Riding hats-FAQ

Rider with KNIGHTSBRIDGE riding helmet X-Cellence Jewellry

1. Which riding hat is suitable for which type of riding?

Basically, all riding hats are equally designed to protect against dangerous head injuries in equestrian sports – regardless of the discipline. Often it is the visual details of the riding hats that allow the respective model to be assigned to an explicit riding discipline.

Whether recreational riding, dressage, jumping or western – the classic riding hats are universally applicable. Since the smart appearance of horse and rider in dressage goes hand in hand with certain traditional conventions, many competition riders tend to go for the classic round shape with a noble look, whereas show jumpers prefer the ergonomic, sporty riding hats with generous ventilation holes. While a black riding hat is desirable for dressage, more colourful designs are allowed at show jumping competitions. For eventing, you should opt for a special cross-country helmet. Thanks to its special shape, the hat offers extra safety for the back of the head.

In western riding, the design is strongly oriented towards the rest of the western riding clothing, e.g. with earth tones, (artificial) leather elements or stands out somewhat with a softer feel.

2. Do I have to replace my riding hats after a fall?

Yes. The protective effect of a riding hats is based on the fact that, in the event of a fall, the outer shell absorbs the forces acting on it in order to protect the head from serious injury. In the process, it cannot be ruled out that parts of the riding hat have been affected and the finest hairline cracks have developed. Since even micro-cracks that are not visible to the naked eye reduce the protective effect, you should definitely replace the riding hat after every fall.

Even when not in use, you should treat your riding hats with care. It is best to transport it in a padded helmet bag, because even if the riding hat falls from your hand onto the ground during transport, the outer shell can be damaged.

3. How often should a riding hat be replaced?

Even if you have never had a fall with your riding hat, have stored it carefully for years and there is no expiry date for riding hats, we recommend replacing the riding hat no later than 8 years after the date of manufacture; in the case of intensive use after 3 to 5 years. The components of a riding hat are subject to an ageing process and depending on the frequency of use, storage conditions and care, wear and tear will occur sooner or later. How do you find out how old a riding hat really is? On the inside of the hat you will find a sticker with the date of production.

ATTENTION! 12/2014 is not the date of production, but the date when the riding helmet standard VG1 came into force.

4. Is it compulsory to wear a riding hat?

On public highways and byways, children under the age of 14 are obliged to wear a riding hat. For adults, it is recommended to wear a riding hat for adults. You not only risk your health, but in the event of an accident you may even lose your insurance cover due to gross negligence.

Riding stables and riding clubs can make it compulsory to wear riding hats on the grounds and/or in the riding arenas through their own house rules or track rules.

5. What does a good riding hat cost?

This is a question that cannot be answered in a general way. Basically, all our helmets meet the current riding helmet standard and therefore reliably protect the rider from serious injuries. The decisive aspects that distinguish a cheaper model from a higher-priced riding hats are often details that make the helmet more comfortable to wear or visually enhance it. However, you can be sure that riding hats at Kramer Equestrian in every price range fulfil their purpose, namely to protect your head.

6. Can a hat be worn under the riding hats in winter without affecting the fit?

The material of conventional hats is often too thick to be worn under riding hats. However, there are special helmet caps that are usually made of thin fleece material and can be put on under the riding hats without any problems.

7. Which riding hat size is right for me?

Your head circumference is the decisive parameter here. Take a flexible measuring tape and determine the largest circumference (approx. 1 cm above the eyebrows horizontally around the head). The size of non-adjustable riding hats corresponds to your head circumference. For adjustable riding hats you will find the sizes XS, S, M etc., the respective head circumference covered in cm can be found in the size tables with the respective model.

It is often the case that the correct riding hat size was selected when trying on the helmet, but the helmet still does not fit. This is due to the fact that not every riding hats is compatible with every head shape. Try on several models and find out which riding hat you feel most comfortable wearing.

8. What do I have to consider when buying a riding hat if I wear glasses?

In our many years of experience with riding hats, we are not aware of any case in which glasses have impaired the wearing comfort of a riding hat. Many riders nevertheless resort to contact lenses for riding, as they can be considered more practical for stable work and riding. In addition, contact lenses can contribute to safety, as conventional glasses can break in the event of a fall and lead to eye or facial injuries. An alternative to contact lenses are special sports glasses that can be made by an optician.

9. How can I find out if the riding hat is too big or too small?

The riding hat is too big if it:

It moves a lot when you open it and move it back and forth on your head.
falls off the head when bending forward
slips too far into the face

The riding hat is too small if:

the 3-point harness does not enclose the ear and the straps cut into the ear
there is an unpleasant feeling of pressure when putting on the helmet
the riding hat is too far back and does not cover the forehead sufficiently

10. What is the difference between a riding hat and a bicycle helmet?

A fall from a bicycle is usually different from a fall from a horse. Whereas a bicycle fall is more likely to be to the front, a horse fall is more likely to be to the side or the back of the head. On the one hand, the helmet shape is specially designed for the different types of fall, i.e. a bicycle helmet is aerodynamically shaped at the back of the head and therefore does not cover the entire back of the head. The construction and the use of more robust materials are also relevant to the safety of a riding hats. Bicycle helmets are ideally made in a lightweight construction with many generous ventilation holes, while riding hats rely on a construction that encompasses the entire head area. The ventilation holes are also equipped with protective grids so that no hanging branches can penetrate during rides. Nevertheless, there are riding hats that are also certified according to the EN 1078 bicycle helmet standard.

11. Are there reflective riding hat accessories for the dark?

Of course there are. To be visible to other road users from head to toe in the dark, you should combine several reflective articles. For the head area, helmet straps or lamps are suitable, which are simply attached to the riding hats by means of a clip or elastic band. Helmet lamps are also ideal not only to be visible to others, but also to have a source of light for yourself, e.g. when riding or working in the stables in the dark.

12. Can I also buy a used riding hats?

You should definitely not buy a used riding hats. Even if the seller claims to have stored it carefully and not to have had any falls with it – you will never be able to find out if these statements are really true. The interpretation of careful handling can also vary greatly. Even if the riding hat has not fallen on the ground, other errors in storage may have occurred – e.g. storage for several hours in an overheated car. A new riding hat is always the safer option!

13. Are western riding hats different from conventional riding hats?

There is always a risk of falling in equestrian sports, regardless of the riding style. Especially, however, when breaking in, working and training very young horses, correcting undesirable and sometimes dangerous behaviour and, of course, in high-risk western riding disciplines such as barrel racing, stunt or trick riding. Even though the wearing of a riding hat is only recommended by the EMU and is only compulsory in disciplines such as the walk-trot classes and for young show participants in the B class, no exception should be made in terms of safety. Since a western hat does not offer sufficient protection against head injuries, the manufacturers of riding hats are trying to approximate the style of the classic riding helmets to the western look. This results in riding hats that are usually kept in warm brown tones, partly with Western-affine details and ornaments, which successfully bridge the gap between a Western vibe and proven riding hat technology.

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