Being a beginner equestrian can be a scary experience, especially when you’re still figuring out what equipment to buy. When horse riding, the right helmet could be the difference between life and death. But don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you.
We have an easy-to-understand guide to the types of helmets currently on the market. We will describe each type in detail and why it would best suit your needs. Buckle up and take a look at what we have for you!
Why You Should Wear a Helmet
The main reason you should wear a helmet is to protect your head during accidents. The helmet acts as a shield and minimizes the extent of head injuries. In a case where you might have had a serious head injury, you may end up only suffering a minor concussion with a helmet on.
Of course, while wearing a helmet will protect your head, it won’t protect you from other serious injuries, including to the neck or back. You can wear a body protector to protect you from such injuries, protecting your torso, internal organs, spine, and ribs if you fall. You can also wear high visibility clothing (made out of reflective fabric) so that other riders can see you and prevent accidents and collisions in darker lighting.
If you are still hesitant about wearing a helmet, just remember that head injuries are the leading cause of death in horse-related injury events. Falling from horseback is a common event, but falling with a helmet on can greatly reduce the harm that’s done.
Now that you have a glimpse into why you must wear a helmet, here are the different types of helmets you can choose from:
Velveteen Show Helmet
A velveteen show helmet is the oldest and most traditional type of helmet. It is a reminder of the elegance and class that is often associated with horse riding. The helmet usually comes in black and has an extended brim.
The extended brim is handy because it shields the rider’s face from the sun. This is an excellent feature for any rider who wants to avoid distractions and protect their face from harmful UV rays. If you value healthy skin, the velveteen show helmet might be the best type for you.
Most show helmets have inner padding, which will make you feel more comfortable because your head won’t be resting against the hard outer shell.
Modern show helmets also have ventilation slots, which are well-positioned and won’t ruin your aesthetics. They are a great feature because they keep your head cool by regulating airflow.
Appearance is a big part of show helmets. They have to fit aesthetic standards to be used for showjumping and dressage events. A show helmet is supposed to resemble an English hunting cap. Riders used to wear hunting caps, but they offer no protection, so safer and more reliable helmets are worn instead.
Typically, these helmets are rated and certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which is an organization that promotes public safety and health.
Next, the Sports Equipment Institute (SEI) completes the certification by conducting tests in four key areas that measure shock absorption, puncture protection, helmet retention, and visor flexibility.
Key Features:
- Elegant and sophisticated style
- Extended brim
- Modern helmets have excellent ventilation
- Usually black
- ASTM/SEI certified
- Hard outer shell
- Looks like an English hunting cap
Skull Cap Helmet
As the name suggests, skull cap helmets focus on protecting the skull and not the face. Skull caps provide a tight fit and resemble motorcycle helmets. While you wouldn’t associate a skull cap with horse riding, they are probably the safest helmet on the market.
Skull caps don’t have a raised peak. They are flat because they stick closer to the head compared to show helmets. Also, a raised peak is made for aesthetic purposes, yet skull caps are designed for practicality. The main aim is for you to be as safe as possible.
Since their main aim is protection, skull cap helmets don’t have an extended visor or brim. The flat shape makes it easier for you to see. However, if you still want the brim for show purposes, you can add a cap on top of the helmet. Fortunately, some helmets are sold with the cap as an extra accessory.
If you don’t want a plain cap, you can always buy other caps in different colors, especially if you want to match the cap to the rest of your clothing.
Skull cap helmets are popular among jockeys and cross-country riders, mainly due to their light weight. They are more compact than show helmets and won’t slow the rider down. If you’re looking for a helmet that is designed for speed, a skull cap helmet is the best option for you.
Unfortunately, skull caps have little to no ventilation. The traditional ones don’t have any space for ventilation, while the newer models might have slots on the outer shell. However, adding ventilation slots might compromise the helmet’s integrity and protective ability.
This is why traditional skull caps have mostly gone out of style. Riders don’t want to feel hot and uncomfortable.
Skull caps also have padding, which provides comfort for the rider. Also, most of them have a leather chin strap to keep you secure. If safety and security rank high on your list, you should seriously consider buying a skull cap helmet.
Key Features:
- No overhead visor
- No raised peak
- Looks like a cycling helmet
- Durable chin strap
- Extra soft padding
- Most don’t have ventilation straps
- Meet the highest safety standards
Polo Helmet
The polo helmet is the strongest of all equestrian helmet types. Unlike their name suggests, polo helmets can be used by any rider. As long as you enjoy horseback-related activities, you can add the polo helmet to your gear. It is designed to protect against flying polo balls while also protecting players in case of a fall.
The shining feature on a polo helmet is the hard outer shell. Old polo helmets were not designed for functionality, but newer ones have fiberglass or carbon fiber outer shells.
The surface reduces head impact in case of a fall by spreading out the force rather than allowing it to be centralized in one place, which limits the danger of concussions. This is also useful in case you happen to catch a horse hoof to the head!
Polo helmets have a significant amount of inner padding. The inner padding gives you a soft landing and a better fit. It might make you look bulkier while you’re riding, but at least you’ll know you’re well-protected. You can count on the rest of your gear to make you look fashionable without compromising your safety.
Newer polo helmets have three or four-point harnesses instead of traditional chin straps, which are not entirely reliable because they may unclip while you’re riding. A loose helmet can be more dangerous than not wearing a helmet at all, and it can’t really protect you if it doesn’t stay on your head. A harness is safer because it stabilizes the helmet.
When buying a polo helmet, you want to look for conformité européenne (CE) certification, which is a European standard for measuring the quality and safety of products. As polo is more commonly played in Europe, they set the standard for equipment.
Key features:
- Hard outer shell
- Flexible peak
- 3 or 4 point harness
- Inner padding
- CE certified
How to Choose Between the Different Types of Helmets
Now that you know the different types of helmets available, you can start to figure out which helmet is best for you. Here, we will look at the key factors you should consider when choosing a helmet.
Type of Horse Riding
The most crucial consideration is what kind of riding you are planning to do. You should focus on what kind of rider you want to be and then buy the helmet that matches your goals.
For example, velvet helmets are great for dressage and show jumping, while skull cap helmets are designed for racing. Here is a table of the type of riding each helmet caters to:
| Which Helmet is Best? | |
| Helmet Type | Type of Riding |
| Velvet helmet | Dressage, hacking, showjumping |
| Skull cap helmet | Racing, hacking, hunting, schooling, eventing |
| Polo helmet | Polo, racing, general riding |
Safety Standards
Safety is obviously the reason why you want to buy a helmet in the first place, but there are different safety standards for each discipline. If you’re interested in English-style riding or want to participate in a show, your helmet must have ASTM/SEI certification.
Most competitions have strict rules about your helmet’s safety standards and if those standards aren’t met, you might not be allowed to participate. We advise you to look up each discipline’s safety standards before buying a helmet.
Price
Your budget can either limit or extend the helmet type you can afford. The more sophisticated and stylish the helmet, the more expensive it will be. You’ll probably have to pick between style and functionality when you buy a riding helmet.
Picking a certified helmet will also cost you more money. The most expensive types of helmets are triple certified. This is not to say that a single certified helmet won’t keep you safe, it’s just that all those ratings cost money.
Don’t stress out too much about the cost because there is an affordable helmet for everyone.
Key Features
You can also choose the helmet type according to the features that matter most to you.
Padding
A helmet with inner padding is essential if you’re going to take part in rigorous horseback riding. If the chances of you falling are high, the safest thing is to have a strong helmet.
Strap
If you suspect you’ll move around a lot while you’re riding, a helmet with a harness is essential. Harnesses are more reliable than chin straps, and they are better at stabilizing the helmet.
Comfort
If you don’t want to be hot and uncomfortable while riding, you should take ventilation seriously. You can choose a helmet with ventilation slots, even though it could compromise your helmet’s effectiveness. Also, well-ventilated helmets are suggested for people who will spend lots of time on horseback. You wouldn’t want the helmet to smell once your ride is over.
Peak
You can decide whether or not you want a broad peak. Wide peaks are considered the more stylish choice, but they are also less safe. A wide peak could be dangerous if you fall and it comes into contact with another sharp object.
A collapsed peak is more unassailable because it will flatten once you fall. However, if you’re interested in dressage, a collapsed peak is not an available option for you.
Most competitions have strict rules about your helmet’s safety standards and if those standards aren’t met, you might not be allowed to participate. We advise you to look up each discipline’s safety standards before buying a helmet.
Price
Your budget can either limit or extend the helmet type you can afford. The more sophisticated and stylish the helmet, the more expensive it will be. You’ll probably have to pick between style and functionality when you buy a riding helmet.
Picking a certified helmet will also cost you more money. The most expensive types of helmets are triple certified. This is not to say that a single certified helmet won’t keep you safe, it’s just that all those ratings cost money.
Don’t stress out too much about the cost because there is an affordable helmet for everyone.
Key Features
You can also choose the helmet type according to the features that matter most to you.
Padding
A helmet with inner padding is essential if you’re going to take part in rigorous horseback riding. If the chances of you falling are high, the safest thing is to have a strong helmet.
Strap
If you suspect you’ll move around a lot while you’re riding, a helmet with a harness is essential. Harnesses are more reliable than chin straps, and they are better at stabilizing the helmet.
Comfort
If you don’t want to be hot and uncomfortable while riding, you should take ventilation seriously. You can choose a helmet with ventilation slots, even though it could compromise your helmet’s effectiveness. Also, well-ventilated helmets are suggested for people who will spend lots of time on horseback. You wouldn’t want the helmet to smell once your ride is over.
Peak
You can decide whether or not you want a broad peak. Wide peaks are considered the more stylish choice, but they are also less safe. A wide peak could be dangerous if you fall and it comes into contact with another sharp object.
A collapsed peak is more unassailable because it will flatten once you fall. However, if you’re interested in competitive riding, a collapsed peak is not an available option for you.
Most competitions have strict rules about your helmet’s safety standards and if those standards aren’t met, you might not be allowed to participate. We advise you to look up each discipline’s safety standards before buying a helmet.