HORSE RIDING HATS
Riding Hats
In the late 18th Century riding hats were first worn as a fashion item!
Today, riding hats are worn for safety purposes, to protect the head and avoid injury when falling from a horse.
Whilst horse riding hats are becoming safer, they are also becoming increasingly more comfortable and stylish. Whether you are a jockey, a professional eventer, a dressage rider or a happy hacker, riding hats are an essential piece of safety equipment.
Some riding helmets now come with removable/washable liners which means you can now keep the inside of your hat fresh and also when the padding begins to flatten you can just replace the liner to keep it snug.
Here at Wadswick, we stock a large range of skull and fixed peak riding hats, in oval and round shells. So, rest assured we will have something to fit the shape of your head.
We also stock a large range of riding hats for kids. Children’s riding hats with glitter or adjustable riding hats to get the most secure fit whilst they are growing.
Don’t forget to buy a riding hats cover or silks with pom-poms when purchasing your skull helmet – why not add a matching base layer too!
Hat Fitting At Wadswick
We have a large and diverse range of hats and protective riding equipment at Wadswick. Several of our staff members are fully qualified to help fit these items for you.
If you are looking to create a custom hat, then you are in luck! In-store, we have the Charles Owen CX Configurator and our staff will be more than happy to help you design your dream hat.
Our fittings operate on a walk-in basis so please make your way upstairs to our Equestrian Safety Zone when you arrive at the store.
Please note that due to the length of time fittings can take, the last fittings of the day will be at 4 pm (3 pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays).
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Frequently asked questions
Riding hats are made to be sturdy and durable. It is recommended you replace them every five years, even if you have never had a fall, to ensure they still have optimum protective properties.
Your helmet should be replaced after any impact, no matter how small because it can cause the microbubbles in the hat’s expanded polystyrene (EPS) layer to burst. This layer protects your head most, should you have an accident.
In 2018, British Eventing (BE), British Riding Clubs and the Pony Club unified helmet standards so that a single “hat tag” is accepted across all three organisations.
The British standards accepted by each governing body are as follows:
British Eventing, Pony Club, British Riding Clubs and British Team Chasing
British: PAS 015 (1998 or 2011) and VG1, all with BSI Kitemark
British Dressage
British: All PAS 015 (1998 and subsequent updates)
British Showjumping
British: PAS 015 (2001), VG1 provided they are BSI Kitemarked
More Information
For more information on safety standards and rules, please read the following rule books:
Riding hats come in various sizes and shapes.
For riders who have more of a rounder head shape then you might find one of the following hats will fit better:
- Charles Owen AYR8 Plus Leather Look Riding Hat – Black (In round)
- Charles Owen AYR8 Plus Leather Look Riding Hat – Navy
- Charles Owen MS1 Pro with MIPS Jockey Skull
- Charles Owen Young Rider Vented Skull
- Charles Owen YR8 Riding Hat – Navy
- Champion Pro Ultimate Helmet
- Champion Ventair Sport Jockey Skull
Or maybe have a look at the adjustable dial range for the perfect fit.
Adjustable helmets are safe as long as they have the correct safety standards and are fitted correctly.
The benefits of adjustable riding hats are:
- They can fit a wide variety of head shapes and sizes.
- They are good for children when they are growing.
- They are very lightweight and well ventilated.
- That you can often remove the inside and machine wash.
When choosing a riding hat it is essential it fits properly and meets certain British standards to offer a wide range of protection.
Charles Owen’s riding helmets cater for every head shape with various models and oval fit or round fit available.
A new riding hat will mould to the shape of your head over a short period of time as you break it in. It should feel snug, with a firm and even pressure all the way around.
Charles Owen recommends checking the following points when buying a new riding hat:
- A snug fit with even, firm pressure around the entire head
- No specific pressure points or gaps
- Helmet locks onto the back of the skull
- Helmet sits level on the head, covering the forehead leaving about an inch above the eyebrows
- With the harness unfastened, the helmet should not rock forwards nor backwards
- The chinstrap should sit just under the chin and gently touch the bottom of the ear lobe, avoiding the throat
- You should be able to put a finger between the strap and your chin
- The harness laces at the back of the helmet should be secured tightly
- Wear the helmet for 5 minutes to give time for it to mould to your head and reveal any pressure points.
For more information please watch the following video on how to fit a Charles Owen riding hat.
MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) is an additional brain protection system.
The MIPS system was invented in 1996 in Sweden by Hans von Holst, a neurosurgeon and Peter Halldin, a researcher from the Royal Institute of Technology.
MIPS is designed to add protection against rotational motion (or kinematics) transmitted to the brain from angled impacts to the head, which is how most riders fall
Currently, we have the following hats with MIPS in ,stock:
- Charles Owen MS1 Pro
- Charles Owen Harlow MS1 Pro
- Uvex Exxential II MIPS Riding Hat
At additional cost the following Charles Owen hats can have MIPS:
Please call us if you would like to order a hat with MIPS.
More information on how MIPS works can be found in the video below.
