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Equestrian helmet top 10 facts and myths
Share these facts for Helmet Awareness Day on June 11.
By
From Troxel Performance Headgear |
10-Jun-11
 This Saturday is the second annual Helmet Awareness Day, presented by Riders4Helmets.com.
Here are some facts and myths that every rider needs to know about protective headwear.
Facts
- Horseback riders have the same number of injury accidents* as motorcycle riders
Because the hospital admission rate for injured riders (0.49/1000 hours) is greater than
motorcycle riding (0.14/1000 hours), football and skiing, it is definitely considered a
high-risk activity. Read more about this study in the The Equestrian Medical Safety
Association (EMSA) Spring, 2010 Newsletter.
- Your horse doing something unpredictable, like spooking, bucking, or bolting – is how most
head injuries occur, but 20% happen when you’re simply around horses.
The majority of head injuries are caused by unpredictable events, such as your horse
spooking. And even more surprising, 1 in 5 people who are seriously injured weren’t even
riding – they were just hanging out around horses or watching someone else.
- The most common reason among riders for admission to hospital and death are head injuries.
About 70,000 people go to the emergency room each year for equestrian-related injuries.
About 12,000 of those people have suffered head injuries.
- Helmets work. Most deaths from head injury can be prevented by wearing ASTM/SEI approved
helmets that fit correctly and have the harness firmly applied.
To get the most protection out of your helmet, it needs to fit you well, and be properly
adjusted every single time you ride, including a snug chin strap.
- Most riding injuries occur during pleasure riding.
Myths
- Bike or skateboard helmets are fine for riding horses.
Cycling and Equestrian standards are very different. Bicycle helmets are similar to
Horseback Riding safety helmets in appearance, but are not subject to the design
specifications and standards that a riding helmet must pass in order to provide adequate
protection.
An equestrian helmet offers additional protection to the back of the head and the sweatband
area of the helmet. Equestrian helmets are tested by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) for
Chinstrap retention, penetration by a sharp object, and for impact absorption. These tests are
specifically for horseback riding related accidents.
- Horseback riding isn’t dangerous as long as you aren’t riding fast.
Actually, the risk of injury is more closely tied to your distance above the ground,
not speed. Falls from only over 2 feet high can cause serious injury, no matter how slow your
horse is! The risk of injury is tied to how much you ride, not how good you are.
- The more expensive your helmet is, the more it will protect you.
You can spend $500 on a helmet, but it won’t make it any safer. As long as it’s SEI
/ASTM certified, you’re buying a certified protective helmet. Spending more might get you
different padding, fancier decorations or materials, but it doesn’t translate into more
protection.
- If you don’t have a helmet, just borrow a friend’s.
Avoid loaning your helmet to others. As a savvy rider, you want to know exactly what
kind of treatment your helmet has experienced during its lifespan so you can knowledgeably
assess its integrity over time.
- After a fall if your helmet took the impact of the fall, it’s fine unless you see a crack
in it.
You need to replace your helmet if you’re ever in a fall. It could have a defect that’s
invisible, and if you fall on that same part of the helmet again, you won’t have the
protection that you should. And even if your helmet never takes a hit, it’s a good idea to
replace it at least every five years (or sooner if you ride often), just because the helmet
material can take a beating from all the sweat, heat, dust, and rain.
Learn more at Troxel's Safety Center
Further Reading
The Helmet Argument
Helmet Replacement Strategy
How to correctly fit an equestrian helmet
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Equestrian helmet top 10 facts and myths
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