How long will my DD's new riding hat fit for?

[OrmRenewed]

She'so 11 and we have just had to buy her her own hat. She usually borrows a hat from the stables she goes to. It was properly fitted so we know it's OK but how long is it likely to fit her for? Roughly?

[OrmRenewed]

?

Are we in for another one in a year? Or just 6 m?

[horseymum]

no idea - the padding is likely to get thinner as she wears it more, so that will give you a bit more growth space but just keep an eye on it. i think i stayed the same size from early teens into adulthood so you may be lucky! It is recommended to change hats every 3-5 years anyway and definitely after any fall where hat touches ground (or might have) as protection is ineffective after a bang.

[Callisto]

It depends on how much your DD is likely to grow over the next year.

[Fluffypoms]

I have had the same hat size since around 11.
but of course have had new hats in between.
you maybe lucky dd stays the same size.

[Butkin]

I'd say worth getting your daughter's head remeasured at a tack shop after a year just to be sure. She may remark about discomfort when it gets too tight but best to proactively check. Doesn't mean you'd have to change it immediately but think of it like getting her a new pair of shoes.

[OrmRenewed]

Ok. Many thanks. So we should probably safe for around a year. Phew! Never had to buy one before and was a bit taken aback by the cost!

[Eve]

just got my son a new one.. old one was a year old..and was pinching.. he's just 11.

[Butkin]

Just had a hat nightmare! Only took DD's brown hat to the show today and then ended up needing a blue one. Cost us 99 quid! Still it was a little bigger than the blue one we left at home so we'll sell that one on Ebay...

[PlanetEarth]

Our kids (and me too!) have Troxel Spirit hats. They adjust, so no problems there .

Of course if you do shows you might want something more traditional looking.

[Callisto]

Blimey Butkin. Are they that strict on the showing circuit? Hope DD doesn't decide on showing when she is older (or polo).

[OrmRenewed]

Dh reckons that most of the hats in the store were around the £99 mark, DD's was 51.

[Callisto]

Champion are a really good make. I'm just about to buy myself a new Champion Ventair skull and the price ranges from £60 up to £90, depending on the shop.

DD's Champion was a lot cheaper though, around £50 I think for the Junior Plus. Local saddlers tend to be more expensive but you do get the fitting service so I'm happy to pay more. For me I try and get what I want as cheaply as poss, usually online in the sales.

[Butkin]

DD uses a Champion skull cap for hacking - they cost just less that 50 pounds and are very good.

However she wears a Charles Owen hat for showing and now had 2 blue (by accident) and 1 brown one - depending if she is riding M&M or show pony.

She wears the H2000 which fits her realy well and "only" costs 99 pounds compared to the "Fiona" show hat which costs about 25 quid more.

[Callisto]

Butkin - so the colour depends on the type of showing does it? I've never really been involved with the showing world so have no idea. Would a jockey skull with a blue/brown velvet cover be considered bad form?

[Butkin]

Callisto, depends on the level. At your local show a jockey skull with velvet cover would be OK if you were only doing one or two a year. You'd wear this for Pony Club as well.

However for reasonable quality showing or if you were really keen then a Charles Owen velvet hat with discreet chin strap would be the way to go.

DD rides her M&Ms in brown hat, brown checked jacket, buff jods, white shirt, orange tie and either orange ribbons or false bun with orange scrunch depending on the class.

She rides plaited ponies (ie show ponies etc) in blue hat, blue jacket, yellower jods, white shirt, red tie with tie pin, red/gold ribbons.

Blue hat/blue jacket would also be correct if you qualify for an evening performance regardless of type of pony.

With both ponies she wears brown jod boots but she uses jod clips on the M&Ms but discreet elastic on the plaiteds.

[Callisto]

Wow, it must be a nightmare remembering the right kit and making sure it's all clean.

[Butkin]

To complicate things she also does Concours d'Elegance which involves her wearing her burnt orange velvet tunic and long habit. She also wears a stock with stockpin for these classes but otherwise same as for M&Ms!

Used to be a nightmare when she was on the lead rein as leader required matching gear as well.

DD keeps asking for a horsebox so we can store all the gear on board and she has somewhere to change other than the back seat of our car!