Hats

[horseylady]

a bit of a wwyd.

I have three hats. One needs chucking. Usually I'll use my old showing hat for general riding and buy a new show hat. Then I have skull cap which I replace as needed for jumping/endurance/lessons/hunting etc.

I had a fall and smashed my showing hat (randomly riding someone else's horse at their field not showing). So my showing hat is pretty much brand new and I don't want to use it for day to day riding. I'm now thinking I'll use my skull cap for day to day riding but want another hat for reserve. Or is this overkill?! Obviously wearing something daily will wear it a lot so I'm thinking I might buy another one for lessons etc. Or do I buy a cheap hard hat for general riding?! I like my skull cap but it does feel like a bit big in terms of thickness?!

If you ride everyday, then I think two hats is a v good thing. Personally, I'd get an endurance hat for general bimbling as sooo much cooler in hot weather

I have a hat in the horsebox for shows and two in the tack room. I wouldn't skimp on hats. Buy the best you can afford and change it often.

Hi, quick question for Booboostoo why do you need to change the hat often?

I always thought I would only need to change it if there was obvious damage????

If you have fallen replace

my daughters have afro hair and have different sizes for how they have their hair. the size needed is different depending on what we have done with it, I didnt want to buy the biggest size needed and then have them too big at other times. I tried the ones that adjust and dont like the fit and they seem to slip (in my experience)
i agree with the lightweight suggestion, one with vents for summer.
how do you find your skull caps in comparison to your others? I had a fall in a hat with a peak (which did break as it should) I had a bad bruise over my nose where I had hit the deck and the peak hit the floor first but I thought having the peak saved my face from the ground as well? not worn a skull cap since I was about 16 (a long time ago!) but I'm thinking of getting one

dikketjedap hats can be damaged even if there is no obvious damage so I replace mine if I fall and my head touches the ground, if a horse kicks me on the head, etc. I also replace every 2-3 years because standards change and hats become safer. Finally, as far as I know the recommendation is for hats to be changed every few years as the materials can deteriorate.

Lovesswimming peaks are supposed to break otherwise they create a resistance point and can snap your neck backwards. Really sorry to hear about your nose, sounds very painful! I think the overall risk assessment here is that there are some types of falls that will result in a broken nose when the beak breaks, however you have to balance those against the types of falls that would result in a broken neck because the beak did not break.

Thanks, I hadn't appreciated that. I don't fall often but my hat must be about five years now. My dd falls virtually every other week (novice rider), so I may need to replace her hat.

We both have jockey skulls. Long long time ago I had one of those old fashioned velvety hats with rigid peak. I ended up with very very nasty concussion, so once jockey skulls became available and affordable I have always gone for those.

Can I also ask, does the same applies to body protectors (dd has Air-o-wear, specially made to measure, as she is very tall), I thought about replacing it once she has grown out of it (probably every year given her age), would that be sufficient?

Standards for hats and BPs are constantly being upgraded.

Here's is a guide to what is available in hats:
www.beta-uk.org/media/safety/download/BETA%20Guide%20to%20Riding%20Hats%20Shortened%20for%20Booklet.pdf

If you buy a new hat with the relevant certification you can be sure it meets the MINIMUM standard. Other hats may also meet higher than the minimum standards.

BPs also come with ratings and specifications are upgraded frequently. They come in three levels, (level 3, purple is the highest protection), here is a guide:
www.beta-uk.org/pages/safety/body-protectors.php

As far as I understand it most BPs are safe to wear after impact, unless they are visibly damaged so that they have lost their shock absorbsion properties or the manufacturer recommends otherwise.

If your daughter competes some disciplines require hats and BPs to certain standards (BE is the most demanding, more details on their website).

www.beta-uk.org/media/safety/download/BETA%20Guide%20to%20Riding%20Hats%20Shortened%20for%20Booklet.pdf

www.beta-uk.org/pages/safety/body-protectors.php

Sorry about that I always forget to tick the stupid box!

Dikkert; I asked the racesafe people at Olympia this year as my daughter has had hers for 3 years, she hasn't grown out of it yet and I'm hoping I won't grow out of mine (in the sideways direction!) I was told 7 years so I'll wait a bit longer. Maybe worth emailing them direct and ask?

Brill!! Ill get another skull cap I think. Going to look Friday or Saturday. I do always replace each one regularly and have a good cycle going but it's just gone a bit out of synch!!

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to order new hats to be on the safe side.

We usually wear skull caps for every day but our show hats whenever we're seen out (ie for hunting, clinics, etc) as well as showing.

DD now only wears her Charles Owen show hats. We find that she gets good wear out of them that way as she is growing so much they normally only last her a couple of years. She doesn't mind if they go a little sun bleached as many of the pro kids she looks up to have weather beaten ones.