Hats

[AlternativelyWired]

My daughter wants to do horse riding. Is there a standard safety requirement for hats? The riding school want us to buy one from there and are saying the one she has doesn't meet requirements.

She's 13 if that changes anything.

www.bhs.org.uk/media/v24hxyqc/2022-bhs-approvals-hat-guide-v1.pdf

Yes. Hats have to be of a certain standard or the riding schools' insurance will be invalid if something happens to your daughter.

Needs to meet current standards but be aware that different makes/models suit different shaped heads. Best to go to a tack shop that stocks a variety if you can.

I believe the standards change in January again? They’ve got a lot stricter in recent years.

Yes the safety standards have recently been reviewed so older ones now do not meet them. Some of these are still being sold so you need to check. A hat is a crucial piece of safety equipment so it's not something you should scrimp on. You don't have to buy from the school though. An independent saddlery shop might be cheaper for the same item

My daughter is also at the needing-her-own-hat stage of learning to ride and wild definitely recommended going to a proper tack shop. Places like Decathlon sell them but they don't necessarily meet the standards which, as others have said, are pretty strict

Yes avoid places like decathlon. If you don't know how to fit them yourself you need a shop where someone is trained.

Echo what everyone else has said. Go to a decent tack shop and have it fitted properly. Also worth mentioning, if she is wanting to jump then she will need a hat with a none fixed peak for safety.

I bought cheap riding clothes at Decathlon but for the hat I really wanted to make sure I got something of good quality and also I wanted some professional advice as to what to get.

If you are in London or nearby this is a good shop to be fitted with the right hat www.ridersandsquires.co.uk . They were very helpful when I got mine. Tried a few and they also made me keep the one I chose on my head for a bit in the store to make sure it did not start hurting after a while and was really the right size :)

It is best to do that and get specialist advice then just to pick up something from a general sports store.

We are on the greater Manchester/Peak District border. I'll have to have a Google to see if there's anywhere close by. She's done an unintentional jump and a couple of small jumps.