Riding Helmets Are a Must, Not an Option
Head injuries are the leading cause of death in horseback riding accidents
According to a study of nearly 8,000 horse-related accidents, falling off a horse and kicks to the head were the most frequent type of incident causing serious head injuries. The good news is that helmets were found to reduce head injuries, but only if they were properly designed. Otherwise, they are a waste of money.
So how do you know if your helmet is properly designed to protect your head against injury if you fall off your horse or are kicked? The answer is simple:
Buy ONLY helmets that are ASTM-SEI certified. That is the only way to ensure that the helmet is designed to protect human skulls from impact injuries. The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an organization comprised of thousands of skilled volunteers including doctors, engineers and physicists.
How to Choose the Right Helmet for Your Head
Make sure your helmet fits your head. A loose helmet endangers your life, while a too-tight helmet will give you headaches and bruises. Here's how to choose one that fits:
We recommend Troxel Helmets.
You can read the study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6109796/
Happy Riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, Phd, Updated June 12, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
So how do you know if your helmet is properly designed to protect your head against injury if you fall off your horse or are kicked? The answer is simple:
Buy ONLY helmets that are ASTM-SEI certified. That is the only way to ensure that the helmet is designed to protect human skulls from impact injuries. The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an organization comprised of thousands of skilled volunteers including doctors, engineers and physicists.
How to Choose the Right Helmet for Your Head
Make sure your helmet fits your head. A loose helmet endangers your life, while a too-tight helmet will give you headaches and bruises. Here's how to choose one that fits:
- Measure the circumference of your head by wrapping a measuring tape around it. The tape should be about an inch above your eyebrows. Choose a helmet that matches that figure.
- The helmet should fit snugly on your head. That means it should slide around when you touch it or shake your head.
- The helmet should cover your entire head, including the lower back portion of your head. There should be a little room between the top of your head and the roof of the helmet.
- Adjust your helmet's chin strap so that it fits snugly under your chin. If it's too tight, you will feel like you're being strangled. If it's too loose, your helmet will not stay on your head if you sustain a fall. It will slide off, and your head will not be protected.
- The brim should be about an inch and a half above your eyebrows.
We recommend Troxel Helmets.
You can read the study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6109796/
Happy Riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins, Phd, Updated June 12, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
