New Year, New Helmet?
My teenage daughter’s five-year-old Dutch Warmblood was struggling to communicate new saddle pinching after an extended stall rest and reared up in a distressed attempt to make us listen. Within seconds, the brim of my daughter’s GPA First Lady snapped from impact with the horse’s neck. I watched in fear as my daughter hugged her horse and somehow stayed in the saddle. TikTok fall clips flashed through my mind as I processed the danger they had just encountered. Time to examine the horse, and time to get a new helmet.
Working at the Tack and Habit Shoppe, I’ve had a front row seat as veteran trainers and experienced hunters have discussed the recent Virginia Tech Equestrian Helmet Ratings.
Our manager immediately began reviewing the study, so we could respond appropriately when making our 2023 purchases. She contacted the study’s principal investigator who was wonderfully accessible and answered all her questions. In addition, she reached out to Charles Owen and GPA.
In their study, the Virginia Tech (VT) researchers rated 40 equestrian helmets using a STAR evaluation system. Five-star helmets provided the greatest reduction in concussion risk across twelve impact tests performed in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics’ Helmet Laboratory.
I’ve heard trainers question the study methods wondering how any laboratory test could match the forces they face when falling from a horse; however, the study investigators say they designed their impact tests after spending two years analyzing over 100 videos of riders falling off horses and precisely measuring the hardness of sand, dirt, grass, and synthetic surfaces at equestrian events.
Though many brands were evaluated, only one or two models of any specific brand were tested. Some of those tested have since been replaced by newer models which were not available at the time of the research. The study was not discipline specific, so some of the best rated helmets were not hunter helmets. I learned that the types of helmets we typically wear have peaks, the brims or visors on the front of the helmets, which can both block sun and provide our classic look. Certainly, none of our riders would be riding in helmets without peaks or in non-black helmets with any shiny bling.
It is important to note that the helmets ranked are not the “best 40” helmets on the market. For example, although the Troxel Sport 2.0 ranked 40th, that means it ranked lowest of the 40 helmets tested and earned zero stars. In fact, 18 of the 40 helmets tested earned two stars or less. We decided we would focus our attention on hunter helmets scoring four stars or more.
One of the most helpful charts you can find within the technical documents is one which shows the Equestrian Standards Helmet Impact Criteria. Manufacturers must meet at least one of three international safety standards, or marks, and can choose the type of approved certification path they will pursue. In other words, manufacturers may choose to get an ASTM certification and be allowed to sell their product. By reviewing the standards chart, you can see the criteria required for helmets to meet the different certifications and have an idea of what you are looking at when you see the kite marks on any helmet you are considering. Though Snell standards are the highest, equestrian helmets require one of the three other marks, and most have some combination of PAS015, VG1, or ASTM certifications.
When asked about her own preferences, our Charles Owen contact, a VP of Sales, said if she had to choose between a “triple certified helmet” and a “single certified helmet with MIPS technology,” she’d choose the triple certified helmet. Charles Owens tests all their helmets against all standards before sending them off for certification. Except for the JR8 model which has a triple certified twin, all Charles Owen helmets are triple certified. The JR8 has a double certification as the company made a conscious decision to substitute nylon for leather in the harness to offer a lower price point. The JR8 model was not one of the 40 tested at Virginia Tech. The vendor told us the AYR8 Plus is their gold standard helmet, and that model ranked #7 with four stars. The SP8 model, though not tested, uses the exact same technology as the AYR8 model but has the wider peak that is currently the favorite of many junior hunter equestrians.
The GPA helmet included in the VT study was the Speed Air 2x which ranked #9 with four stars. Our sales representative noted that particular helmet is essentially the same shell, mold and composition as the other GPA helmets we currently stock, like the First Lady.
While the Little Lady has a different look, it is comprised of the same materials and made at the same factory as the other models.
The new GPA helmets, which we can see online but do not yet have in our store, are designed with new shells and new harnesses. The vendor touts GPA’s 4S technology which you can review on their website. The new models are ASTM and VG1 certified but have yet to be included in any independent tests like the VT study.
Our current helmet stock at the Tack and Habit Shoppe includes Charles Owen, GPA, and Ovation helmets. A couple of our riders wear Samshield, but we have not stocked the brand in the store. We have considered our Charles Owen selection as our classic hunt seat option, the GPA as a modern-looking, high-quality alternative, and Ovation as an entry level, beginner schooling helmet. We did decide to restock the Ovation Deluxe Schooling helmets even though they only earned three stars knowing we need a lower cost option for our newest riders who do not yet canter or jump and are really just determining whether they will pursue riding. The Charles Owen JR8 is the better entry level choice from a safety perspective.
Our riders tend to select their helmets based upon their own head shape and looks. If the desired look does not fit the head, our riders abandon their look choice for safety. Charles Owen provides retailers like us with regular helmet fitting seminars so that all our staff know exactly how to fit a helmet. You can review some of their fitting tips by linking to the site.
My daughter ultimately decided on a new Charles Owen SP8 in Leather. As I look back through her pictures over the years, I can tell I did not understand the necessity of a good helmet or even the appropriate hunter look when she began.
She had a pink Troxel when she began in blue jeans and a tank top (the horror!). She graduated to a One K which does not meet our star criteria. She loved the venting in her GPA, but the SP8 offers a mature, classic hunter look and all the safety technology she values.
I do feel best about her Charles Owen selection after reviewing the literature, vendor websites, and information from our company contacts. Before you shop again, watch this YouTube video by seasoned International and Olympic Show Jumper Laura Kraut where she discusses her own dangerous fall and why she believes in triple certification.