How to Choose a Riding Helmet | LV Tack

How to Choose a Riding Helmet: Safety Ratings, Fit, and Style | LV Tack
  

Why Your Helmet Is the Most Important Thing You Wear 

You can ride in last year's breeches, a worn girth, or a budget saddle pad and probably be fine. But riding without a properly certified, properly fitted helmet is a genuinely dangerous choice. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of equestrian fatalities, and head injuries account for a disproportionate share of serious riding accidents — not just falls at speed or over fences, but everyday incidents: a spook at a ground pole, a stumble at the walk, a buck during a quiet hack.

Helmets work. That's the good news. Modern riding helmets, tested to current safety standards, are significantly better at absorbing and distributing impact energy than helmets from even a decade ago. The key is choosing one that meets current certifications and fits your head correctly — because a helmet that doesn't fit can't protect you properly no matter what it cost or what sticker is on the inside. Knowing **how to choose a riding helmet** is one of the most important pieces of knowledge any rider can have.

Browse our Helmets collection to see our current selection as you read through this guide.

Understanding Helmet Safety Ratings (ASTM, SEI, VG1, MIPS) 

Helmet certifications are the starting point for any helmet purchase. They tell you that an independent testing body has verified that the helmet can withstand specific impact forces. Here's what the main certifications mean:

• ASTM F1163: The American Society for Testing and Materials standard for equestrian helmets. This is the baseline certification required by most US shows and competitions. The standard is updated periodically — the current version is significantly stricter than older versions. Look for the most current ASTM standard on the label.
• SEI Certified: The Safety Equipment Institute independently tests and certifies that a helmet actually meets the ASTM standard it claims to meet — rather than relying solely on self-reporting by manufacturers. An SEI sticker alongside ASTM certification is the gold standard for US riding helmets.
• VG1 01.040 2014-12: A European standard that is broadly equivalent to ASTM in terms of rigor and is required for FEI competition. Many helmets carry both ASTM/SEI and VG1 certification, which is ideal for riders who compete internationally or at FEI-sanctioned events in the US.
• MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System): MIPS is not a safety standard — it's a technology. A low-friction layer inside a MIPS-equipped helmet allows the helmet to rotate slightly on impact, reducing rotational forces transmitted to the brain. Research suggests rotational forces are a significant factor in concussions and brain injury. MIPS helmets cost more but offer a meaningful step up in protection.
• PAS 015: A British standard, similar in rigor to VG1, required by many UK-based competitions. Less commonly seen in the US market but worth noting if you ride internationally.

The practical minimum for any rider in the US: ASTM F1163 with SEI certification. If budget allows, a helmet that also carries VG1 certification and includes MIPS technology gives you the broadest protection and competition eligibility.

How to Measure Your Head for the Perfect Fit 

A helmet that doesn't fit can't do its job. Too loose, and it moves on impact rather than absorbing force. Too tight, and pressure points cause headaches and discourage riders from wearing it consistently. Getting the fit right is non-negotiable. 

Here's how to measure correctly:

• Use a flexible fabric measuring tape (or a piece of string you can then measure against a ruler).
• Measure the circumference of your head approximately one inch above your eyebrows — this is the widest point of your skull and where the helmet sits.
• Take the measurement at least twice and use the larger number.
• Compare your measurement to the manufacturer's size chart. Sizing varies between brands — a "medium" in one brand may not fit the same as a "medium" in another.

Once you have a helmet on your head, check these points:

• Levelness: The brim should sit approximately one to two finger-widths above the eyebrows and parallel to the ground — not tilted back, which exposes the forehead.
• Stability: Grasp the helmet with both hands and try to rock it front-to-back and side-to-side. It should move with your head, not separately. If it shifts easily, it's too large.
• Pressure: There should be light, even pressure around the entire circumference. No gaps and no single pressure point that causes immediate discomfort. Slight initial snugness is normal — foam liners do compress a little with wear.
• Chin strap: The strap should form a V below each ear and the chin cup should sit snugly under the chin. You should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your chin — no more.

Many helmets include dial-fit systems or removable interior padding to fine-tune the fit. These are genuinely useful tools. Our Helmets collection includes options with adjustable retention systems across multiple price points.

Helmet Styles: Hunt Cap, Skull Cap, and Everything Between

Riding helmets come in distinct styles, and the right choice depends on your discipline, competition rules, and personal preference.

• Traditional hunt cap / hunter helmet: The classic velvet-covered helmet associated with hunt seat equitation, hunters, and the jumper ring. Features a prominent fixed brim and a traditional silhouette. Competition rules in many hunter/equitation divisions still call for this style, though rules vary. Velvet covers require gentle care — brush them regularly with a velvet brush and avoid rain saturation.
• Skull cap / jockey skull: A minimal, close-fitting helmet with no fixed brim. Often worn with a separate removable cover (silk) or in its plain shell form. Common in eventing, racing, and increasingly in show jumping. Typically very lightweight and highly protective — many of the highest-rated helmets in impact testing are skull cap designs. Require a separate cover to comply with most hunter/equitation show rules.
• GPA / sport helmet style: A sleek, modern design with a subtle integrated visor rather than a traditional brim. Very popular in the sport horse world for jumpers, eventers, and dressage riders. Combines a contemporary aesthetic with high safety certification and often MIPS technology. These are the helmets you see on the world stage at WEF, Rolex, and the Olympics.
• Dressage helmet: Similar in profile to the sport helmet, often with a slightly more formal finish. Most dressage helmets are black with a subtle matte or gloss finish and a shaped brim profile appropriate for the discipline.
• Western / trail helmets: Helmets designed to look like traditional Western hats while providing certified impact protection. A growing category as safety culture in Western riding continues to evolve.

For competition, always check the specific rules of your governing body before purchasing — requirements vary by association, division, and level. Pair your helmet with appropriate show apparel and the rest of your riding apparel for a complete, polished look.

When to Replace Your Helmet

This is the question riders most commonly get wrong. The standard guidance from most helmet manufacturers and equestrian safety organizations is to replace a riding helmet:

• After any impact: If you fall and your head hits the ground — or any hard surface — replace the helmet, even if it looks fine. Impact absorbing foam compresses on impact and does not spring back to full protective capacity. The helmet may look pristine and still be functionally compromised.
• Every five years regardless of use: Materials degrade over time. Foam loses density, plastic shells develop micro-fatigue, and the adhesives holding components together weaken. The five-year guideline is conservative but widely accepted. Some manufacturers recommend replacement even sooner.
• When it no longer fits correctly: Weight changes, hair changes, and normal foam compression over time can all affect fit. If your helmet no longer passes the stability and pressure checks described above, it's time to replace it.
• When it fails inspection: Any cracking, denting, delamination of the shell, or interior foam damage means the helmet is done. Don't repair a compromised helmet — replace it.

Write the purchase date inside your helmet in permanent marker so you always know when the five-year clock started. And if you buy a used helmet — from a friend, a consignment shop, or online — understand that you cannot verify its impact history. Used helmets are not recommended for this reason.

Helmets for Kids and Junior Riders 

Children's heads are still developing, which makes proper helmet fit and current certification even more critical for young riders than for adults. A few additional considerations for buying helmets for kids and juniors:

• Re-measure every season: Children's heads grow. A helmet that fit perfectly last fall may be too small by spring. Measure before every season and replace when the size changes.
• Don't hand down helmets: It's tempting to pass an older sibling's barely-used helmet down to a younger child. Resist this. You don't know the full impact history of a hand-me-down helmet, and even a helmet that's never had a visible fall may have experienced minor impacts that compromised its protection.
• Look for youth-specific certifications: Most helmets certified to ASTM F1163 cover a range of ages, but confirm the helmet you're purchasing is appropriate for your child's age and head size. Some helmets are specifically sized and engineered for children's anatomy.
• Make wearing a helmet non-negotiable from day one: Children who learn to ride with helmets as simply part of the routine don't push back on wearing them. Make it as automatic as putting on boots. The habits formed in the early years carry through a lifetime of riding.
• Get the fit right: A child who complains their helmet is uncomfortable may have a genuine fit problem — not just be making excuses. Take complaints seriously and try different brands and sizes until you find one that genuinely fits well.

Shop Riding Helmets at LV Tack 

LV Tack carries riding helmets for every discipline, every age, and every budget — from reliable everyday schooling helmets to high-performance competition models. All helmets in our inventory meet current safety certifications. We're a woman-owned shop in Long Valley, NJ, and we ship nationally.

Browse our full Helmets collection to find the right helmet for you or the young rider in your life. Pair your new helmet with our show apparel for a complete competition look, or explore our full riding apparel selection for everyday riding gear.

Protect your head. It's the only one you have — and it's worth every penny you spend on a helmet that fits correctly and meets current standards.