The equestrian medical safety association recommends riders wear an equestrian helmet that fits properly and is certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials and Safety Equipment Institute. The EMSA reports that head injuries cause 60 percent of deaths in horseback riding accidents. A certified and properly fitting helmet is crucial to prevent death and limit the severity of horse-related head injuries.
ASTM/SEI Certification
The American Society for Testing and Materials writes the standards for safety for equipment ranging from playground surfaces to the suits firefighters wear. It also determines testing procedures and the safety requirements for each of these items. The job of making sure manufacturers follow these standards belongs to the Safety Equipment Institute. Manufacturers can do their own safety testing or contract with other laboratories. The label "ASTM/SEI certified" in horseback riding helmets means the helmet manufacturer complies with the standards set up and enforced by these agencies.
Anvil Test
Protective helmets for all sports, including bicycle, hockey and equestrian helmets, have to pass an anvil test to get certified. In this test, inspectors drop the helmets from a height of about 6 feet onto a flat anvil from different angles. Equestrian helmets undergo a second anvil test in which the inspectors drop them onto an anvil with a sharp corner. This corner imitates the impact from a horse's hoof. In both tests, computer sensors inside the helmets measure the amount of shock transferred inside the helmet and, potentially, to a rider's head. The amount of shock inside the helmet must be below a certain threshold to pass inspection.
Harness Test
Inspectors also test the harness straps of helmets to make sure they stay in place during a fall. To perform this test, the inspectors place the helmet on a head form, add weights and drop the head form. To pass inspection, the harness straps have to hold the helmet firmly on the head form without stretching enough to allow the helmet to shift or fall off.
Helmet Replacement After Impact
Look for a tag on the helmet or information in the owner's manual that says the manufacturer will replace the helmet at a reduced price after an impact. Some manufacturers offer this service, but in order to get a reduced-price replacement, you will need to keep your original receipt.
Replacement by Manufacture Date
When choosing a helmet, also check the manufacture date. All ASTM/SEI certified helmets will give you the date of manufacture. Most equestrian helmet manufacturers recommend that you replace your helmet five years after its manufacture date or after a hard impact. You should pay particular attention to the manufacture date of any helmet you purchase online to ensure you're not buying an old helmet with only a year or two left until replacement, or even past its replacement date.
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