When U.S. Olympian Courtney King-Dye fell off her horse in the spring of 2010 and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her in a coma for months, she was not wearing a protective helmet, and this country's equestrian community sat up and took notice. Subsequently, as of March 2011, the United States Equestrian Federation instituted new rules requiring that all riders participating at USEF-sanctioned events wear approved, well-fitting helmets while competing and schooling as a safeguard against injury and possible death. Learning how to wear your equestrian helmet so that it stays in place if you have an accident can protect your health and save your life.
Step 1
Pull your hair back into a low ponytail or bun on the nape of your neck; if you're a man, comb your hair back away from your forehead.
Step 2
Set your helmet squarely on your head, ensuring that all sides are level and the brim sits 1/2 inch to 1 inch above your eyebrows.
Step 3
Check your riding helmet's shape by feeling around the inside and finding where it fits your skull exactly and where it is loose. If it fits your brow but is loose on the sides, the helmet may be too round for your head. If it stays steady on the sides of your head but rocks back and forth, then it is too oval, and it may come off during a fall.
Step 4
Twist the helmet back and forth and side to side as you hold your head and neck steady. A properly fitted helmet causes your scalp and eyebrows to move with it. A helmet that is too large moves freely around on your head; one that is too small causes painful scalp pressure.
Step 5
Fasten the helmet's strap so that it fits snugly under your chin by adjusting the buttons on the sides of the strap and the clasp at the front. Some equestrian helmets come with straps that cover the base of the skull and extend around to the front. You will need to adjust all the straps so that none are loose and the helmet can't come off during an accident.
Step 6
Test the proper placement of your helmet brim by placing two parallel fingers on the bridge of your nose. The brim should rest on the tip of your middle finger, and the helmet should fully cover the frontal lobe of your brain.
Tips and Warnings
- Many modern equestrian helmets come equipped with removable, adjustable padding. Use the padding to customize the helmet to your head so that it fits snugly without shifting or moving. If your hair grows longer or you get a shorter cut from the time you first purchase your helmet, you will need to adjust the padding to keep the helmet sitting properly and safely on your head.
- The Equestrian Medical Safety Association warns that 60 percent of the deaths in equestrian accidents are caused by head injuries. The more-serious head traumas result from the height of the fall, rather than the forward speed of the fall. The association recommends that you wear a helmet approved for use by the Safety Equipment Institute and the American Society for Testing and Materials. Check with your helmet's manufacturer for SEI/ASTM certification before purchase.
References
- TheHorse.com: USEF Passes New Safety Helmet Rules for Eventing and Dressage
- U.S. Equestrian Federation: Dressage Governing Regulations
- EquiSearch; Smart Headgear -- Riding Helmets; May 2000
- Equestrian Medical Safety Association: Helmet Safety
- EquiSearch; Advances in Protective Headgear; Joanne Meszoly; August 2006
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