November/December 2026 Issue

Heads Up, Protect Yours The most frequently repeated statistic you’ll hear about equestrian helmets is that they reduce severe head injury risk by 50%. That figure sounds plausible, and may well be true or even too low. The number itself has gained authority via repetition and does not connect to any peer-reviewed study we could dig up. It even made it into the introduction of Vir- ginia Tech’s Equestrian Helmet Ratings re- port, an otherwise data-based study. We were really hoping this report was going to lead us to confidently recommend the models with the highest ratings. Spoiler alert: nope. A riding helmet has a tough job: it must sit securely, fit com- fortably, and protect a head shape it cannot change. That is why fit matters as much as any rating. If you do not already know which model works for you, start with a professional fitting at a tack shop. • Choose an ASTM/SEI-certified helmet. • Make sure it fits snugly and comfortably. • Replace it after an impact, even if there is no visible damage. • Follow the manufacturer’s replacement guidance; many recommend replacing helmets about every five years. • If several certified models fit well, use STAR ratings as an additional decision point. Definitive Helmet Rankings? Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab released its first equestrian helmet STAR ratings in December 2022. To develop the testing protocol, researchers analyzed social me- dia videos of riding falls. Many showed riders making contact with the horse as they fell, reducing the height from which their heads reached the ground, so the researchers gave greater weight to gen- tler impacts. The test head is one standard shape, so a rating can’t tell you whether a helmet will sit securely and comfortably on yours. That is why we recommend finding the helmets that fit before consult- ing the rankings. In 2025, Virginia Tech added angled hits, with input from the FEI, to represent falls at speed. Every test simulates a head hitting the ground. None simulate contact with a jump rail or a hoof. Some features like the temple protection in the Freejump Voronoï or highly flexible visors may provide real-world protection that interests you and would not be reflect- ed in STAR test scores at all. The practical takeaway is simple: fit first, certification second, ratings third. A high- ly rated helmet that moves, pinches, or sits poorly is not the right helmet for you. Vests: Two Kinds of “We Don’t Know” Foam Body Protectors Foam body protectors are required for eventing cross-country. The best real-world evi- dence for them comes from 174 US Pony Club cross-country incident reports from 2011 to 2017, where vested riders were in- jured about a third less often. Air Vests Air vests inflate when a tether pulls free Continued on page 12 Video provided by Jessica Briles, Baypoint Equestrian Center, Berlin, MD. with partner Buca demonstrating the efficacy of LandSafe Equestrian training.