Riding hats are an essential part of any riding outfit. Anyone who rides, or even spends time handling horses from the ground, should understand the potential risks involved, but there are ways to reduce this risk, and wearing appropriate head protection is an vital aspect of this. In this jargon buster, we’re going to demystify riding hats, so you know more about what the terms mean, to make your hat buying experience a whole lot easier.
Chin guard – an additional piece of padded material that sits over the rider’s harness under the chin.
Deodorant/deodoriser – a specially designed spray to help promote hygiene on the inside of the riding hat.
Dial adjustment – some makes of helmet incorporate a dial at the back to allow the rider to adjust the helmet’s fit themselves.
EPS – inside the outer shell of the riding hat is a layer of EPS, which is expanded polystyrene. This sits between the rider’s skull and the outside of the hat and absorbs the force in the event of an impact. It does this through bursting the bubbles inside the polystyrene.
Fit – the fit of a riding hat is essential to its function. Without the hat fitting correctly it could be uncomfortable, move too much, slip down over the eyes, or even fall off in the case of impact. It’s important to have your hat fitted by a qualified hat fitter, and to also bear in mind that you may need to have it checked and re-fitted a few weeks after purchase in case any additional padding is required.
Jockey Skull or Skull Cap – a riding hat that doesn’t have a peak at all. It can be worn with a hat silk if the rider wants.
Harness – the part of the riding hat that helps to keep it in position on the rider’s head. The correct fit will help to do this, but in the event of a knock to the hat, the harness will prevent it from coming off.
Headband –this can be used to slightly adjust the fit of the hat. In addition, a headband can also make it easy to keep the part of the hat that touches the rider’s head clean as the removable ones can be washed.
Lifespan – unfortunately, riding hats don’t last forever, regardless of how much they cost. If the hat has sustained an impact – this could be a fall, kick, or something else, then it should be replaced immediately as the hat will no longer be able to offer protection in that area. It’s also recommended that hats are replaced every five years as they will offer less protection after this point due to wear and tear.
Liners – some riding hats feature liners. These allow minor adjustments to be made to the hat’s fit, and can also be used to help the riding hat more hygienic as they can be removed and washed as needed.
MIPS – MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System and is one of the latest innovations in riding hats. It’s not available on every hat, but those that do use it promote it. The aim of MIPS is to reduce the rotational force that could reach the brain in the event of an accident.
Peaked (or fixed peak) hats – these riding hats have an inbuilt peak at the front.
Shell – the outer part of the riding hat. This can be matte, shiny, covered in crystals, plain – you name it! It’s the part of the hat that is visible.
Standards – riding hats conform to different standards, and these should be displayed clearly on the hat. There’s a separate jargon buster all about standards here.
Velvet Riding Hat – these hats are more commonly seen in the show ring due to their velvet outer and more classic appearance. It’s important to note that even though this type of hat looks traditional, it should be up to the relevant, current standards too. Velvet riding hats often have a slim profile and flesh coloured harnesses.
Ventilation – some riding hats have ventilated areas in the hat to allow air through the rider’s head to help keep them cool, without compromising fit or safety.
At RB Equestrian, we believe that fitting is essential why buying a new hat, and for this reason we don’t sell riding hats online.
However, we have a fully stocked shop in Milton Keynes where you can try on a variety of hats and have them professionally fitted for free, to ensure you get a hat that is perfect for you. Click here to find out more about free riding hat fittings.
