Equestrian Safety: The Importance of Helmets — Your 2024 Guide

A riding helmet is essential for your safety when practicing your favorite equestrian sport. In our previous article about Equestrian Safety: The Importance of Helmets, we emphasized the crucial role helmets play in equestrian sports. When you’re training, or just starting out, little details and the right equipment matter a lot. Just like your helmet ensures safety in riding, Pivo Pod is designed to help equestrians in training, receiving real-time online lesson coaching and for effortlessly filming your rides solo and more. The Auto Tracking lets you capture, review and analyze your progress and improve your journey as a rider.

In this article, you will find a top-five list of the best helmets you can buy this season, recommended by price.

Ovation Deluxe Schooler

Although this equestrian helmet has been on the market for a while, it is still one of my favorites. I used one for years to school my horses and at the show arena, and I loved it.

It’s a classic, lightweight helmet that offers fantastic protection. All Ovation helmets are unisex and meet the ASTM and SEI safety standards. The Ovation Deluxe Schooler has a dial adjuster and harness clips for a comfortable fit. The removable visor is flexible, detachable, and designed to come out in case of a hard bump. This prevents it from injuring the rider’s face and eyes during a frontal hit.

You can find the Ovation Deluxe Schooler in different colors with a soft-touch finish.

This helmet is suitable for show jumping, dressage, and general riding. If you are looking for an excellent helmet below $100, the Ovation Deluxe Schooler is perfect. It’s durable, looks great, and has an outstanding cost/benefit ratio. Even though it has been on the market for a few years, this helmet is still one of the best choices for this season.

Check out the – Deluxe Schooler Helmet

Tipperary 8500

For a little more than $100, the Tipperary 8500 is an excellent multi-use riding helmet. Tipperary makes this model using lightweight yet strong ABS with an EPS foam liner. The rear section has cushioning to protect the neck and reduce the effect of impacts on the back of the head.

The Tipperary 8500 is SEI and ASTM-certified and features a flexible visor. The extra cushioning makes it slightly safer than the Ovation Deluxe Schooler. If you are looking for something classic and safe, without breaking the bank, this is an excellent choice for an equestrian helmet.

Check out the – Tipperary Sportage Helmet

Trauma Void EQ3 Lynx

Entering the $200+ price range, this equestrian helmet combines style and cutting-edge technology.

When you see this helmet, you can tell you are watching a high-end product. The finishings on the visor, inner liner, and chin strap are fantastic and add an extra touch of luxury.

The design is modern but not extravagant, and it comes in black, blue, or brown. The top vents and the moisture-wicking liner keep the head cool even during hot summer days.

One of the highlights of the Trauma Void EQ3 Lynx is that it features MIPS.  Multi-Directional Impact Protection (MIPS) is an advanced technology used in extreme sports helmets. MIPS is effective in protecting the head from different angles, reducing the risks of brain damage and concussions.

The Trauma Void EQ3 Lynx riding helmet is fashionable and offers a high protection level. For a reasonable price, you can get an excellent helmet for training or showing in style.

Check out the – EQ3 Smooth Top Riding Helmet

One K MIPS Safety CCS

This model can be fully customized from plain black to flashy and glittery, making it a perfect choice for riders who want to stand out. With the One K Custom Color System, you can choose your helmet’s vent stripe rail, top panel, and shield color. But the fun doesn’t end there. You can buy personalized parts anytime and get a different look whenever you want. There are over 2,100 combinations so that you can always match your and your horse’s garment.

Safety-wise, the One K CCS features MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection). The advanced ABS composite outer shell makes this helmet one of the safest on the market. The padded liner and stained steel mesh vents provide excellent protection and ventilation. This fantastic helmet also meets the ASTM standards. You can choose the helmet’s size and shape: round or semi-oval, granting a perfect fit.

If your budget is above $300 and you are looking for something different and safe, you will love this helmet.

Check out the – ONE K™ CCS WITH MIPS

Kask Star Lady Hunter and Dogma Pure Shine

Most Kask helmets are not unisex, so I will tell you about two models in the $550 price range. The Star Lady Hunter for ladies and the Dogma Pure Shine for men are helmets with similar features.

Both models are suitable for Show Jumping, Dressage, and recreational riding. They are perfect for completing impeccable attire. The new edition of the Star Lady Hunter features a prominent visor but sleek visor. The Dogma Pure Shine is all about style. Both models have outstanding finishing and compelling details.

Thanks to their design and what Kask calls an intelligent ventilation system, they are super comfortable and cool. They also have cutting-edge shock protection technology. These products don’t feature MIPS. Instead, Kask developed its own exclusive rotational impact technology that protects the head and brain from oblique bumps. Both models feature Kask’s FIT System for a perfect fit and extra protection to the back of the head.

Check out the – Star Lady Hunter and Dogma Pure Shine

https://www.kask.com/es-ar/Dogma-Pure-Shine/HHE00042-.html

Final Thoughts

All the riding helmets on this list offer excellent protection. The Ovation Deluxe Schooler and the Tipperary 8500 are excellent affordable models. If you are looking for an extra layer of protection, the models featuring MIPS are perfect for you. Proper fitting is crucial to ensure perfect protection, as not all heads are the same. That’s why you should also consider choosing a helmet that best fits your anatomy. If you want a trendy helmet with the latest safety features, you should consider a Kask. It’s also important to note that, unfortunately, helmets must be replaced after a shock or five years. If you haven’t read our article about safe riding, check this post out!

When you’re all prepped and ready to ride with your helmet, don’t forget to take a look at our Pivo Pod Silver Equestrian Pack that is your perfect equestrian auto tracking training partner, it lets you film hand-free with AI Horse Tracking, so you can study and improve your training and rides, connect with coaches and much more! If you are already a member of the Pivo family, don’t forget to shoot yourself when using your new helmet for the very first time to share it with your friends and fellow equestrians. Riding is full of memorable moments, and Pivo offers the best way to capture them all.

Read – Pivo Blogs for Equestrians