The Importance Of Having A Riding Hat Fitted By A Trained Professional

• Life-Saving Safety & Protection Your riding hat is designed to protect your head from brain damage and potentially fatal injuries during falls or accidents. However, it can only do this job effectively if it fits correctly. An improperly fitted helmet may fail to protect you when you need it most, potentially resulting in serious brain injury or death.
  
  
• An improperly fitted riding helmet may fail to protect you, potentially resulting in serious brain injury or death.
  
  
• Proper Positioning A riding hat fitted by a professional fitter, ensures the helmet sits on your head correctly - typically level and covering your forehead about an inch above your eyebrows. When having your riding hat fitted they can adjust the harness system and ensure the chin strap is correctly positioned to keep the helmet stable during movement.
  
  
• Individual Head Shape Variations Everyone's head shape is different - some are more oval, others more round, and heads vary in size at different points. When having your Riding Hat Fitted by a trained fitter, they can assess your specific head shape and recommend helmet models that best match your anatomy, as different manufacturers design their helmets for different head shapes.
  
  
• Harness and Retention System Adjustment Modern riding helmets have sophisticated adjustment systems that need to be properly configured. Professionals know how to adjust the Riding Hat Fitted to your head. Adjusting the internal harness, padding, and retention systems to achieve the right fit that's snug but not restrictive.
  
  
• Riding Hat Standards and Certification Knowledge Professional fitters understand current safety standards (like PAS015, SNELL, or ASTM) and can help you choose a helmet that meets the certification requirements for your discipline and level of riding.
  
  
• Maintenance Advice Of Your Riding Hat or Body Protector. Whilst having your riding hat fitted your fitter can also advise on when to replace your helmet, how to care for it and signs that the fit may have changed over time.
  
  

By having a riding hat fitted is a sure way of getting a correctly fitted riding helmet or body protector. Here at Barnstaple Equestrian Supplies you will have your riding hat fitted by a trained professional. Remember our service is all about protecting your head from injury a small price to pay for potentially life-saving protection.

• Proper Impact Distribution  A correctly fitted hat distributes the force of an impact across the entire helmet shell and your skull. If the riding hat fitted is wrong, impact forces may be concentrated in smaller areas, reducing the helmet's protective effectiveness and increasing injury risk.
• Comfort for Better Focus Comes With A Riding Hat Fitted Correctly An uncomfortable helmet can be distracting and may cause headaches or pressure points that affect your concentration while riding. Good fit ensures you can focus entirely on your riding rather than being distracted by discomfort.
• Maintains Proper Vision A helmet that sits too low can obstruct your vision, while one that's too high may not provide adequate forehead protection. A riding hat fitted professional ensures optimal positioning for both safety and clear sight lines.
• Prevents Dangerous Adjustments Riding hats fitted poorly or that have become loose can lead to trying to compensate by over-tightening chin straps or adding inappropriate padding, which can actually compromise safety. Having your Riding Hat Fitted eliminates the need for these potentially dangerous modifications.
• Long-term Durability A riding hat fitted properly experiences less stress and movement during use, helping it maintain its protective properties longer and ensuring it continues to meet safety standards throughout its lifespan.

Since riding inherently involves risk, your helmet is your most crucial piece of safety equipment - professional fitting ensures it can do its job of protecting your life.

When Safety Standards Expire

Body protectors have expiration dates related to safety standard updates. If your protector no longer meets current standards (like BETA 2009 or EN 13158), you should upgrade to ensure you have the latest safety technology and protection levels.

Visible Wear and Damage 

Replace when you notice any wear or compressed foam padding, damaged straps or fastenings, or torn fabric covering. Any structural damage compromises the body protector's integrity.

Poor Fit Changes 

If your body shape has changed significantly due to weight loss or gain, muscle development, or growth (especially for young riders), and the protector no longer fits properly, it's time for a new one. Poor fit reduces protection effectiveness.

Age and Degradation 

Even without obvious damage, body protectors deteriorate over time. Materials can degrade, foam can lose its shock-absorbing properties, and elastic components can lose their effectiveness.

Comfort Issues Affecting Safety 

If your protector has become uncomfortable enough that you avoid wearing it or it restricts your movement significantly, this creates a safety risk. A new, properly fitted protector is essential.

Increased Risk Level 

If you've moved to more challenging riding disciplines (like cross-country jumping, hunting, or breaking young horses), you may need a higher-level protector with enhanced protection features.

Hygiene Concerns

While not strictly safety-related, if odor or hygiene issues have become unmanageable despite proper care, replacement ensures you'll consistently wear your protection.