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Horse riding can be something you do as a hobby or professionally. The basic activity of riding a horse evolved over the years into a discipline that involves trained horses. Still, no matter how experienced you are, this isn’t something you should do without protecting yourself first.
Horse riding helmets offer the much-needed protection to fully enjoy the experience while you’re riding a horse. This is a fun activity and a great discipline but it can also be very dangerous and even life-threatening if you do it without the proper equipment.
What’s a Horse Riding Helmet?
Horse riding helmets are part of the protective gear you should be wearing while you’re riding a horse. The helmet protects your head against sudden falls and injury. Many things can go wrong really fast and without the proper protection, you may suffer great consequences.
The best horse riding helmets Australia experts claim consist of four main parts: outer casing made from a strong and durable material, foam padding on the inside, fabric lining for extra comfort, a styrofoam liner and a harness. Helmets made from fewer layers aren’t safe and don’t protect you the way they should. For additional protection, you can also attach a faceguard to the helmet.
You can find plenty of different designs and colours of horse riding helmets Australia wide so it won’t be hard for you to find one that suits your needs and preferences best. For instance, helmets are part of the protective equipment for many other sports, not just horse riding. Helmets are part of the ABC’s of roller derby, they are a must-have for every professional motorcyclist and cyclist and everyone else who takes part in (more or less) dangerous sports.
What Materials Are Used During Production?
The material from which the horse riding helmet is made is probably the most important thing you should pay attention to when buying one for yourself. You’ll come across many on-the-budget horse riding helmets that are poorly made from week materials that will crack and break even when put under the slightest pressure. Don’t let the price fool you. It’s better to invest a good amount of money in a helmet that will actually protect you than risking your health.
High-quality helmets should be made out of strong and durable materials, preferably plastic or fibreglass. At the time of the impact, the helmet needs to absorb the force and pressure but also distribute it evenly. The external layer needs to be impenetrable and that’s why some manufacturers even add two different materials as an external layer to increase the strength. But that also has a downside. It can make the helmet too heavy and really unpleasant to wear.
The second layer needs to be soft and provide you with comfort and a cushioning effect. The safest horse riding helmets are the ones that have proper internal layers that shield your head. The helmet mustn’t feel hard on your head for two reasons: one, it will be uncomfortable for you to wear it and it can further hurt you if you fall and hit your head and two if the helmet does have soft layers but still feels hard that means it is worn off and you need to replace it for a new one.
The third layer that actually helps keep everything compact and in place is the fabric or mesh lining of the helmet. It also means one more layer that adds to your protection. With time this layer can also suffer some damage and you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible. A damaged helmet can’t keep you 100% protected.
The harness is also of great use in preventing displacement of the helmet. You can pick a helmet that has a deluxe full black deer/doe leather harness if you’re into fine design.
What Size Is Ideal for You?
Helmets come in different sizes so that you can pick the one that fits you. If the helmet doesn’t fit well it won’t protect you well either. The small helmet is about 50-53cm, the medium is 53-56cm, the large helmet is 56-59cm and the extra-large is 59-61cm. You can always take measures of your head and choose a helmet according to that but note that different brands can fit you differently because of the shape, the design and other factors.
In order to be completely sure that the helmet you’re buying is the perfect fit try wearing it and doing different movements at the same time. If the helmet stays in place the whole time then that’s the perfect helmet for you. On the other hand, if it slides or feels too loose you need to get a smaller size. Note that with time it will additionally become looser than it was when you first got it. You don’t have to additionally speed that process.
Why Is Ventilation Important?
The job of the ventilation holes your helmet has is to cool down your head and prevent perspiration. When a person is physically active the human body heats up additionally as a result of the activity. The air vents provide constant flow-through ventilation that can prevent your head from overheating.
It’s important for you to pay attention to the placement of the air vents, the shape and size. Too big or badly placed air vents can be a “weak spot”, meaning that if you accidentally fall something can hurt your head through the air vents. Also, pay attention if the helmet is made according to Australian standards. Those helmets that are, need to be marked SAI Global. Don’t settle for less.
