In addition, most sanctioned events and shows now require participants to use ASTM/SEI approved horse riding helmets; so if you plan to compete, you’ll have to purchase a suitable helmet to match the rest of your equestrian apparel.

At TheEquestrianCorner.com, we carry a variety of helmet designs and covers from the best brands in the industry. Here are some options to look into based on your riding style or event.

All-Purpose

All-purpose horse riding helmets are durable and rugged enough for everyday use. Some styles can even be used in eventing and show jumping in addition to schooling and pleasure riding. Key features to look for include vents for improved airflow and comfort; a removable/washable headliner; and strong outer shells. Troxel, a leading manufacturer of performance headgear, is the brand to check out if you want an all-purpose helmet.

Show and Dressage

Participation in show or dressage events requires adherence to precise guidelines concerning every part of your equestrian apparel. The guidelines extend to your headgear as well, and usually mandate that you wear a black, English-style helmet (i.e. slim and elegant) with a black satin or velvet cover. The classic styles do not have ventilation systems, but may come with a moisture-wicking lining to help keep you dry while in the ring. Top brands to consider include Ovation, LAS, Troxel, and Pegasus.

Jumping and Sport Riding

You generally have far more leeway in choosing your equestrian apparel for jumping and sport riding, so horse riding helmets for these disciplines tend to look more sleek, colorful, and modern than the ones intended for other events. They have a carbon fiber outer shell, a low profile for improved aerodynamics, and often feature a ventilation strip in a contrasting color.  IRH or International Riding Helmet, KEP Ovation, Pegasus, LAS, and Troxel are all worth a look for your jumping and sport riding helmet needs.

Helmet Covers

Helmet covers are a way to add a dash of color and flair to your otherwise conservative equestrian apparel. Though not always suitable for shows and events, you can certainly add a cover for schooling or pleasure rides. In response to customer demand, TheEquestrianCorner.com carries the very popular Ovation Zocks line of covers, as well as some selections from Troxel

We naturally associate horseback riding with fun, exercise, and competition, so sometimes it’s easy to forget about the inherent dangers of the sport. Although there’s no way to guard against 100% of the accidents and mishaps that might occur, wearing ASTM/SEI-approved horse riding helmets on each and every outing will significantly reduce your chances of sustaining a serious head injury.

That’s understandable, but jumping in the saddle without knowing proper riding techniques and etiquette puts you at risk of injuring yourself or others. Before venturing out on your own for any serious practice sessions, sacrifice some time to learn about English riding basics. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Take lessons from a certified trainer. The fastest way to become a competent rider is to take lessons from a knowledgeable professional. You will learn everything from how to tack up your horse properly to how to keep your equestrian boots planted firmly in the stirrups with your heels down so you don’t lose your balance.
• Learn how to give your horse cues. There is more to safe riding than simply wearing ASTM/SEI approved equestrian helmets and proper apparel. You also need to be in control of the animal at all times, which means being able to issue crisp cues and commands that will be understood and obeyed immediately. A good trainer can get you started, and then lots of practice will help you develop the confidence necessary to execute your new skills with authority.
• Pay attention to body positioning. English riding success begins with excellent body positioning. For instance, you must sit straight and tall in the saddle for better balance and control, and you should avoid leaning into turns. In addition, your ears, shoulders, hips, and the heels of your equestrian boots should all align with each other to ensure correct posture.

When you become comfortable enough to practice in a ring with others, make sure you follow these basic rules of English riding etiquette.

• Always wear proper apparel. Obviously, protective equestrian helmets are a must, but you should also wear a fitted shirt, riding breeches, and tall equestrian boots when practicing. Loose clothing may chafe your skin or become tangled up in your equipment, which may then lead to serious injury. You don’t have to dress as formally for practice as you do for a show, but wearing proper apparel is a way of signaling your respect for the sport.
• Go with the flow. There should be an obvious flow of traffic in the ring, with all horses and riders proceeding in the same direction. Use common sense and go with the flow rather than against it. Also, slower riders should stick towards the inside of the ring while leaving the outer portion to faster riders.
• Maintain safe distances. To keep yourself and others out of harm’s way, try to maintain a distance of at least one horse length between riders.
• Pass with care. If you must pass another rider, do so with extreme caution so as not to spook the horses. You should verbally communicate your intentions to the other rider before passing. If traffic is moving in two directions, be sure to pass left shoulder to left shoulder.

When sitting astride a half-ton bundle of muscle and energy, knowing some basic riding techniques and rules of etiquette can make the difference between having a productive practice session. To improve your chances of emerging from your outing unscathed, follow the above tips, always use approved equestrian helmets and apparel, and remember your training.

To help every lesson go as smoothly as possible, you must ensure that your child shows up properly attired for the day. This means being outfitted from head to toe with a helmet, shirt, jodhpurs, horse riding boots, and other necessary safety equipment specifically designed to prevent injuries to young riders. Here’s a brief overview of the basic items you’ll need to buy.

Equestrian helmets
Most barns don’t let children anywhere near the horses unless they’re wearing ASTM/SEI approved equestrian helmets. There are many different styles of equestrian helmets for children that are intended to make young riders comfortable while providing full protection. The most innovative manufacturers incorporate a Dial-Fit System (DFS) that allows the rider to adjust the fit of the helmet simply by turning a dial. This ensures that the helmet will sit snugly on the rider’s head, thereby increasing its effectiveness.

Many equestrian helmets also feature moisture-wicking materials on the inside to keep riders cool even in hot weather, while others have vent strips for improved air flow.

Sport or show shirts
A sport or show shirt is another important piece of apparel to wear to lessons. We offer fitted shirts in breathable fabrics that allow for freedom of movement while protecting sensitive young arms against sunburn, scrapes, and chafing.

Jodhpurs and riding chaps
Instead of breeches, most young riders wear jodhpurs while in the saddle. Jodhpurs fit over horse riding boots and come in pull-on, front-zip, or side-zip styles. Some children like a traditional fit, while others feel more at ease in the low-rise variety, so asking your child’s preference before buying can save you from having to make a merchandise return later on.

We recommend wearing half-chaps with jodhpurs for additional protection while mounted. Form-fitting chaps or half-chaps not only keep the rider’s jodhpurs in place, but also allow him or her to grip and feel the horse better. Riders cannot achieve the same amount of contact with baggy pants or jeans, so that type of apparel should be avoided altogether.

Horse riding boots
Next to equestrian helmets, horse riding boots are the most critical piece of safety equipment in the rider’s habit. They protect the toes, feet, and ankles from injury, and also help keep the rider in place on the saddle by allowing for better leverage and grip in the stirrups.

For lessons and casual practice sessions, it’s acceptable for youngsters to wear low, paddock-style horse riding boots. But as riders progress to the teen years or start competing in shows, they ought to graduate to tall horse riding boots and breeches.

As your child waits in anticipation for that first wondrous day on horseback, take this opportunity to explain some safety basics and to make it clear that certain items, such as equestrian helmets and horse riding boots, are nonnegotiable and must be worn at all times. The last thing anyone wants is for an injury to dampen the enthusiasm of a new rider, so be sure to make “safety first” your mantra!

This one event has three very different disciplines, all testing the limits and abilities between a horse and their rider. Before you put on your riding helmets, take a look below at some important things to know about ‘Eventing’ at the Rolex Kentucky:

1. DRESSAGE: Held in the outdoor stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park, this event tests the gaits, agility and compliance of the horse through a series of assigned movements. While judging the on the first day is based on detailed criteria by experienced judges and riders, it’s basically explained as an evaluation of beauty of movement and obedience. Anyone can judge these characteristics and the spectator’s opinion often agrees with the judges. The number of competitors may require that Dressage be held over two days but it remains the first competition day.Keeping score: The judges keep score by four sets of collective marks. These marks are awarded from 0 to 10 by three judges. 0 is the worst (not executed) whereas 10 is the best (excellent). The good marks are added together for each judge, deducting any error of course of test. The test has to be completed from memory. Errors or a wrong sequence, whether corrected or not, are penalized. The first error will cost the rider 2 points, second error 4, and 3^rd error means elimination.

1. CROSS-COUNTRY: With this event, thousands will gather to watch horses and riders hurtle over four miles of the difficult terrain, at speeds up to 25 mph, while navigating through obstacles, water hazards, banks and ditches.Keeping Score: Faults at an obstacle are penalized if in the official is concerned they are attempted or connected with one of the numbered or lettered obstacles on that course. A rider can also exceed time limits and will be penalized for that as well. “Optimum Time” is achieved by dividing the distance by the required speed.

1. JUMPING: This is the final phase of the Rolex Kentucky and always seems to bring energy and accuracy to the outdoor stadium. The event is over a course which is 500 – 600 meters in long and has over 11-13 obstacles with 16 maximum jumping endeavors at 375 meters per minute.Keeping Score: Some penalizations include knocking down an obstacle or fist disobedience which constitutes 4 penalties. Other faults include falling off of the horse, jumping an obstacle in the wrong order, and/or error of the course not rectified which all eliminate the competitor.

Now that you’ve taken a look at the main 3 events at The Rolex Kentucky and how they keep score, it’s time to put on your equestrian boots and get ready to go!

Tip #1: Don’t overlook the right equipment. Riding equipment often overlooked are riding helmets and equestrian boots. As soon as serious training and show season begin, many riders don’t have time to check their gear.

Tip #2: SALES! Spring is a great time to take advantage of riding apparel sales, while making sure you have everything you and your horse need. Not only does this season mean sunnier days, warmer temperatures and beautiful flowers, it is also the time of year when many exciting new styles of riding apparel and horse riding equipment are introduced.

Tip #3: Keeping your horse comfortable. As temperatures begin to rise, your horse will probably need a lighter weight blanket. You may also want to protect them against after-training chills with an exercise sheet. Many of these items are damaged and worn out over time.

Tip #4: Check your horse tack. Horse tack, being made primarily of leather, is prone to drying, cracking and molding in the cold, damp winter months. As you examine your horse tack for damage and wear, you can use some elbow grease and a high quality leather treatment to regain the supple luster it had when you first bought it. You can also identify those articles of horse riding equipment that simply must be replaced. The leather treatment will protect your horse tack from the seasonal wet and mud of spring.

Tip #5: Your Horse’s health. This is the time of year when you need to review your horse’s medical records to determine if any vaccinations are needed. It’s important to know that horse diseases can mutate and spread into new regions, as we have seen with West Nile disease. As diseases mutate, new vaccines are developed to help keep your horse safe and healthy. It is up to you to stay informed and to get your horse vaccinated regularly.

Please Note: There are many vaccinations that are recommended for particular geographical regions. These include: tetanus, rabies, East, West, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis, Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis. Depending upon your geographical region and your horse’s contact with other equines, you may also want to consider additional Influenza, Encephalomyelitis and Rhino vaccines, as well as those for West Nile Virus, Potomac Horse Fever, Strangles and Botulism.

Spring is here and you can be ready for anything with a quick check of what you have and need to ensure that both you and your horse enjoy the warm sunny days and productive training sessions of spring!

LAS Agua Riding Helmet