Horse Riding Helmets - Outdoors


Horse Riding HelmetsВ В  by Sean Prenderville

in Outdoors В В  (submitted 2008-02-29)

Horse riding helmets -horse riding apparel that ensures safety

Once you have decided that you want to do some serious horse riding, carefully choosing the horse riding apparel is something that most horse riding lovers look forward to. Though there are various aspects of the horse riding gear that you may need to consider including horse riding pants, chaps and horse riding boots, horse riding helmets need special mention due to the safety that they provide.

Horse riding headgear ranges from traditional cowboy hats to caps. However, only a well-fitted horse riding helmet can actually provide the protection that is required in the unfortunate event of a fall. The need for a horse riding helmet cannot be stressed enough. It helps in breaking a fall and is probably most critical if you fall and hit your head against a hard surface. Most ASTM-SEI certified horse riding helmets have layers of air bubbles that can help reduce the damage on impact. They keep the brain from rebounding inside the skull.

Many horse riders complain that horse riding helmets are too hot to wear and that they result in flattened your hair. But such complaints are meaningless, given the level of protection that they provide. Before you go out and buy a horse riding helmet, you should decide on your budget. Safety and comfort are the key factors that you should keep in mind while you shop for good horse riding helmets. Make sure that you do not use a motorbike helmet as a horse riding helmet since motorbike helmets do not protect the back of the head. They are designed for motorbike riding and not for horse riding.

Good horse riding helmets can be bought from local tack shops. Make sure that you purchase a helmet that is specifically meant for horse riding. Check for the ASTM certification. It is pertinent that you try the horse riding helmet before you actually make the purchase. If you do not have help from a trained salesman, you should ensure certain aspects when you try the horse riding helmet out.

- When you wear the horse riding helmet, it should fall down to the top of your head completely.

- A well-fitted horse riding helmet should cover the entire skull including the back of the head.

- The front of a horse riding helmet should end about an inch and a half above the eyebrows.

- Upon shaking your head, the horse riding helmet should not shake.

- When you nod your head vigorously, your skin should move along with the horse riding helmet.

- After you have tied the buckle of the horse riding helmet, you need to ensure that you can open your mouth and that it allows movement of the lower jaw.

If the standard sizes available in the market do not have a horse riding helmet that satisfy all the points mentioned above, you can ask the salesperson for a helmet padding available with the slightly larger size. Remember, that a helmet that does not fit well cannot protect your brain from injuries adequately. A horse riding helmet that has been involved in a fall should not be used again and should be replaced. For the same reason, buying a second hand horse riding helmet is not a good idea since you will never know if it has been involved in a fall before.