Post-Fall Helmet Protocol: When and Why to Replace Your Riding Skull Cap

Riding skull caps give your equestrian outfits a polished finish and an extra dash of style. But they’re far more than just accessories. Horse riding helmets are essential equestrian safety equipment, designed to protect your head during all equestrian activities, from more sedate dressage to fast-paced showjumping.

But, like any protective gear, riding hats and skull caps have a lifespan and need replacing from time to time. To ensure you always stay safe, we’ve created this guide so that you know when it’s time to hang up a riding skull cap and invest in another. 

When to Replace Your Riding Helmet

Every horse riding helmet manufactured in the UK arrives on the shelves offering maximum protection. However, over time, this protection wanes as the materials are exposed to the elements and degrade.

The maximum lifespan of any quality helmet like the Charles Owen Pro II Plus Jockey Skull is three to five years, or around 2,000 hours of riding. This period begins on the first day of wear and will depend on how often you wear it and how well you care for it. You can extend its lifespan to a point by storing it in a specially designed helmet bag. The LeMieux Elite Pro Boot and Hat Bag is an excellent choice as it provides protection and is stylish, too.

However, the moment you experience a fall or accident – even a minor one – your helmet is compromised, and it’s no longer considered safe. After any impact, you need to invest in a new helmet, even if you’ve only been using it for a short time.

It’s important to note that even if you’ve never experienced a fall or an accident while wearing your helmet, you should still replace it every three to five years. Wearing your hat beyond this point could compromise your safety and leave you prone to a number of risks, including head injuries and concussions.

Helmet Replacement Guidelines for Riding Professionals

If you are a professional rider and use your helmet on a regular basis, its lifespan will be shorter than that of a helmet experiencing only light use. This is because your skull cap will be exposed to much more wear and tear, and the EPS liner on the inside of your hat will become distorted over time.

When wearing your skull cap for hours each day, aim to replace it after one to two years of use. This will help to ensure your helmet always meets your safety needs and adheres to the strict rules laid out by professional equestrian bodies.

Replacement After a Fall or Impact

If your helmet is exposed to any type of fall or impact, even if it’s only minor, the impact will compromise its ability to protect you in the saddle. Therefore, you should replace your riding skull cap immediately after an impact has taken place.

When replacing your skull cap, be sure to choose one that fits properly. Your helmet should fit snugly against the back of your head, without feeling overly tight or too loose. You should also be able to fasten its straps and closures easily, creating a protective yet comfortable fit. Look for a riding helmet with safety marks like the BSI Kitemark and PAS015 to ensure that you are kept safe at all times.

Following Manufacturer Guidelines

Trusted skull cap manufacturers will provide clear guidelines on when to replace your riding helmet. The lifespans of different helmets may vary according to the materials and manufacturing processes used to make them.

When in doubt, consult the website of your helmet’s manufacturer to find out more about when and why you should replace your headgear, or ask the Ayr Equestrian team for expert advice.

How to Assess a Riding Skull Cap for Damage

If you have a major accident or fall while wearing your skull cap, you might notice visible cracks and damage on its outer layer. This is a clear sign you need to replace your helmet.

There are other key signs to watch for, too. If the lining of your helmet is damaged, some of its mechanisms have stopped working, or it no longer fits well, consider investing in a new one as soon as possible.

While these signs of damage are obvious, most cases of damage will be difficult to visualise. A horse riding helmet that has been worn for many years or has experienced light impacts may look perfectly fine to wear. However, its protection has likely been compromised. Replace your helmet in both of these situations to grant you peace of mind while you’re in the saddle.

How to Track Riding Helmet Wear and Tear

There are a few key methods you can use to track the wear of your riding helmet. This will give you a clear idea of when it needs replacing, helping to provide you with optimal protection at all times.

The first method you can use is a time-tracking app. Many time tracking tools allow you to easily keep a record of exactly how long you wear your riding skull cap for during every riding session. This makes it easy to identify once you’ve reached the 2,000-hour wear mark.

The second method is to make a note of the first day you wear your helmet on your calendar. You can then track how many years you’ve used your hat for, and replace it when needed. Be sure to keep this note somewhere safe where you can easily reference it.

Find Quality Riding Helmets at Ayr Equestrian

If it’s time to replace your skull cap, it’s important to choose the type of riding hat that meets strict safety and quality standards.

Our collections of riding skull caps and jockey skulls offer a wide range of safety-tested options from leading equestrian brands like Charles Owen, Champion, and KEP. Browse our range online and find a replacement that fits well, looks good, and gives you complete peace of mind.