Riding hats tested, found unsafe

Press, 21 July 1982, Page 3

Riding hats tested, found unsafe

PA Wellington None of the riding hats recently tested by the Consumers* Institute was considered safe for riders. Only two of the protective riding helmets tested were declared to be safe. “In our view, all riding bodies should encourage riders to wear protective helmets whenever they get on a horse." says the institute in the latest “Consumer" magazine. “The wearing of hats designed on fashion and tradition, such as the dressage hats that were tested, is a very risky business. Too many people have the impression that these hats offer protection. None

that we tested did.”, it says. The institute tested three brands of riding hats, none of which claimed to be manufactured to the horse and pony rider standard. It found that all three failed shock absorption and effective strap tests. The standard requires the use of a non-elastic adjustable strap, but all three hats tested used elastic chin straps. All but one of the three brands passed the institute's shock tests. In 1981. 477 of the estimated 22.000 horse and pbny riders in New Zealand suffered accidents, and a large number suffered head injuries, the institute said.