What’s Your Helmet’s Rating?

New Helmet Ratings from Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory

by Sally L. Feuerberg

I’ve been riding since the early 1970s and yes, I’ve always worn a helmet. When I think back on the construction of my first piece of equestrian headwear, I sometimes wonder how I survived. It was a fiberglass shell covered in black velvet with a very thin elastic chin strap, and a little black velvet button on top. It had no vents so most of the riding season it was hot. The helmet was mandatory; no questions asked, no discussion, no debate. I wanted to ride, so wearing a helmet was an easy decision.

Today, I still religiously wear my helmet, although it’s been much improved since then. It’s part of the riding attire I love, and the donning of my helmet is second nature. I wouldn’t even consider riding or working around horses without one. I even try to wear it when I’m grooming my horse, and, of course, as I’m tacking or untacking him.

However, many riders participating in all types of equestrian activities and sports are riding without appropriate head protection.

“Almost every person who’s ridden a horse has come off a horse,” Dr. Stefan Duma says. “When you think about the height [when you are mounted], there’s a lot of energy, so when you come down on the ground, the head impact can be quite dangerous.” Dr. Duma is the founder of the Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory and director of the Institute for Critical Technology and Science. “Equestrian riders visit the emergency room for brain injuries at higher rates than other sports,” he says.

In December 2022, Dr. Duma, Dr. Barry Miller, the Director of Outreach and Business Development, and Dr. Mark Begonia, the Director of Testing, together with the team from Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory released an equestrian helmet study with new ratings.

“When the results were released, we had more than 100,000 unique visitors to the lab’s website (helmet.beam.vt.edu/ equestrian-helmet-ratings.html) in just a couple of days, and that’s about 10 times more than any other sport when we released those ratings,” said Dr. Duma.

I needed to know more, so I decided to learn as much as I could about the lab, the testing methods, rating system, scoring, and how the scores were calculated. Most important, I wanted to share the informa- tion with others so they too could determine if they should be doing more to protect themselves from a head injury.

Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory

The Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory (VTHL) is a comprehensive injury biomechanics laboratory that was founded in 2007 with a specialty for studying brain injury and sports helmets. Since 2011, VTHL researchers have been providing unbiased helmet ratings that allow consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing helmets. They have tested and rated helmets for varsity, youth, and flag football; soccer; cycling; hockey; snow sports; and whitewater sports, transforming the science of sports safety by giving athletes, parents, and coaches impartial quantitative data that can help us to choose the safest equipment.

Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings

Seed funding for the VTHL’s equestrian helmet initiative came from the United States. Hunter Jumper Association, followed by donations from the New England Equitation Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation, and the United States Eventing Association. These were matched by a donation from Jacqueline Mars and an anonymous gift boosting the total raised to the required $450,000. Using these funds, the VTHL has rated 39 equestrian helmets using the STAR evaluation system.

The VTHL ratings are an independent and objective assessment of helmet performance for consumers, free from manufacturer influence.

The STAR rating system is based on two fundamental concepts: 1) tests are weighted based on how often people experience similar impacts; and 2) helmets that lower linear and rotational acceleration reduce injury risk. STAR stands for the Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk. (Linear acceleration injuries result when the head is snapped forward or backward; rotational injuries result when the head is hit from the side, causing the brain to rotate inside the skull.)

Keep reading to learn how helmets are rated, how the rating system works, what all those acronyms mean when it comes to helmet certification, and whether your hair style impacts your helmet’s efficacy.

How are ratings determined for helmets?

A helmet’s rating is comprised of two components: the STAR score and the number of stars.

How is a STAR score calculated?

The STAR score is calculated based on a helmet’s performance in a series of impact tests. The impact conditions are sportsspecific and inclusive of the broad range of head impacts that athletes are likely to experience.

A helmet with a lower STAR score offers better protection. Each STAR score is then assigned a number of stars to categorize impact performance. The number of stars varies between one and five, with five stars being the best. Helmets with more stars provide a greater reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with fewer stars.

Understanding the Rating System

Each equestrian helmet is rated based on the results of 12 impact tests in the Virginia Tech Helmet Laboratory (VTHL). A pendulum impactor test rig was used to assess the equestrian helmets. For each impact, linear and rotational acceleration, indicators for concussion risk, were measured.

At the VTHL, the helmet’s front, side, and back are tested at two impact energies based on industry standards for equestrian helmet performance, advanced video analysis of equestrian events, and peerreviewed equestrian research. The lowerand higher-severity test conditions represent the range of impacts that could result in concussions. To see the technical documents for a complete methodology for these ratings, visit helmet.beam.vt.edu/ equestrian-helmet-ratings.html.

Helmet Safety Standard Jargon

Acronyms for safety standards you'll encounter when researching helmets:

ASTM F1163-23

The American Society for Testing and Materials is the current riding helmet standard for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This organization creates testing standards for manufacturers to meet. ASTM does not test or certify products. It provides the standard for laboratories to do the testing. Helmet manufacturers choose the laboratory and submit helmet models for testing to the ASTM standard.

Sei

The Safety Equipment Institute is a subsidiary of ASTM. SEI is a nonprofit organization that works with independent laboratories to certify safety and protective products for the United States and Canada. SEI certification programs are voluntary, but virtually all helmet manufacturers participate. SEI certifies the specific standard, so SEI ASTM F1163-23 means the helmet model is certified by SEI to meet the ASTM F1163-23 safety standard. (SEI is not the only organization that can test for an ASTM standard.)

Bsi

The British Standards Institution develops helmet standards and tests them.

Ce

The letters CE (Conformite Europeene/ European Conformity) appear on helmets that are allowed to be marketed in the European Economic Area. The CE marking is required and shows that the manufacturer ensures the helmet meets European Union legal safety requirements.

PAS 015:2011

Product Approval Specification is the standard that must be met for riding helmets in Great Britain. It was developed and is tested by the British Standards Institution (BSI).

Kitemark/ KM 558234

Kitemark is also a BSI certification, most notably found on Charles Owen and KEP helmets. BSI tests the helmets and Kitemark includes batch testing and access to the manufacturer’s factory and offices.

VG1 01.040 2014-12

This is the newest standard from the European Union commission. It was created according to British standards and adopted by the European Union.

Snell E2016

SNELL E2016 standards are safety certifications done by the Snell Memorial Foundation in California.

Why rate helmets?

All helmets sold must be certified to meet minimum safety requirements set by standards organizations. These standards are evaluated with testing on a pass/fail basis. However, not all helmets are created equal and two helmets that meet the standard may offer different levels of impact protection. The VTHL supplements these standards with sports-specific impact testing and rates the helmets on a five-star scale. This scale informs consumers of the relative differences in helmet protection in the context of reducing the risk of head injury.

What do the helmet ratings mean?

Simply stated, the helmet ratings identify which helmets best reduce concussion risk. More stars equate to better protection, with five stars representing the best available helmets. VTHL encourages athletes to choose helmets with four or five stars.

Will five-star helmets prevent me from sustaining a concussion?

According to the VTHL website: “No helmet is concussion-proof. Any athlete can sustain a head injury, even with the very best head protection. The helmet ratings identify the helmets that best reduce your chances of sustaining a concussion. With that stated, helmets are only one piece of the equation to minimizing concussion risk. Rule changes and coaching proper technique can result in fewer high-risk head impacts and are perhaps the most important. Having the best available head protection for the remaining head impacts further reduces risk. This analysis is based on data trends and possibilities, and therefore a specific person’s risk may vary. This variation is likely dominated by genetic differences, health history, and impact factors such as muscle activation.”

I WAS ABLE to reach out to Drs. Duma and Miller to ask them some additional questions, hoping that further informa- tion may help others who were either looking to upgrade their present headgear or considering the purchase of an equestrian helmet for the first time.

CH: What surprised you the most when testing equestrian helmets?

Dr. Duma: There’s a great opportunity for improvement in equestrian helmets. We’ve tested helmets for all sports and there are many technologies used in other sports that could be quickly applied to equestrian helmets to improve performance.

Dr. Miller: We didn’t really get surprised. Results were typical with the initial STAR rating releases we’ve seen in other sports. Equestrian helmets were designed to meet criteria from the various certifications. Now the companies have a design tool to further enhance the helmets with both linear and rotational head kinematics [the geometry of motion] considered.

CH: Are there changes you’d like to see in the equestrian helmet standards?

Dr. Duma: The biggest issue is that the standards do not currently include any rotational kinematic measures. Our testing is the first to include both linear and rota- tional kinematic measures to evaluate all equestrian helmets. Both linear and rotational metrics are important when predicting brain injury.

Dr. Miller: They could include rotational head metrics and further reduce the thresholds to pass. I know several are evaluating these items.

CH: Do you recommend riders replace their helmets with a new one after a certain amount of time and/or after a fall? If yes, why?

Dr. Duma: Most equestrian helmets are only designed for one impact, so yes, they should be replaced after each fall. I recommend people get the highest-rated helmet that fits them well. If they have a low-rated helmet, they definitely should upgrade to a higher-rated product.

Dr. Miller: The technology will improve so within the next couple of years I would strongly consider looking at upgrading your helmet. If you had a decent energy fall, I would also recommend shopping for a new helmet as the helmet liner likely incurred some permanent deformation (crush or cracking) and may not perform as it was designed to if another fall occurs. The Snell Foundation recommends 5 years, even if your helmet appears to still be in good condition.

CH: What would you like to see for the future development and design of the equestrian riding helmet?

Dr. Duma: There are many padding technologies that could be quickly incorporated into the helmet design to provide better impact protection across all impact energies. If you look at what is being used in bicycle helmets, for example, there are many new lightweight systems that perform very well.

Dr. Miller: We’ve already been testing prototypes from several companies and the big improvement will be to not only protect from the high energy impact but additionally how to better protect from concussion risk, which can occur at much lower energy levels.

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What does the role of hair play in helmet retention or fit?

It has been common over the years for hunter/jumper riders with long hair to buy a slightly larger helmet so that they can tuck their hair up neatly inside it. This can, in some cases, result in a helmet that rocks back and forth during riding rather than remaining securely positioned on the head. Is this dangerous? Possibly. However, Dr. Barry Miller says the key factors to consider are whether the helmet retention system (harness and closure mechanisms) keeps the helmet in place during initial impact; and whether the helmet is designed to decrease both linear and rotational acceleration rates to minimize the likelihood of concussion.

For Black equestrians with natural hair styles, finding a helmet that fits can be quite difficult. Helmet inclusivity is important — it could mean the difference between life and a deadly brain injury.

Other companies have taken steps to adapt helmets to accommodate Black athletes’ natural hairstyles. For example, Riddell, a manufacturer of National Football League helmets, has developed a helmet with customized padding to help any hairstyle fit.

“As a black equestrian, I have tried on too many helmets to count — round, oval, custom, adjustable — none have offered a secure fit,” says Shaquilla Blake, writer of The Black Equestrian blog and adult amateur rider. “I’ve adjusted my hairstyles to accommodate my helmet fit; however, kinky hair can only be flattened so much. Hair comes in all different textures, and even some non-people-of-color riders can have thick hair that they cannot fit inside their helmet. As research has shown, tucking any texture of hair into a helmet alters the fit, and should a rider fall, it creates pressure points that can potentially cause more damage to the head.”

“I have natural dreadlocks that hang past my shoulders and are thick,” says Shaq. “Helmets sit on top of my head rather than sitting low enough to protect the base of my head, my temples, and my forehead. My helmet is the largest size that helmet retailers have to offer without having to order a custom helmet, and yet it does not fit securely and safely on my head.”

“The New York Times article, “Black Equestrians Want to Be Safe, but They Can’t Find Helmets,” ran in March highlighting the struggles Black equestrians face when looking for helmets was the catalyst for a partnership between myself and Back on Track,” says Shaq. “I reached out to Back on Track CEO James Ruder, and together we began brainstorming how best to address this issue by offering Black riders, and other riders facing helmet fit issues due to their hair, safer solutions and helmets with features such as MIPS [Multi-directional Impact Protection System] technology.”

“The solution for riders of color is simple,” says Shaq. “We need helmets that take into account our natural hair texture, volume, and length. All riders are entitled to properly fitted safety gear and the opportunity to enjoy this sport without having to limit themselves because of safety concerns due to the inability to find safe and inclusive gear.”

CH: There’s so much old and new information out there on the safety and importance of equestrian helmets. If you or a loved one were looking to purchase a new riding helmet or even upgrade their present one, what piece of advice would you give them?

Dr. Duma: Look at our equestrian ratings (vt.edu/helmet) and pick the highest-rated helmet that fits your head well. This is what I just did for my wife as she loves riding horses, and now she does so in a five-star rated equestrian helmet.

Dr. Miller: Shop the various models, try them on to ensure they would be comfortable for your riding time, and of course check out the VTHL ratings!

HELMETS SIMPLY SAVE lives and this newest study gave me additional facts, information, and reasons to reevaluate my present helmet choice. But was this study going to convince those who insist on not wearing a helmet when they ride, to change their minds? The University of Connecticut Department of Animal Science has a few startling facts and statistics on its website regarding riding helmet safety and brain injuries.

• An injured brain does not heal like a broken bone. Even seemingly insignificant head injuries can have long-term effects.

• Horseback riding carries a higher injury rate per hour of exposure than downhill ski racing, football, hang-gliding, and motorcycle racing.

• Medical examiner reports show that 60 percent or more of horse-related deaths are caused by head injuries. Helmets can reduce this possibility by 70 to 80 percent.

• Each year approximately 70,000 people are treated in emergency rooms because of equestrian-related activities.

• Riders between the ages 22 and 35 have the highest head injury rate.

• Head injuries are responsible for more than 60 percent of horse-related deaths.

• Head injuries are the most common reason for horse-related hospital admissions. Armed with the UConn facts and educated with the newest rating study by Virginia Tech, my decision to upgrade my helmet was an obvious choice. More than anything else in the world, I want to give myself the greatest opportunity to ride for years to come.

But what about those who might still be uncertain or unconvinced? I decided to ask some of the riders I interact with what they thought. Why did they wear a helmet when they rode? Have they ever been involved in an equestrian-related activity in which wearing a helmet possibly saved their life or kept them from being seriously injured? Has not wearing a helmet ever cause them to suffer a head injury? The diverse equestrian activities of those who shared their stories alone was impressive.

Dr. Reeva Saria of Bethlehem, Connecticut, wears her helmet when she rides whether in a hunter pace, foxhunting, eventing, or out on the trails. What made her a helmet advocate? She shared her nonhelmet-wearing story with me. “I can tell you that I fell off once without a helmet and had amnesia for six months,” she says. “I lost a year of my life and couldn’t remember the end of a sentence. Luckily, my brain healed, but it was touch and go.”

Haddam, Connecticut, resident Heidi Smith teaches hunt seat and western students. She shows her gelding in Western Pleasure classes and enjoys trail riding with him. She also jumps and hunter paces with her mare. “About twenty years ago, I came off while in a jumping lesson and cracked the back of my helmet,” she says. “I did suffer a brain bleed; however, if I hadn’t had a helmet on, who knows what might have happened.”

Kowboy Ken Forcier of Oxford, Connecticut, enjoys cowboy-mounted shooting, trail riding, and camps with his horse. He also participates in field trials with his horse and dog. “My foot got hung up in the stirrup once and I fell backward.” he says. “I hit my head. When I woke up, my foot was still in the stirrup. My horse, Red, was still standing there. What a good boy. That’s when I started wearing a helmet.”

Head injuries can occur even before you get in the saddle! Former Newtown, Connecticut, resident and rider Sue Newbury recalled an incident. “My saddle slipped when mounting on the side of a road that was covered with gravel,” she says. “I hit my head when I fell off and gravel was embedded in my helmet! That could have been my head!”

The VTHL findings took me aback, to say the least. I discovered that my current helmet was only given three out of a possible five stars. I’ve always been under the impression that if I was wearing what appeared to me as the most appropriate, well-fitted, and protective equestrian headgear, I was at least giving myself the best chances of eliminating or reducing the possibilities of a brain injury.

I was also astonished to learn that cost doesn’t necessarily reflect the helmet’s performance. The top two rated helmets were valued at $460 and $58.

Want to check your helmet’s VTHL rating? Visit helmet.beam. vt.edu/equestrian-helmet-ratings.html. Read UConn’s helmet safety information at animal science.cahnr.uconn.edu/equine-helmet-safety-php/.