Hat Standards

Eventing Helmets

Please read and remind yourself of the hat rules, as follows:

•  Protective headgear is mandatory at all times for all phases.  Protective Headgear is defined as “Appropriate Helmet or Headgear that is in compliance with the applicable international testing standards.  It must be properly fastened with a three point retention harness at all times when mounted”.
• Any Athlete (as well as any other person) violating this provision must immediately be prohibited from further riding until the Protective Headgear is properly in place.
• Protective headgear must meet one of the following standards:

European Standard Riding Helmets

• All PAS 015 (2011) *
• VG1 01.040 2014-12 *

* with BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

Protective headgear carrying a CE Mark including products referencing the VG1 performance specification but excluding products referring exclusively to the EN1384:2012 unless it is shown in conjunction with another accepted standard from the present list

American Standard Riding Helmets

• American ASTM F1163: 2004a and subsequent updates
• American Snell 2016 (Snell combines a standard with subsequent quality testing, therefore no additional quality testing mark is required)

• Fixed peak hats used for dressage and show jumping are NOT acceptable when worn cross country.
•  Skull/jockey hats are acceptable for dressage, show jumping and cross country phases.

•  All Protective headgear worn in all EI Competitions (both training and competition) must show a visible current EI hat tag (see above).
• Untagged hats must be checked and tagged before being used in either a training or competition class.
• Wearing an untagged or incorrect headgear for a phase could result in a penalty at the discretion of the Eventing Ireland Steward
• Athletes are strongly recommended to check their headgear regularly and to replace if damaged, ie: following a fall.

If you have any questions, please contact Alison Packman in the first instance.