Buying a riding hat is probably the first thing you would do when wanting to take up horse riding. Riding hats and skulls are a crucial and necessary part of every rider’s safety and should always be worn when riding a horse to protect your head. It is essential that when purchasing a riding hat or skull, that a qualified person fits it. Countrywide have qualified hat fitters in every store, available seven days a week. We recommend that hats and skulls are always fitted by a trained member of staff to ensure you are purchasing the hat most suited to your head shape and requirement. Because hats and skulls are a safety item that can be damaged when dropped they are non-refundable once purchased. When buying a hat it is important to understand the safety testing that they go through. The following standards apply to riding and skull caps: BSEN 1384 British Standards to European Specifications (with Kite Mark). All organizations allow this standard to be worn during competitions This standard replaced both the riding hat and jockey skull British Standard Chin cups on previous models have been banned BSEN 1384 is commissioned and trusted by the British Standards Institute PAS 015 Product Approved Specification, Enhanced British specification for protective headgear (with Kite Mark). This standard is the enhanced BSEN 1384 standard. It provides improved protection to the crown and the intermediate areas which together account for 75% of most general riding impacts. As the test line is lower at the front, it tends to lead to slightly bulkier helmets. Most organizations recommend this level of protection. Crush resistance and prevention of brain injury when landing on edged surfaces due to the more rigid and new cupless chin design. A stability test is also included to limit excessive movement during wearing or a fall. ASTM 1163 American standards (with SEI = Safety Equipment Institute). The main reason for helmets being promoted to this standard are: Helmets are allowed larger ventilation slots Helmets are tested using a hazard anvil (now incorporated in PAS 015) Kitemark When you see a product with a Kitemark this means the BSI has independently tested it and has confirmed that the product conforms to the relevant British Standard, and has issued a BSI license to the company to use the Kitemark. The manufacturer pays for this service and their product is tested, and the manufacturing process is assessed, at regular intervals. The Kitemark is the symbol that gives consumers the assurance that the product they have bought really does conform to the appropriate British Standard and should therefore be safe and reliable. Manufacturers are not legally required to display a Kitemark on their products, but many everyday products and appliances such as fridges, electrical plugs and crash helmets have them. All hats and skulls must be fitted with an integral adjustable nylon harness and must conform to PAS 015 or BSEN 1384. All hats produced with the BSI Kite Mark and SEI have to be batch tested, the Kite Mark guarantees the ongoing consistence of the safety standards. All hats which have suffered a severe impact, including being dropped onto a hard surface, should be replaced immediately as their protective capacity will have been impaired, even if there is no visible sign of damage. For further information please read through the BSi website. Fitting Your Hat The head should firstly be measured, to get an idea of the size of hat to begin with. The measurement should be taken just above the ears, around the fullest part of the head and just over the eyebrows. This should give a measurement in centimetres, which can be converted using the table below: Jockey Size 00 English 6 1/8 cm 50-51 0 6 3/86 1/2 52-53 1 6 5/86 3/4 54-55 2 6 7/87 56-57 3 7 1/87 1/4 58-59 4 7 3/87 1/2 60-61 5 7 5/87 3/4 62-63 Points to remember: The hat or skull should be rolled on to the head from the correct position at the front of the head, which is about half an inch above the eyebrows. The hat should be a very snug fit but with no undue pressure at the temples, which may cause headaches. There may also be space at the back of the hat to insert the top of the index finger, however this is not always the case and is not as critical as expansion space at the temple area. The straps should be adjusted so that they feel comfortable to the wearer. They are there to ensure that the hat does not fall off and stays in the correct position on the head whilst riding. When removing the hat, there should be a feeling of suction, as it is lifted off, also a lifting of the eyebrows as the skin above them moves. Care and Maintenance Do Clean the hat or skull. Use a soft brush with a little warm water and soft soap. Allow to dry naturally. Store the hat or skull in a cool dry place and out of direct sunlight. Ensure that the hat or skull has some protection during transportation. Don't Dry in front of a fire, or on top of a radiator. Dry clean or expose to solvents. Expose to petroleum, petroleum products, cleaning agents, paints, adhesives etc. Leave in direct sunlight. Leave under glass, such as on the rear shelf of a car. Please talk to a member of our trained staff before purchasing your hat to ensure that you buy a hat that conforms to the standard it will be required for dependant on the discipline you want to participate in. At Countrywide we offer the following brands of hats in our stores: Champion Charles Owen Just Togs Harry Hall Caldene We recommend that if buying on line you already know your exact head size and the brands that fit you head the best because hats cannot be refunded if they do not fit. Brands We Stock Champion Visit the Champion website here: www.championhats.co.uk. View our range of Champion products here. Charles Owen Visit the Charles Owen website here: www.charlesowen.co.uk. View our range of Charles Owen products here. Just Togs Visit the Just Togs website here: www.justtogs.co.uk. View our range of Just Togs products here. Caldene Visit the Caldene website here: www.caldene.co.uk. View our range of Caldene products here. Harry Hall Visit the Harry Hall website here: www.harryhall.co.uk. View our range of Harry Hall products here. Disclaimer The information in this publication is meant as a brief and general guide only and is not intended to be specific advice, or an exhaustive treatment of the subject. Countrywide Farmers plc advises that you should always consult a professional, as it is possible that the information in this guide may not relate to your particular situation. Whilst Countrywide Farmers plc endeavours to keep this publication up to date and correct we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or suitability of the guide. Any decisions based on information contained in the guide are the reader’s sole responsibility. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law Countrywide Farmers plc accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage as a result of any reliance placed upon information given in this guide by the reader or anyone to who such information is communicated.