Which Riding Hat Do I Need For Each Discipline?

Whether you’re in the saddle or working on the ground with horses, a riding hat is an essential part of your kit as it helps keep you safe and reduces the risk of injury.

There are a range of riding hats available and the type you need can vary depending on your discipline and the riding activities you plan to do. With this handy guide, we’ll help you find the right type and level of protection needed for dressage, eventing, show jumping and Pony Club.

What are the riding hat safety standards?

Riding hats must meet one or more of the below safety standards which test that riding hats provide the right level of protection in different scenarios. The table below by The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) shows the scenarios each standard is tested for:

Which safety standards do Karben riding hats meet?

Karben Ellipse Riding Hats: Tested and certified to PAS 015:2011 and EN 1384:2023 (with CE & BSI Kitemark).

Karben Amity Riding Hats: Tested and certified to PAS 015:2011 and EN 1384:2023 (with CE & BSI Kitemark).

Karben Sonic Riding Hats: Tested and certified to PAS 015:2011 and EN 1384:2023 (with CE & BSI Kitemark).

Karben Jockey Skulls: Tested and certified to PAS 015:2011 and EN 1384:2023 (with CE & BSI Kitemark).

Quality Marks

Alongside a safety standard, a riding hat may also have a quality mark which helps you know it has been tested and certified to meet a specific standard. Quality marks also indicate that the manufacturer is continually monitored by independent bodies who check that approved products continue to comply with the standard.

Karben riding hats have the BSI Kitemark which is a trusted certification used as a symbol of quality and safety. Products that are BSI Kitemarked have to comply with a rigorous system of regulation and testing and this includes regular batch & audit testing of random samples.

Which riding hat do you need for each discipline:

Which riding hat is best for dressage?

At a British Dressage competition, a riding hat must be worn by anyone mounted and this includes when exercising, warming up or competing. The riding hat and hat cover should be a conservative colour and hats that are completely mirrored are not permitted.

A riding hat worn for dressage should meet at least one of the standards below:

EN 1384:2023

PAS 015:2011

VG1

ASTM F1163:2015 and subsequent updates

Snell E2016 & E2021

AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards

A quality mark is not required for this discipline, but it is highly recommended to choose a riding hat that has the BSI Kitemark or INSPEC IC mark (for PAS 015, VG1 and EN1384), and the SEI mark (for ASTM hats).

From the Karben collection, the riding hats that can be worn for dressage are: Karben Ellipse Riding Hats, Karben Amity Riding Hats, Karben Sonic Riding Hats and Karben Jockey Skulls.

Which riding hat is best for eventing?

At British Eventing competitions, you need to ensure you wear the correct riding hat for the phase you are riding. For the dressage and showjumping phase, a riding hat with a fixed peak or a jockey skull with a hat cover in a conservative colour should be worn. During the cross country phase, a riding hat without a fixed or flexible peak should be worn.

A riding hat worn for eventing should meet at least one of the standards below:

EN 1384:2023 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

PAS 015:2011 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

VG1.40 2014-12 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

ASTM F1163:2015 or ASTM F1163:2023 + SEI

Snell E2016 & E2021

AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards + SAI

From the Karben collection, the riding hats that can be worn for the dressage and showjumping phase are: Karben Ellipse Riding Hats, Karben Amity Riding Hats, Karben Sonic Riding Hats and Karben Jockey Skulls. For the eventing phase, the Karben Jockey Skulls can be worn.

Which riding hat is best for show jumping?

At British Showjumping competitions, a riding hat must be worn by anyone mounted (including riders that aren’t competing) and this must meet one of the below standards:

PAS 015:2011 + BSI Kitemark or VG1 + BSI Kitemark

VG1 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

ASTM F1163 2015 or 2023 onwards + SEI Mark

Snell E2016 or E2021

AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards + SAI Mark

For British competitions, the Karben Ellipse Riding Hats, Karben Amity Riding Hats & Karben Sonic Riding Hats can be worn as they meet the PAS 015:2011 + BSI Kitemark standards.

Which riding hat is best for Pony Club?

Members of Pony Club must wear a riding hat at all times when mounted at tests, rallies, competitions or training sessions.

For cross country riding (including Eventing, Arena Eventing, Tetrathlon and Horse Trials) and Pony Racing, a jockey skull cap must be worn with no fixed peak or peak type extension. If a hat cover is worn for showjumping, this should be plain dark blue, black or brown with no additions to the hat cover (such as pom poms).

For dressage, riding hats and hat covers must be predominately black, navy blue or a conservative dark colour that matches the rider’s jacket for Area competitions or above (the Pony Club Hat silk is also acceptable). For mounted games, hat covers, if worn, should be dark blue, black, or brown only.

Riding hats worn for Pony Club must meet one of the below standards:

EN 1384:2023 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

PAS 015:2011 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

VG1.40 2014-12 + BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark

ASTM F1163:2015 or ASTM F1163:2013 + SEI

Snell E2016 & E2021 with the official Snell label and number

AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards + SAI

From the Karben collection, the riding hats that can be worn for Pony Club are: Karben Ellipse Riding Hats, Karben Amity Riding Hats, Karben Sonic Riding Hats and Karben Jockey Skulls. For cross country riding, only the Karben Jockey Skulls can be worn.

Frequently Asked Riding Hat Questions Answered

When to replace a riding hat

If you’ve had a fall or have dropped your riding hat, you should replace your riding hat immediately. In some cases, your riding hat may look fine to use again, however there will be damage that is not visible to the eye so the riding hat should be replaced.

Where to buy a riding hat from

We recommend visiting your local Karben stockist who will be able to help you choose the right riding hat and ensure it fits correctly. Never buy a second hand riding hat as if you don’t know its history then it could have been worn during a fall or been dropped.

How to check a riding hat fits

If a riding hat meets the correct standard for the discipline you’re riding, it will only improve your safety if it is correctly fitted and fastened when worn. If you’ve had a riding hat fitted, you can see if it fits correctly by checking that the riding hat is flush against your head with no gaps around the rim. When you move the riding hat, it shouldn't lift off your head and shouldn't rock or roll to the back or side of your head.

This blog was published in September, 2026. To find the latest information about the riding hat you need for your discipline, please refer to the discipline's competition handbook.