Buying a Riding Hat in Britain: What Should You Check?
By the SportHorses.co.uk editorial team
Choose a riding hat by checking fit, the safety-standard label and quality assurance mark, then confirm that it meets the rules of your intended competition. Do not choose on appearance alone. The British Horse Society recommends a new hat fitted by someone with appropriate BETA training and advises against second-hand hats because damage may be invisible. Its guidance was reviewed on 2nd January 2026. Source: BHS.
For a buyer preparing to try horses, this is a useful job to complete before organising viewings. Put the hat appointment alongside your riding assessment and equipment planning, rather than treating it as the last purchase before collection. The organising principle is simple: separate what the label tells you from what a fitter must assess.
What should a British rider check first?
Start with your intended riding and arrange a fitting, rather than ordering the familiar size and assuming it will work. In its January-reviewed guidance, the BHS says that every head is shaped differently and that riders may need to try several hats. It also advises having your head measured and the hat properly fitted whenever buying a new one. Source: BHS.
Before the appointment, write down whether you plan to hack, take lessons, school over fences or enter competitions. Bring details of the organisations and events you intend to ride with. This gives the fitter a useful brief without asking them to guess your plans.
BETA’s undated safety-equipment page advises buyers to choose a stockist trained by BETA to assess fit and advise on the latest safety standard. Treat that as purchasing guidance, not an event rule: confirm the retailer’s fitting provision directly when booking. Source: British Equestrian Trade Association.
What do the label and quality assurance mark tell you?
The label identifies the standard to which the hat was tested; a quality assurance mark is a separate check. The BHS says a hat should have a quality assurance mark alongside its standards label, giving a BSI Kitemark and an SEI mark as examples. Its guidance also says that price and elaborate appearance are not the deciding factors: meeting an accepted standard matters. Source: BHS.
Use the following as an appointment worksheet, not as a substitute for a fitter’s assessment or a competition rulebook.
| Question to ask | What to establish | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the standards label? | Read and record the exact wording | A familiar model name settles eligibility |
| Which quality assurance mark is present? | Ask the fitter to identify it | Every symbol means the same thing |
| Does this shape fit me? | Have fit assessed in person | Your previous size guarantees a match |
| Where will I use it? | Check the relevant organiser’s requirements | One event’s acceptance covers every activity |
The distinction between evidence and judgement matters. A readable label is something you can record. Whether that particular hat fits your head is an individual assessment. Keep both parts of the decision visible, rather than letting one stand in for the other.
Buy the fit; verify the label; know the history.
Can you buy a second-hand riding hat?
The BHS advises against it because damage cannot necessarily be seen with the naked eye. That makes an apparently tidy exterior insufficient reassurance, even when a seller describes a hat as lightly used. This is the BHS’s published advice, not a claim that every used hat is damaged. Source: BHS.
For someone buying a horse, separate the equipment transaction from the horse purchase. If a seller offers a hat with the tack, you do not need to accept it as your riding solution. Budget for your own fitting before the first trial, and ask the viewing yard about equipment expectations before travelling.
Apply the same careful separation to the horse itself: equipment checks cannot answer questions about soundness or suitability. Our guide to the UK pre-purchase horse vetting explains that separate stage of the buying process.
Does a fitted hat automatically meet competition rules?
No: fit and competition acceptance are separate checks. The BHS directs riders competing under discipline, Pony Club or British Riding Clubs rules to the respective rulebooks, and advises contacting the relevant discipline or event organiser for guidance on requirements. Do not turn general purchasing advice into a universal list of permitted hats. Source: BHS.
For a winter training or competition plan, use this sequence:
- List the actual activities and organisers you intend to use.
- Find each organiser’s applicable equipment requirements before buying.
- Take those requirements to the fitting appointment.
- Record the wording on your chosen hat’s label and its quality assurance mark.
- Ask the organiser to clarify anything that remains ambiguous before entering.
This is a suggested planning method, not an additional rule. Its purpose is to prevent a purchase decision being made on an assumption that nobody has checked.
How should you care for a hat between rides?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and pay attention to storage, drying and impact history. The BHS advises avoiding prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, allowing a wet hat to dry naturally rather than on a radiator, and handling it carefully because drops or impacts can lessen its protective properties. It also says to replace a hat after a fall, especially if it contacts the ground. Source: BHS.
Make a habit of noting an incident when it happens, rather than trying to reconstruct it months later. If you are unsure what happened to a hat, describe the circumstances accurately when seeking advice. Do not let an undamaged-looking shell settle the question for you.
For riders evaluating a horse for hacking, helmet preparation belongs alongside route and suitability questions, not instead of them. See our road-hacking viewing checks for the horse-focused part of that preparation.
What else do buyers ask about riding hats?
Can an adult choose a children’s model in the same size?
Do not assume an equivalent fit. The BHS notes that children’s hats can be shaped differently from adult hats, even within the same brand, and recommends measurement and proper fitting when buying. Source: BHS.
Is the most expensive hat necessarily the right choice?
Not on price alone. The BHS guidance puts the emphasis on an accepted standard and a properly fitted, fastened hat, rather than whether it is elaborate or plain. Source: BHS.
Can any hat guarantee protection in a fall?
No. The BHS explicitly says that no hat can be guaranteed to protect every rider in every circumstance. Good preparation should acknowledge that limitation, not promise to remove it. Source: BHS.
With the equipment questions settled, you can give the horse viewing your full attention. For help preparing the rest of your shortlist and purchase questions, explore our British horse-buying guides.
