The Complete Handbook of Equestrian Helmets
A practical reference for riders, retailers, and equestrian professionals on helmet selection, standards, fit, care, and the business of head protection
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
From standards to fitting to retail margins: a complete, practical reference on equestrian helmets for riders and professionals.
About this book
Every rider relies on a helmet to protect their head in a fall, yet most riders—and even many retailers—cannot explain what the certification labels actually mean, how to verify a correct fit, or why a helmet must be retired after a significant impact. This handbook fills that gap. It walks through the relevant safety standards (ASTM F1163, VG1 01.040, PAS 015, EN 1384), what each one tests for and what it does not, and how to decipher the labels and documentation that come with a new helmet.
The middle of the book is a practical field guide: how to measure a head correctly, how to assess fit across different head shapes, and how to adjust retention systems for different riding disciplines. It covers daily use, cleaning, storage, and the inspection routines that should happen before every ride. A dedicated troubleshooting chapter addresses common problems like pressure points, helmet rotation, liner degradation, and strap wear, with step-by-step diagnostics.
The final chapters look at the business side of equestrian helmets. It profiles how different brands position themselves in the market, what margin structures are typical at retail, and how to build a viable revenue stream through reselling, private-labeling, rental programs for riding schools, or fitting and consulting services. It closes with a look at emerging materials and regulatory shifts, plus a glossary and a curated guide to standards bodies and certification programs for readers who want to go deeper.
Reader Reviews
Emily Hill
★★★★★The sections on standards and what the labels actually mean were eye-opening. I had no idea that my old helmet was so out of date. That said, the writing can be dry in places, and I skipped some of the business stuff since I'm not a retailer. For a serious rider who wants to buy the right helmet, it's a decent buy.
Barbara Martinez
★★★★★I manage a riding school and bought this hoping for a fleet-management system. The troubleshooting chapter on cleaning and inspection routines was genuinely helpful and we've implemented a new pre-ride check. I was let down that the rental program advice was more conceptual than step-by-step, but it's a solid starting point.
George Robinson
★★★★★Competent and thorough, but the author's voice is a bit too stiff for my taste. I appreciated the concrete examples about fit and the explanation of MIPS in the trends chapter. I wish it had more photos and diagrams. Still, I learned a lot, especially about why helmets expire even if you never fall.
Paul Mitchell
★★★★★As a coach who fits helmets for students weekly, I appreciated the measured approach to head shapes and the emphasis on rotation rather than just static fit. The glossary and the FAQ are genuinely useful for handing to parents. My only comment is that some brand profiles in Chapter 6 feel already dated, but that's the nature of the market.
Margaret Gonzalez
★★★★★This is the reference I wish I had when I started riding. I'm a competitor and a bit of a gear nerd, and this book answered every question I had about standards, replacement intervals, and even what to look for in a high-end composite shell. It's well-organized, honest, and completely free of the usual hype. Highly recommend for anyone who takes head injury seriously.
Richard Scott
★★★★★Finally a book on helmets that isn't a marketing brochure. I'm a retail buyer for a tack shop and the chapters on standards and margins alone saved me hours of parsing manufacturer claims. The fit protocol in Chapter 3 is now our store's standard. Only gripe: I wish the illustrations were in color, but the text is clear enough.
Kevin Lopez
★★★★★Solid information overall, but it read a bit like a technical manual at times. I found the maintenance chapter useful, but as a long-time rider I already knew some of the basics. The business chapters were a bit thin on real numbers. Good reference to have on the shelf, just not something I'd read for pleasure.