A fall from a horse is a fall from height, usually while moving. What you wear on your head and torso largely determines how that fall turns out. This overview explains when a helmet is mandatory, which standards are common, and what to look for when buying.
When Is a Riding Helmet Mandatory?
Whether you must wear a helmet depends on where you ride. On the road, the traffic rules contain no helmet requirement. At competitions and at facilities with a safety certificate, a helmet is mandatory.
| Where | Helmet mandatory? |
|---|---|
| Public road | No, the traffic rules contain no helmet requirement for riders and drivers |
| KNHS dressage, show jumping, and eventing competition | Yes, for everyone on horseback on the competition grounds |
| KNHS driving competition | Yes, for competitors, grooms, and passengers |
| Facility with the safety certificate of the Stichting Veilige Paardensport (SVP, the Dutch Safe Equestrian Sport Foundation) | Yes, for riders, drivers, and people on a carriage; vaulting is exempt |
Public road. The helmet requirement is in article 60 of the Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens 1990 (the Dutch traffic rules). It applies to drivers and passengers of mopeds, light mopeds, microcars without a closed body, motorcycles, and three-wheeled motor vehicles without a closed body. Riders and carriage drivers are not mentioned there. The Wegenverkeerswet 1994 (the Dutch Road Traffic Act) contains no helmet requirement for riders either. That the law asks nothing is no reason to leave the helmet at home. The SVP calls wearing a helmet one of the most important measures for your own safety.
Competitions. The KNHS requires a safety helmet that meets the safety standard for equestrian sport. In show jumping, the rules say it must meet the latest published safety standard. If you lose your helmet during your round, or the chin strap comes undone, you must fix it. In driving, the requirement applies to competitors, grooms, and passengers in every phase and while warming up, on penalty of elimination.
Facilities with an SVP certificate. At a facility with the safety certificate, all riders, drivers, and people on a carriage must wear an approved helmet. Only vaulting is exempt. For riders with a disability who cannot wear a helmet, an exception exists with strict conditions, including a written statement and helpers. Not every facility has this certificate. KNHS clubs must organize their activities at a facility with a certificate, though. If a KNHS competition takes place at such a facility, the competition regulations take precedence.
The Riding Helmet: Your Most Important Protection
The riding helmet (cap) is the one piece of equipment you should never cut costs on. A fall onto the head can be very serious, and a helmet that absorbs the impact makes a major difference there.
When buying, look for a CE mark and a statement that the helmet is intended for equestrian sport. That is what the SVP requires of helmets at facilities with its certificate. Helmets placed on the market from April 21, 2019 must comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/425.
For the standard, EN 1384 is the European baseline. The European standards body CEN published the revised EN 1384:2023 as a harmonized standard for equestrian helmets in December 2023. It adds new tests and raises the requirements for shock absorption and strength. On its page about the safety helmet, the SVP also mentions the VG1 standard (VG1 01.040 2014-12), for which a helmet passes a tougher test. According to the SVP, a helmet from before the end of 2014 that meets EN 1384:2012 may still be used. Which standard exactly is on your helmet, you can read on the label or ask at the tack shop. For competition rules, the KNHS names no standard code, only "the safety standard that applies to equestrian sport."
More important than the exact standard code is that the helmet fits well. A helmet that sits too loosely shifts out of place in a fall and then barely protects at all. A specialist tack shop measures your head and lets you try on different models. A helmet should sit snugly but not press uncomfortably, with the brim about two finger widths above the eyebrows and the chin strap fastened securely. A helmet that slips too far back can cause a neck injury in a fall.
When to Replace a Riding Helmet
After a fall, it is important to replace your helmet, even if the outside still looks intact: there may be invisible damage. According to the SVP, many manufacturers advise buying a new helmet roughly every five years.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Fall with head impact | Replace, even without visible damage |
| Helmet dropped on a hard floor | Have it checked or replace it |
| Visible crack or dented foam | Replace immediately |
| No incidents | Replace roughly every five years, as many manufacturers advise |
Consider writing the purchase date inside the helmet. Store it clean, dry, and in a ventilated place.
The Body Protector: Protection for Your Torso
A body protector is a vest of shock-absorbing foam that protects the torso against the impact of a fall or a kick. It is not mandatory everywhere:
- Eventing: mandatory during the cross-country phase.
- Dressage and show jumping: permitted, not mandatory. You may wear it over or under your competition clothes.
- Driving: mandatory in test B (the marathon) and in the mini-marathon. Competitors, grooms, and passengers under 18 wear one in every phase.
The standard for body protectors is EN 13158; the KNHS names it in the driving regulations. In the United Kingdom, the trade association BETA (the British Equestrian Trade Association) indicates a vest's protection in three levels with a colored label. Its 2018 standard follows the requirements of EN 13158:
- Level 1 (green on black): the lowest protection, intended only for licensed jockeys.
- Level 2 (orange on black): a lower than normal level of protection, for general riding in situations with very little risk.
- Level 3 (blue on black): intended for general riding, competitions including eventing, and working with horses. This is the level for most riders.
BETA recommends choosing a vest with the 2018 label when you buy a new one. According to BETA, such a vest should be replaced at least every three to five years, depending on use and care.
Just as with the helmet, fit is decisive. A body protector should cover the entire torso, from just below the collarbone to over the lowest ribs, without pinching in the seat or restricting arm movement. Most brands use adjustable fastenings at the sides and shoulders. Have yourself measured at a specialist tack shop; a vest that doesn't fit well shifts out of place and protects less.
The Airbag Vest: An Addition, Not a Replacement
An airbag vest is a vest with an inflatable air chamber. A lanyard connects the vest to the saddle; if you come away from the horse, the lanyard triggers a cartridge and the vest inflates in a fraction of a second. It supports the neck and spine and cushions the impact on the torso.
A few things worth knowing:
- It only works if you actually come off the saddle. If you slide off gently or trip beside the horse, the system may not trigger.
- After every use, the gas cartridge has to be replaced and the vest re-armed before it can protect you again.
- Don't forget to unclip before you dismount. Dismount without releasing the lanyard, and the vest will inflate unintentionally.
- Standalone models have no fixed replacement standard like the helmet does: follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions instead.
The advice is to treat an airbag vest as an addition to a body protector, not a replacement for one. Combination vests also exist, with a fixed foam layer plus an airbag. The KNHS permits an inflatable vest in dressage, show jumping, and eventing if it is attached to the saddle and meets the latest published safety standard. In driving, it is only allowed as extra protection, so worn over a regular body protector.
In Short
On the public road you don't need a helmet by law; at KNHS competitions and at facilities with the SVP safety certificate you do. A well-fitting helmet with a CE mark for equestrian sport is the baseline that should never be missing; replace it after every impact and otherwise roughly every five years. A body protector is mandatory in eventing's cross-country phase and in driving, and a sensible addition elsewhere. An airbag vest is a further addition; it doesn't replace the body protector. Always have your helmet and body protector fitted at a specialist tack shop: the right fit determines whether the protection actually does its job in a fall.
Sources (verified September 2, 2026, helmets, standards, and requirements November 2, 2026): KNHS: Correct competition attire · KNHS Show Jumping Discipline Rules 2026, art. 256 · KNHS Dressage Discipline Rules 2026, art. 117 · KNHS Driving Discipline Rules 2026, art. 435 · KNHS Tack Guide March 2026, chapters 9 and 10 · SVP: Safety helmet · SVP: Handbook January 2024, rules on wearing a safety helmet · SVP: Safety certificate · Dutch traffic rules (RVV 1990), article 60 · CEN: new harmonized standard for equestrian helmets (EN 1384:2023) · BETA: Body protectors
See also: Horse Show Packing Checklist · Competition Dress and Tack Rules · Your First Show Jumping Course