H/J Has a Question About Helmets

Curious H/J who may be making a transition into the Eventing world… do Eventers wear wide brim helmets (Miss Shields/First Lady)? Is there a reason why they do/don’t? Always curious.

Er, I can’t say I’ve ever noticed one way or the other. As long as it didn’t get in the way of your vision or of a crash (I’m going to guess no or no one would wear them), why not? We are not particularly uniform in our turnout in eventing land…

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I would say the there is an added risk of the brim adding torque to the head on impact with the ground. Additionally, I would consider getting caught on branches etc. But is seems new courses are less tree intensive.

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It’s not the style, I have never seen a single person wearing one if that is a consideration. British Eventing does not allow any fixed brim helmets on XC last I checked, you can only have a flexible brim.

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on XC many eventers wear a skull cap because the brim can impact your fall.

Most eventers aren’t going to shell out $700 for a helmet for one phase and then something for the other. If they have multiple helmets, they are the more affordable ones, that are safe and not in for the “look”. LOL

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Eventers tend to wear whatever they like and whatever fits them/their budget. That can be pretty much anything. I know I remember seeing a couple of the wide brim ones in stadium but I typically don’t pay much attention and no one else really does either. We’re a bit different than h/j land in that regard. :wink:

Many people do have a skull cap though, either as their only helmet or as an additional helmet to wear specifically on XC due to the above mentioned safety factor. Definitely not everyone though.

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I have seen them, but they aren’t as popular as they are in the h/j world. I know quite a few people who use them at home (Toby’s kiddo has one of the ones you add to your hat), but I’ve only seen a handful at competition. I personally think they look dumb and have managed to make it to almost 37, having spent most of my adult life (and a lot of my life before adulthood) out in the sun without one and I don’t look like a piece of leather. BUT, you do you. That’s really all that matters in life…not just the horse world (as long as you doing you doesn’t break rules in the horse world!).

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700 bucks??? Well, I’m going to guess you don’t see a ton of 700 buck helmets in eventing, but…

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What’s a wide brim helmet?

$80 tipperary. I bet if you counted at many events, you’d count more of those than anythig else.

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and thats on the low end lol

The Miss Shield’s start at $499 for the plain matte if you buy in the US (or $350ish if you buy overseas). Make it alcantara and add trim and you’re looking more like $600. Keep adding custom stuff and it goes up. But their base price is right in line with those custom AYR8’s that eventers are so fond of, or the non-custom leather look AYR8 :wink: The First Lady is definitely pricier starting around $700 if you buy it here, but if it’s what someone loves then I’m not judging. I have a couple friends who swear by the fit and comfort and special features of their First Lady’s, so if it fits and you love it and you can afford it, work it girl.

That said, if you love your $80 Tipperary, I ain’t judging you for that either. That’s one of the best perks of eventing. Wear what you like, as long as it fits and is safe. Who cares how much someone spent on a helmet?

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It came from more a position of curiosity. Although I will say my eventer friends are more fashion conscious than my hunter friends, but it may be due to all the color coordination (and age- my H/J friends are 35+, eventer friends are younger). :lol:

I notice just from casual observation AYR8s are king followed closely by Samshields and skullcaps, at least here in KY. I was just curious about why the Miss Shields haven’t quite taken hold yet. I understand from the First Lady perspective; I got my Speed Air on closeout, which is the only reason I have that vs. an AYR8 (that and my old AYR8 did not play well with Alabama weather). That being said I’ll be wearing my Speed Air until it expires or I hit my head or get serious enough in the Eventing world that I need to be matchy matchy; my helmet isn’t my biggest fashion statement.

Because of this:
https://www.fullsource.com/fibre-metal-fmpsb1/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1-O3h-Sj2QIVgiWBCh2LQgPNEAQYBCABEgJLdfD_BwE

and if your want to upgrade on style points there is this:

https://www.doversaddlery.com/equivisor/p/W1-C36205A/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&mrkgcl=1131&mrkgadid=3259505636&rkg_id=h-0ea28e7a76c215287fcf052faae462b9_t-1518555672&utm_campaign=NB_PLA_Retail_Mid-Atlantic_GOOG&adpos=1o3&creative=193813856093&device=c&matchtype=&network=s&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIybWb0OSj2QIVxiWBCh3VbAZIEAQYAyABEgIMKPD_BwE

My post wasn’t caring about what people spend, just pointing out the cost. Some new Custom helmets can run over $1400. People can pay as much or as little for whatever they like.

My h/j trainer wears one now. It isn’t to prevent the leather look for her. Her eye doctor recommended sun glasses and visor/brimmed hat/helmet. The brimmed hat/helmet cuts down on the amount of light and UV that makes it over the sunglasses.

I currently have 4 helmets (3 CO’s and a samshield) but none of them are wide brim. (maybe my 5th will be a miss shield). Although i have done schooling shows in an equivisor! First lady’s are fairly common in stadium and I’ve seen a few miss shields in dressage. I think if you were looking for an “event” helmet I would invest in a charles owen skull cap, mine is the pro II, for XC. They’re designed with rotational falls in mind and really just seem like the safest choice. In the other phases, you should be good to go with a wide brim helmet