Thoughts on helmets in the hunter ring? I see mostly Samshields these days…are Charles Owens out? I’ve seen a few posts about Kask helmets as well, but have not seen very many out at the shows. Thoughts on those? Other brands?
Anything goes if it is black, has no bling, and most importantly, fits you perfectly. All those brands are fine (as is One K). Do tighten up your chin straps, my friends. Thanks.
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If you are trying to “follow the fashion” in the hunter ring, I hope that you have lots of money. Because it changes often, requiring you to buy more “stuff”. It’s marketing.
Buy what you like, what is conservative, what fits, and what is safe and functional. And win the class with your riding and performance. If you don’t win the class because your hat is out of fashion, it isn’t worth winning the class.
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I see both Charles Owens and Samshields equally at the rated shows - although Samshields tend to be “trendier” at the moment. I also see lots of One K’s and Kasks. Go with what fits you best. As long as its traditional without bling, I don’t think anybody notices or cares.
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I love love my One K. It’s amazing quality that is half the price of a samshield. Ultimately, its what fits your head best as helmets all fit differently.
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Totally agree. If it’s hot out, I ride in a Samshield. If not so hot, then I like my Charles Owens.
Just flipped through the recent Horse Show Issue of the Chronicle. As a gross generalization, it looks like old school riders tend toward Charles Owens, while younger riders are sporting Samshields.
I’m a helmet and boot hoarder, and I constantly swap what I show in based on the weather. Lately I’ve been showing in a GPA First Lady because we’ve had a lot of rain and the wide brim helps me see on course when it’s pouring - if it’s good enough for Tori Colvin, then it’s good enough for me! I also have a Samshield Premium and two Charles Owens AYR8s.
What I found about my Charles Owen helmets is that they stretched horrifically over time, which is why I bought a Samshield. The removable liners help ensure fit over the 5 year lifespan of the helmet and hairstyle changes. My GPA also offered a removable liner, but isn’t as accommodating of hairstyle changes. Charles Owen was a bit late to the party on that feature, and only introduced their new models with removable liners last year. Also, the trend shifted to the smooth technical surface helmet style, which Charles Owen did not have in their portfolio until more recently - they only offered leather. I do prefer the sleek finish when it’s raining as it dries quickly. The material on the Charles Owen helmets doesn’t love the rain and will stretch over time if you are not able to promptly dry them.
Regarding fit, Charles Owen is more limited vs Samshield. Samshield offers two liner designs, one which favors round head shape and the other more suited for oval. Charles Owen have been better for oval heads while GPA has always been better for round. Samshield bridged that gap via a multiplier liner solution that works for more people so they now have a larger market share as a result. It was a smart innovation on their part.
One other thing I can say is that the ventilation on the Charles Owen - even the AYR8, is terrible in comparison to the Samshield or GPA. Samshield is so amazing it feels like there is a fan blowing cool air in your helmet if you catch the wind right. My Charles Owen left my hair a giant sweaty mess even in summer. My First Lady also leaves me with a dry head.
My friend led Zone 4 Adult Amateurs last year in a One K.
Bottom line: judges really don’t care what is on your head as long as it’s a solid dark conservative color with no bling. One barn mate went Indoors with a navy Samshiled Premium and NOBODY cared! Wear what fits your head and what will work best for the conditions where you show.
