Riding Hat Standards Explained: Which Labels to Look For

Gloss finish, crystal trim, a colour that matches your style. We get it. But the feature that matters most is the small label stitched inside the shell.

That label tells you which safety standard your hat was tested to. It decides whether you can wear it at a Pony Club rally, a British Eventing run or a riding club dressage test. And it's your proof the hat has been properly tested, not just styled.

Here's what those codes mean and which standards are current right now.

What a riding hat standard actually is

A safety standard is a set of lab tests a hat has to pass before it can carry that standard's name. Think of it as an exam paper. Every hat sits the same tests, in the same way, to the same pass mark.

Depending on the standard, those tests include:

Flat impact. The hat is dropped onto a flat anvil and the force reaching the head is measured.
Hazard edge impact. A drop onto a hard edge, like landing on a pole or a kerb.
Penetration. A spike is dropped onto the shell to check it can't pierce through.
Crush resistance. The hat is squeezed to mimic being trodden on or trapped under a horse.
Harness strength. The chinstrap and fixings are tested so the hat stays put in a fall.

Not every standard runs every test, or to the same height. Here's how the main ones compare. Bigger numbers mean a tougher test.

Standard	Flat impact drop	Hazard edge drop	Spike drop	Round impact drop	Crush force
Snell E2021	1.9m	1.3m	100cm	1.5m	1000N
PAS 015:2011	1.8m	1.3m	75cm	Not tested	800N
EN 1384:2023	1.8m	1.3m	62.5cm	Not tested	800N
ASTM F1163-23	1.8m	1.3m	Not tested	Not tested	630N
VG1 01.040 2014-12	1.8m	Not tested	50cm	Not tested	630N

Snell sets the highest bar on every test. PAS 015 and EN 1384:2023 sit close together. VG1 skips the hazard edge test altogether. The tests shape the design, which is partly why some hats look sleeker than others.

What BSI means

BSI is the British Standards Institution, the UK's national standards body. It has been setting standards since 1901 and is incorporated by Royal Charter.

For riding hats, BSI does two separate jobs:

It writes and publishes standards. PAS 015 is a BSI specification (PAS stands for Publicly Available Specification). BSI also publishes the UK edition of the European standard, BS EN 1384:2023. The BS simply means British Standard.
It certifies products with the Kitemark. The Kitemark is BSI's quality mark. It shows a product's claims have been independently and repeatedly tested, not just passed once in a lab.

That second job is the one to look for. A standard number tells you what the hat was designed to. A Kitemark tells you someone independent keeps checking it.

It's why UK governing bodies only accept PAS 015, EN 1384 and VG1 hats if they also carry a BSI Kitemark or an Inspec IC mark, a comparable independent certification mark.

The standards accepted in 2026

Six standards are accepted by British Eventing, the Pony Club and British Showjumping for 2026. The newest is BS EN 1384:2023, published by BSI in January 2025.

Standard	Where it's from	Mark it must carry	Good to know
BS EN 1384:2023	Europe, published in the UK by BSI	BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark	The newest standard. Look out for it on new-season hats.
PAS 015:2011	UK, written by BSI	BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark	Still accepted for 2026. BSI now lists the specification itself as withdrawn, so expect fewer new hats to carry it.
VG1 01.040 2014-12	Europe	BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark	Often shown on labels as just VG1.
Snell E2016 and E2021	USA, Snell Memorial Foundation	Official Snell label and number. No other mark needed.	Tested to the widest range of impacts, including horseshoe-shaped anvils.
ASTM F1163 2015 and 2023	USA	SEI mark	Common on American brands.
AS/NZS 3838:2006	Australia and New Zealand	SAI Global mark	Less common in UK tack shops.

The year matters. Older editions, such as EN 1384:2012 or PAS 015:1998, are no longer on the list. A hat with one of those labels alone won't pass a hat check.

Sources: British Eventing 2026 Rules & Members' Handbook, rule 7.2 · Pony Club Hat Rule, January 2026 · British Showjumping 2026 handbook amendments · BETA Guide to Riding Helmets · BSI Knowledge

What the governing bodies say for 2026

Good news if your hat passed last season. British Eventing, the Pony Club and British Showjumping all list the same six standards for 2026, and the Pony Club's hat rule has no changes this year.

The Pony Club aligns its hat standards with the other British Equestrian member bodies. Rules can still differ by discipline, so check your own rulebook before you enter. BETA publishes a 2026 Hat Rules Table that sets them side by side.

The rules that catch riders out:

Hat tags. An official checks your label and tags hats that meet the rule. British Eventing accepts a current BE, Pony Club or British Riding Clubs tag, and the Pony Club recognises the same three. Spot checks can still happen.
Everyone mounted. At a BE event, anyone on a horse must wear a compliant hat, competing or not. Warm-up and lorry park included.
Cross-country. BE and Pony Club both require a skull cap with no fixed peak. A removable cover with a light, flexible peak is fine.
Chinstraps. Fastened and correctly adjusted whenever you're mounted. At Pony Club, that includes prize-giving.
Lost hats. At BE, if your hat comes off in a dressage test it goes straight back on and the test restarts from that movement. Jumping without a hat means elimination.
Hat cameras. Not allowed at Pony Club, as they can affect how a hat performs in a fall.
Hat covers. Pony Club showjumping covers must be plain dark blue, black or brown. No pom poms.

How to check your hat in 30 seconds

Find the label. It's usually stitched inside the shell, under the lining or on the harness.
Read the standard and the year. You're looking for one of the six above, with the right edition. EN 1384:2023 passes. EN 1384:2012 doesn't.
Spot the mark. PAS 015, EN 1384 and VG1 hats need the BSI Kitemark or the Inspec IC logo. Snell hats need their numbered Snell label. ASTM hats need the SEI logo.
Check for dual labels. Many hats are tested to more than one standard. As long as one current standard is on there, an older one alongside it won't count against you.

Then check the fit, because a hat only protects you if it stays where it should:

It sits just above your eyebrows and ears, snug all the way round.
Flex your jaw. If you feel pressure at your temples, it's too tight.
You can fit one finger between the chinstrap and your face.
It doesn't shift when you tip your head forward.

Not sure? A BETA-trained fitter can check it for you, free.

When to replace your hat

Replace it straight away after any impact to the head. The shell can look perfect while the foam inside is crushed and won't protect you a second time. And you don't have to fall off to bang your head.

Otherwise, plan on a new hat every three to five years. Materials break down with age, sweat and sunlight, even if the hat looks fine. BETA's advice is to replace any hat more than five years old.

Make it last longer:

Wipe the inside with a damp sponge and warm water, or a hat cleaner foam.
Keep it out of direct sunlight. The parcel shelf of the car is the classic mistake.
Never dry it on a radiator.
Store it in a hat bag, off the floor.

And skip second-hand. You can't know a used hat's history, so you can't know if it still works.

If you're concussed after a fall at a British Eventing, Pony Club or British Riding Clubs competition, ask the medical officer about BETA's Helmet Bounty Scheme. Your hat goes to safety research and you get a voucher towards a new one.

Riding hat FAQs

Is my PAS 015 hat still OK to compete in? Yes, for 2026. PAS 015:2011 with a BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark is still on the British Eventing, Pony Club and British Showjumping lists. Older editions, like PAS 015:1998, are not.

What's the difference between EN 1384:2023 and BS EN 1384:2023? Nothing in the testing. EN is the European standard. BS EN is the same standard published in the UK by BSI.

My hat shows a standard but no Kitemark. Can I compete in it? Not if it's a PAS 015, EN 1384 or VG1 hat. Those need a BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC mark as well.

Does MIPS mean my hat meets a standard? No. MIPS is a system designed to reduce rotational forces in some impacts. It's a feature, not a standard, so check the label for one of the six standards too.

Do I have to wear a hat on the road? Children under 14 must, by law, under the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990. Adults aren't legally required to, but it's always the safe call.

How often should I replace my hat? Every three to five years, and straight away after any knock to the head.

Can I wear a hat silk over my hat? Yes, for most disciplines. Colour rules vary, so check yours. At Pony Club, cross-country skull caps can take a removable cover with a light, flexible peak.

Find your next hat at GS Equestrian

Found an out-of-date label? Or just ready for an upgrade? Browse our riding hats from Charles Owen, Champion, Gatehouse, Karben and more. Check the safety standards on each product page before you buy.

Want the newest standard? The Champion Insight, Gatehouse Oxer and Swing H23 Classic are made to BS EN 1384:2023.
Heading cross-country? The Charles Owen Pro II Plus skull cap is tested to PAS 015:2011, VG1 and ASTM F1163-15.
Kitting out a young rider? Shop kids' riding hats.