New EA Helmet Standards from 2017
You may have recently heard that the European helmet safety standards have been under review, with the old 'EN 1384' standard being discontinued, and a new standard, CE EN1384 VG1 (the 'VG1' is the important bit!) released. Equestrian Australia (EA) announced earlier this year, that they will be adopting and enforcing that helmets use the updated standards from 2017 for official competition in Australia. So what does this all mean for you? There has been a fair bit of speculation and confusion for riders, but here are the basics.
For 2016 your existing EN1384 rated helmets are perfectly acceptable for use in official EA competition. However from 2017 they will no longer be allowed. Therefore if you intend to compete next year, and your current helmet is only certified with EN1384, you will need to purchase a new helmet with the updated standard of CE EN1384 VG1, or any of the other acceptable standards, including AS/NZS 3838 (current Australian Standard) or ASTM F1163 (current US Standard).
Some helmets may also have the certification of PAS015 - these may also be acceptable, however you will need to check with the relevant body that you compete under.
Individual EA disciplines may also have slightly different rules, so if you are in the market for a new helmet, make sure you read the rules relevant to the sport you are competing in.
You can view the official EA Statement here: http://www.equestrian.org.au/news/ea-statement-hel...
HRCAV riders should also note the new standards - information on which you can find here: http://hrcav.com.au/2016/04/helmets/
Pony Club rule changes can be found here: http://www.ponyclub.asn.au/files/documents/rule-bo...
This however doesn't mean that helmets manufactured with the old EN1384 standard are no good and should be thrown out if they are only a couple of years old. They are still perfectly acceptable for use whilst training and pleasure riding at home, providing they are not older than 5 years old. The general recommendation from helmet manufacturers and safety organisations is that helmets should be replaced every 5 years, or after any serious fall or impact.
One Stop Horse Shop currently retails helmets from Horze. Any new Horze helmet purchased through us (except for clearance stock) will be certified to the new CE EN1384 VG1 standard, and therefore legal for competitions. Horze offers a stylish yet affordable range of helmets.
You can view our complete helmet range here: http://www.onestophorse.com.au/helmets/
We do have a couple of helmets left in stock with the older safety ratings. These helmets are exactly the same as the newer stock (just with the old label), however won't be legal for competition from 2017. They are still perfectly safe and usable at home however, and we are offering them at a greatly reduced price. You can find these in our Bargain Bin.
If you have any queries regarding helmets please do not hesitate to contact us.