Which riding hat?

J

Julia0803

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Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little about the hat they have?

I have recently got back into riding after a break due to university followed by children etc. I can't find my old hat. :( I'm so sad. I have had that hat since I was about 12! (I'm 27 in a month!) I had it when I got my first pony and everything. It had a lot of fond memories. :(

Anyway, I have been using the riding schools hire jockey skulls. But I do really need to get a replacement.

I have seen now that in additon to bog standard jockey skulls with silks there are now these hats with the air vents and plastic peak bit. They seem rather popular, but a lot more expensive than the other sort.

Are they worth it? Can you use them for everything? At the min I am having lessons (And absolutely loving it- thank you to those members a few weeks ago who recomended Rosehall farm. It is brilliant! I have been working on my flatwork and improving horses going- I manged to get the horse working in an outline at the weekend- still grinning like an idiot!!). BUT within the next 12 months (finances willing- fingers crossed, touch wood!!) I would like to get another horse. I will aim to be doing hacking/schooling and a bit of jumping, but this time round I REALLY want to overcome my nerves and get out and about and compete!

Not anything huge, but local stuff, and maybe try hunting.

So I need to make sure that if I went for one of these hats I could wear them for local unaf. comps- dressage, and jumping, plus maybe fun rides and xc.

Many Thanks in advance
 
The best hat is the one that fits ! Try on loads of different makes and go to good saddlers that offer a hat fitting service and that have a good reputation . They will ( or should ) try to get the design you want ( velvet or skull ) but if it doesnt fit then its not worth getting . Champion hats/skulls tend to be a deeper oval shape , Harry Hall and Charles Owen tend to be shallow rounder shape but like I say they are all different . Try new ones as if you try your friends it will already of changed to fit them not you . Hats should be replaced ever 4 or so years as the fiberglass starts to degrade and will be less strong .
 
Last March I updated my hat and went for the Gatehouse Hs-1 it is expensive roughly £120. I opted for this as I work with horses and was riding a large variety of horses and this hat is very highly qualified! I have heard that it can be hard to fit to some people, and it took a month or so for it to feel properly moulded to my head but now i live in it and love it!!!
 
Thanks for the help.

I would have normally gone to Coleman Croft near Sandridge, Herts, which is where I have alwayg bought my riding stuff since I started age 5.... but on googling them today it seems they have shut down. :(

I will go and have a look at Horse world in Wheathampstead, but as far as I am aware, I don't think they help you with fit... hmmm... I'll probably give tehm a call to ask. (Particularly as I know I have a large head- usually a 2 1/2) :o

Ooops about the 4 years thing... Probably due a new one then...:D
 
I have had my jockey skull for 22 years and it has a lot of movement so I upgraded at the weekend and treTed myself to a Harry Hall legend. It was fitted for me and for a modern hat is still quite stylish I think ( they seem so bulky nowadays).

It was £56 which I thought was reasonable and feels lovely :-)
 
Safety standards are something to think about. I always buy hats that are PAS015 standard as well as BS standard, the tack shop will advise you. Some competitons require a particular safety standerd so bear that in mind when you buy one.
 
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