The ASTM F1163 standard is the main safety standard for equestrian helmets in the United States, written in general terms to set out how a riding helmet should protect a rider’s head in a fall from a horse. It is published by ASTM International, an organisation that writes technical standards, and it covers the design, impact protection, fit, and labelling of helmets worn for horse riding.
What Is the ASTM F1163 Standard?
ASTM International is a standards organisation that brings together manufacturers, test laboratories, and safety experts to agree on how products should be made and tested. ASTM F1163 is its standard for protective headgear for horseback riding, and it applies to helmets worn by riders in a wide range of equestrian activities. The standard describes what a riding helmet must do in a fall, how it should be built, and what information must appear on its labels, so that riders and retailers can tell whether a helmet has been tested to an agreed safety level.
A standard like this is not a law in itself. It is a set of requirements that a helmet must meet before a testing laboratory can certify it, and riding organisations then choose to require helmets that carry that certification. In practice, that is what gives the standard its force: a riding school, a competition, or a livery yard can simply say that riders must wear a helmet meeting ASTM F1163, and everyone knows what that means. The current version of the standard is the one to look for, so check the certifying body’s current documents rather than relying on an old version number you remember.
Who Needs an ASTM F1163 Helmet?
In general terms, any rider who rides a horse should wear a helmet that meets a recognised equestrian standard, and in the United States that usually means ASTM F1163. It applies to riders of all levels, from a child on a first lesson at a riding school to an experienced rider competing in show jumping, dressage, or cross-country. Falls happen to beginners and experts alike, and a horse can spook, trip, or refuse a fence without warning, so head protection is not something to leave to chance.
Riding schools and competition organisers often make an approved helmet a condition of riding, and some require it before you are allowed to mount up at all. Parents buying a first helmet for a child should look for the standard as a minimum, and adult riders returning to the saddle after a break should do the same.
What Does ASTM F1163 Test for in a Riding Helmet?
In general terms, the standard tests a helmet’s ability to absorb the energy of an impact, to stay on the rider’s head during a fall, and to resist penetration by a sharp object. The impact test involves dropping the helmet onto a hard surface and measuring how much force reaches the head inside, which is how the standard judges whether the liner can do its job. The liner, usually made from expanded polystyrene foam, is the part that absorbs energy by crushing in a controlled way, and it must cover the parts of the head that the standard says must be protected.
The standard also looks at the retention system, which is the chin strap and harness that hold the helmet in place. A helmet that flies off in a fall is no use at all, so the strap must hold firmly under load without stretching so far that the helmet shifts. For background on how modern helmet technology manages rotational forces in a fall, see what MIPS is for helmets. The standard also sets requirements for the helmet’s coverage, so that the shell extends far enough down the back and sides of the head, and for the labels that tell the buyer which standard the helmet meets.
How Can You Tell If a Helmet Meets ASTM F1163?
A helmet that meets the ASTM F1163 standard carries a certification label inside it, usually fixed to the lining or the shell under the padding. The label states the standard, and it is the proof that the helmet passed the required testing. When you buy a helmet, check for that label before you pay, and be wary of any helmet that claims to meet the standard without showing it, or that carries a label that looks copied or badly printed.
It is also worth buying from a reputable equestrian retailer rather than from an unknown seller, because imitation helmets do appear for sale and they may look convincing from the outside while offering far less protection. If you are buying second hand, check the label, check the helmet’s history as far as you can, and remember that a helmet that has been in a serious fall should not be used again, even if it looks undamaged from the outside.
How Does ASTM F1163 Compare with Other Riding Helmet Standards?
ASTM F1163 is the main equestrian helmet standard in the United States, but other countries have their own. In Europe, riding helmets are commonly tested to a European standard, and in the United Kingdom there are additional national requirements that competition riders must meet. These standards are broadly similar in what they aim to do, but they are not identical, and the details of their tests differ, so a helmet certified to one standard is not automatically accepted everywhere.
Some helmets carry more than one certification, which can be useful if you compete internationally or buy a helmet made for another market. When you are choosing, start with the standard that your riding school, club, or competition body requires, and check its current rules rather than assuming that last year’s requirements still apply.
When Should You Replace an ASTM F1163 Helmet?
A riding helmet should be replaced after any serious fall in which the helmet struck the ground, even if it looks undamaged from the outside. The liner inside a helmet absorbs energy by crushing, and once it has crushed it cannot do the same job again, so a helmet that has taken a hard impact may offer far less protection next time.
Age matters too. Helmets wear out over time as the liner, straps, and padding degrade, and manufacturers generally recommend replacing a helmet after a number of years of regular use, even if it has never been dropped. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for your helmet and the current advice from the certifying body, and replace the helmet sooner if the fit has loosened, the liner feels compressed, the strap no longer holds firmly, or the shell shows cracks or damage. In general terms, a helmet that no longer fits properly is a helmet that no longer protects properly.
Does ASTM F1163 cover all kinds of horse riding?
It covers helmets worn for horseback riding in general terms, but some disciplines and competition bodies add their own requirements on top. Check the rules of the riding you do, as well as the standard itself, before you buy.
Can you use an ASTM F1163 helmet for other sports?
No, not as a substitute for a helmet made for that sport. A riding helmet is designed for the risks of falling from a horse, and other sports have different impact risks and their own standards. Use a helmet certified for the activity you are doing.
How often should a riding helmet be replaced?
After any serious fall, and otherwise in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and the current advice from the certifying body. In general terms, a helmet that is damaged, loose, or past its recommended life should be replaced rather than repaired.
Olivia
Writer at Helmet Today, covering helmet reviews, fit and riding safety.
