3 Best Horse Riding Helmets for Kids Sold on Amazon

There are countless styles and brands of horse riding helmets available for kids, but which are the best? My daughter wants to ensure her kids have proper protection when they ride their horses. So I did some research to help her find quality helmets on Amazon.

The best riding helmets for kids for sale on Amazon are the Tipperary Sportage Helmet, the Troxel Liberty Schooling Helmet, and the Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet. All three of these are ASTM-SEI certified or approved to the SEI standards to provide the best protection for your child’s head.

Many parents pick their child’s riding helmet based on how it looks or its price. But that’s not how safety equipment should be chosen.

How to Choose the Best Horse Riding Helmet for Kids

Horse riding is an exciting sport, but it is also one in that kids often get injured. Helmets significantly reduce the risk of injury, but finding the right helmet for kids can be challenging as countless styles and brands of horse riding helmets are available.

35.7 individuals per 100,000 sustain horse-riding injuries in the USA yearly, typically involving head injuries to kids between 10-14 years of age.

We want our kids to have fun and experience the joy of riding horses, but we must make it as safe as possible. One of the most effective ways to reduce the risks of injury is ensuring they wear proper safety equipment while horse riding.

Whether your child is a seasoned rider or a beginner equestrian, a quality riding helmet protects children from severe head injuries. But what do you need to know to choose the right one?

Make sure the helmet fits your child correctly.

The first thing you need to know about choosing the right horseriding helmet is having one that fits properly is essential. Not only is a comfortable fit going to make riding more enjoyable for your child, but the helmet will protect their head at its optimal level.

A helmet provides the best protection when it fits properly. A properly fitting helmet should fit your child’s head snugly, this doesn’t mean tight, but rather it shouldn’t move around loosely on their head.

An ill-fitting helmet is better than no helmet, but they are designed to work best when they fit correctly. The fit of the riding helmet plays a significant role in its ability to protect a child’s head.

Basically, your child’s helmet should fit somewhat tight but not too tight and not have any pressure points. If the kid’s helmet hardly makes it over its forehead or is sliding around, then it could obstruct vision and increase the risk of an accident when riding.

Don’t expect your child to squeeze in or grow into a helmet. Buy a helmet that fits correctly or an adjustable helmet, one you can size and properly fit your child’s head to have the best possible protection.

Not all helmet sizes fit the same. Just like boots or pants, some helmet brands run larger than others. Another factor is the shape of the helmet; some are round, while others are oval.

If you buy your helmet from a local store, have your child try it on and ask them if the helmet is comfortable. Our kids often ride in nearby pastures, and I can imagine them taking off their helmets once out of our site if it’s hurting their heads.

If you buy your new helmet over the internet, make sure they have a good return policy –Amazon’s made it painless to return products, that’s why we use them; if the size isn’t right, you can easily return it for one that’s just right.

Ensure the helmet is made with protective material.

The helmet’s exterior is the first thing that shields your child’s head from the impact of a fall. The helmet’s surface should either be fiberglass or plastic to protect against the fall’s impact and distribute the force of the blow evenly.

The internal foam padding of the helmet provides cushioning and comfort. If the helmet’s interior feels hard, it will likely hurt their head, so reconsider the model and try another style.

Most of the fabric lining used in riding helmets are moisture-wicking and breathable – and they’re also designed to be pretty comfortable.  Most of the newer linings last a long time, but if the internal lining feels loose, it should be replaced.

The liner encases the protective material that is essential to protect children’s heads. The protective material is commonly a filling that contains minuscule beads.

These beads absorb impact and are made to prevent severe head injuries and brain damage. Most riding helmet liners are removable. They are typically attached with plastic studs; you just need to carefully pull them out.

Once you have the liner out, they can be machine washed but don’t take my word for this; follow the helmet’s user guide to be sure it’s safe.

Proper ventilation is essential in riding helmets.

Ventilation is the easiest way to differentiate between a proper and a poor horse riding helmet. Holes on the helmet provide ventilation by allowing the crossflow of air into and out of the kid’s helmet.

Helmets will make a difference in how warm or cold your head feels. Ventilation allows for the release of heat, so your child doesn’t get overheated when riding.

Properly designed helmets allow for sufficient airflow to keep your child’s head cool on hot days, but the negative is they reduce protection from sharp objects. The best ventilation design is an individual preference based on your child’s riding situation.

We live in southern Louisiana and do most of our riding in the heat. So we choose helmets that provide optimal ventilation. But I imagine people who spend more time riding in cooler weather would like a helmet that doesn’t release as much heat.

Helmet weight is critical when choosing a child helmet.

The weight of the helmet you buy for your child should be considered, and it’s important to understand why. Our necks are made to hold our heads’ weight, so wearing a helmet puts additional strain on our children’s necks.

And with the technology of today’s helmets, heavier doesn’t necessarily equate to better protection. Helmets protect in two ways, cushioning impact and protecting against abrasions and penetrating objects.

Impact cushioning is achieved with an insulating material such as foam beads and is not based on weight but rather on the material and design’s effectiveness.

The same goes for protection against abrasion and penetration. Again material and design are the critical factors in determining the helmet’s effectiveness, not its thickness or weight.

When buying horse riding helmets, you need one that your child can handle and is lightweight, and a heavy helmet will tire them and make their neck sore.

You don’t want your kid to lose their focus and concentration because of a massive and unwieldy helmet. If your child falls in their helmet, you should replace it.

The good thing is most manufacturers have an accident replacement program. Check with the manufacturer about their helmet accident replacement program; you may need to register your product.

3 Best Horse Riding Helmets for Kids

It’s impractical to try out every helmet available on the market. To help you find the best one, I’ve reviewed the top three horse-riding helmets for kids that you can buy on Amazon.

Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet

Best overall

The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is lightweight and perfect for kids who play various horse sports like Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, Pleasure Riding, Schooling, and Jumper.

I love that this helmet doesn’t have a mushroom head look and is available in different colors. The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is designed with high-density ABS material and high-quality plastic that ensures maximum protection.

It is one of the safest horse riding helmets with adjustable straps for a snug fit, making sure the kids don’t inadvertently make the straps loosen.

Highlights

• Adjustable dial
• Lightweight and versatile
• Removable and washable liner
• Comfortable over the forehead

Overall Impression

The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is well-padded, lightweight, and well-ventilated, and the adjustable fit ensures comfort regardless of the head size.

Customer Reviews: 4.7 stars. Click here to learn what over 120 people have to say about the Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet.

Troxel Spirit Performance Helmet

Best lightweight and versatile helmet

The Troxel Spirit Performance Helmet is well-constructed with additional padding for kids to protect their heads from a hard blow due to an accidental fall. This helmet provides multiple padding options that kids can customize if it is not a snug fit.

I specifically like how it covers the lower part of the head. It is very comfortable and protects the skull instead of producing pressure points.

The Troxel Spirit Performance Helmet provides excellent ventilation. It comes with a soft padded lining that prevents sweating and moisture. The helmet’s exterior is made of ABS high-impact plastic, ensuring complete protection of your child’s skull.

The helmet weighs only 16 ounces and can be easily adjusted to fit adults, making it one of the most popular helmets on the market. The helmet has a soft nylon strap with padding on the ear and chin straps, providing maximum comfort and minimal friction.

Highlights

• Very lightweight
• Flexible visor
• Well-ventilated
• Padded straps
• Contoured drop-back shell

Overall Impression

Customer Reviews: 4.8 stars. Click here to read the reviews of 95% of buyers who gave a 5-star rating.

Troxel Liberty Schooling Helmet

Best Price

The Troxel Liberty Schooling Helmet is an excellent model for kids looking for their first helmet. This helmet offers high ventilation and comes with six mesh-covered vents to keep the kids cool and stress-free.

I like this helmet’s dial system that enables me to adjust it to my kid’s head for a perfect snug fit. It is designed to ensure protection against all sorts of hard blows.

The inside convenient padded liner plus the adjustable band in the back ensures every kid gets a comfortable fit.

Highlights

• Dial size adjustment
• Multiple mesh openings
• Low-profile sleek look
• High ventilation
• Affordable

Overall Impression

I love Troxel Liberty Schooling Helmet as it offers security and protection at a very affordable price.

Customer Reviews: 4.4 stars. There aren’t many customer reviews of this helmet, only thirteen, but you can click here to find out what customers who have used this helmet have to say.

Conclusion

No matter the riding type, it is crucial to ensure your child wears a suitable horse-riding helmet. A horse riding helmet ensures kids’ safety and protects them from some dangers and risks associated with horseback riding.

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