Like most everything in the horse world, it can be difficult to find horseback riding helmets for cheap. However, they are a vital part of your wardrobe since they provide safety and protection. If you’re someone like me who is working trying to own a horse on a budget, knowing that there are some inexpensive riding helmet options out there is a relief.
In this article, I’ve listed some of my top picks for cheap riding helmets. They vary in price and looks, but nonetheless, all of them will get the job done of protecting your head. Without further ado, here’s my list of the best cheap horseback riding helmets available:
Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet
The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is a classy look for a reasonable price. The rubberized finish on the outside of the helmet gives it a more professional look compared to a plastic finish. Because of this, the helmet would be perfect to use in and out of the show ring.
This helmet has an adjustment knob on the back, which is ideal for finding the perfect fit for your head. It also works great for kids, as you can adjust the helmet size as they continue to grow. However, this adjusting contraption can also contribute to the short lifespan of the helmet. Once the contraption breaks, the helmet is basically useless and won’t stay properly on the rider’s head.
Just looking at the helmet, you’ll notice a streamlined look that also allows for good ventilation. There’s nothing worse than riding on a hot day in a helmet that has bad ventilation. The Schooler helmet will help to keep you comfortable on your rides.
Pros:
- Inexpensive price
- Rubberized finish allows for a professional look and easy care
- Breakaway vizor to lessen trauma to the neck in the event of a fall
- Light-Weight for the rider
- Good ventilation to keep airflow through the helmet
- Adjustable dial to help the helmet fit more comfortably
- Different color options are available for this helmet
- ASTM Certified and safe
Cons:
- Adjustable Dials are fragile and once the dial breaks, the helmet is useless
- This helmet brand is known to run small, which makes finding the right size more difficult
Overall, when it comes to the Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet, the positives seem to greatly outway the negatives. This riding helmet has 514 reviews on Amazon, 84% of which are five-star. If you’re looking for a cheap helmet that won’t signal you out in the show ring, this is the way to go.
Troxel Sport Horseback Riding Helmet
The Troxel Sport Horseback Riding Helmet has made a name for itself as the iconic first helmet of most horseback riders. They’re great for lesson programs since they’re inexpensive and durable. Seeing this helmet brings back some of the earliest moments of my riding career.
While this may not be the ideal helmet for the show ring, it’s a great starter helmet. This helmet is ASTM certified, meaning that it has been through all the tests and inspections and will protect your skull just as well as any other helmet will.
Pros:
- Inexpensive price
- Durable build
- Lightweight
- ASTM certified and safe
Cons:
- Not the fanciest helmet; looks cheap
- Bulky on the rider’s head
- Visor does not break away in the event of a fall
- No adjustable dial
- Tends to be loose on the rider, which minimizes protection
Out of 221 reviews on Amazon, 82% were five-star. When it comes to shopping for a beginner rider or a child who’s getting into riding lessons, then the Troxel Sport Horseback Riding Helmet is a great choice.
IRH Equi-Lite Schooling Helmet
The IRH Equi-Lite Schooling Helmet is the perfect horseback riding helmet for kids just starting out in their riding lessons. IRH is known for its quality equestrian products, and I take it that this helmet is no different. If you have a young kid and you don’t want to invest in an expensive helmet because you know they’ll outgrow it soon, the Equi-Lite would be a good route to take.
With many inexpensive riding helmets, you’ll notice how the helmet doesn’t always fit on the rider’s head. The Equi-Lite has a 3-point harness system that helps keep the helmet secure over the skull. The adjustment dial in the back of the helmet lets you find the perfect size and the chinstrap in the front ensures that the helmet is secured on your head.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- 3-point harness system allows for a secure fit
- ASTM certified
- break-away visor to lessen trauma in the event of a fall
- Stylish enough to pass in low-level shows
- Adjustable dial to fit the helmet to the rider’s head
- Well-ventilated
Cons:
- Adjustable dials are known to be fragile; once broken the helmet is useless
- Colors tend to vary from the colors pictured according to reviews
Out of 175 reviews on Amazon, 78% were five-star. Overall, I think that this would be a great helmet to purchase, especially if you run a lesson program and need a helmet to rotate between riders. The adjustable dial makes it perfect for such an environment and the helmet could even pass at schooling shows that most lesson barns attend.
Troxel Performance Headgear Horse Riding Helmet
The Troxel Performance Headgear Horse Riding Helmet is not only inexpensive but it also provides a classy and professional look suited for the show ring. This helmet is known as “low profile”, meaning that the helmet will fit better against the skull while still adding maximized protection. The sleek design of this helmet can be a great addition to show attire and help complete a well-put-together look.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Great look for the show ring
- low-profile
- adjustable dial to fit the rider’s head
- durable
- ASTM certified
- The rubberized coating which makes for easy cleaning and no glare
Cons:
- Adjustable dials are known to be fragile and once they break, the helmet is useless.
This helmet only has 9 reviews on Amazon, but overall scores a 4.9 rating out of 5. You can’t beat this quality for this price, especially if you compete but you’re on a budget. I would recommend this helmet to any rider who is looking for a new one. Troxel is known to be a good trustworthy manufacturer, which makes them that much easier to deal with.
Tipperary Sportage Equestrian Sport Helmet
The Tipperary Sportage Equestrian Sport Helmet is a lightweight non-traditionally shaped helmet that offers maximum protection. I see many of these helmets used by eventers, jumpers, trail riders, and western riders and not only do they look good, but they have some other perks worth mentioning.
This helmet is made with ABS material, a material that can heavily resist impact. This keeps your head safe! It also has a flexible visor to lessen the trauma in the event of a fall and it has a reflective strip on the back of the helmet to make you more visible to passers-by.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- ASTM certified
- lightweight and well-ventilated
- Made from ABS material to offer maximum protection
- Flexible visor to lessen trauma in the event of a fall
- Reflective strip to make you more visible to motorists and passers-by
- Drop-back shell to offer protection to your entire skull
Cons:
- The visor does not break away
- There’s no adjustable dial so you have to make sure you have your exact head measurement when purchasing
- The design may not be appealing to all disciplines of riding
Out of 344 reviews on Amazon, 87% were five-star. This helmet seems like a great purchase and I like the shape and uniqueness of the helmet, but I know that it probably wouldn’t be appealing to judges in the hunter ring. While this isn’t the cheapest helmet on my list, it’s still a reasonable deal!
Dublin Jet Helmet
While the Dublin Jet Helmet is a little lesser known than the other helmet manufacturers on this list, this helmet is to no be overlooked. It’s stylish, adjustable, and cheap! It’s biggest draw is the air vents that allow for airflow and ventilation in the helmet. This can help keep your head cool on a hot day.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Well-ventilated with maximum airflow
- adjustable dial to fit better to your head
- ASTM certified
- Stylish enough to wear to low-level shows
Cons:
- Adjustable dials are fragile and once broken, the helmet will be useless
- This helmet doesn’t seem like it guards the complete skull against trauma as some of the other helmets on our list do
- The visor does not break away, which could contribute to neck injuries in the event of a fall.
While Amazon only has 11 reviews about this helmet, all the comments are positive. The adjustable dials allow for young riders to continue to grow and be able to use the same helmet. Many riders think that the helmet was better than expected compared to the price they purchased it for.
Ovation Unisex Sync Riding Helmet
Whoever knew of a horseback riding helmet with an adjustable dial that still managed to be low profile. Well, the Ovation Unisex Sync Riding Helmet has it all. The adjustable clip allows this helmet to fit comfortably to your head but also maintains a form-fitting look with optimal protection.
This riding helmet comes with some other perks as well; its rubberized finish makes it easy to clean and classy enough for the show ring. The helmet also has reflective piping on the outside of the helmet to make you more visible to passersby.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Adjustable dial to fit your head
- Lightweight
- Low profile
- Breakaway visor to lessen trauma in the event of a fall
- Reflective piping to make you more visible
- ASTM certified
- Rubberized finish for easy care
- Classy enough for the show ring
Cons:
- Adjustable dials tend to be fragile and once they break, the helmet is useless
With this helmet, the pros greatly outway the cons. This particular helmet had 44 reviews on Amazon, 82% of which were five-star. I would highly recommend this helmet for trail riders since the reflective strips will help make you seen at night, by traffic, and close to other pedestrians.
TuffRider Starter Horse Riding Safety Helmet
At first, I was a little leary to put the TuffRider Starter Horse Riding Safety Helmet on this list simply because I couldn’t find whether or not this helmet was ASTM certified. After some digging, I did, in fact, find that this helmet is certified, hence the reason it’s the last helmet on the list.
Overall, this helmet seems to be one of the best “bangs for your buck.” I love the look of this helmet and all the benefits it comes with.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- ASTM certified
- ABS outer shell resists cracking when struck
- EBS inner liner helps to absorb impact
- Lightweight
- Well-ventilated
- Breakaway visor to lessen trauma in the event of a fall
- Classy look
- Adjustable dial to fit your head
Cons:
- Adjustable dials are known to be fragile and when broken, the helmet will be useless.
On Amazon, this helmet has 10 reviews, all of which are positive. This helmet seems to be a steal for the price it’s offered at. I’m a fan of all of TuffRider’s products, so I’ll recommend this helmet.
What Helmets NOT to Wear Horseback Riding:
Before we get started, It’s important to review what helmets are not OK to wear horseback riding. While these helmets may be safety-approved for their specific activities, they have never been professionally tested to work when it comes to horseback riding. Horseback riding helmets are tested and proven to withstand trauma when it comes to horseback riding.
Here are helmets you shouldn’t wear on a horse:
- Bicycle Helmets
- Motorcycle Helmets
- Football Helmets
- Hunting Caps Without a Chin Strap
- Any Riding Helmet That Isn’t ASTM-Approved
Horseback riding helmets are designed to closely fit the rider’s entire skull, covering from the forehead to the bottom of the skull in the back of the head. The reason certain other kinds of helmets are not used for horseback riding is that they do not allow for the close fit and they don’t cover the entire skull.
What Does ASTM-Approved Mean?
ASTM stands for American Society for Testing and Materials. This is an organization that tests products to see if they are approved for their specific function. While a bicycling helmet may be ASTM-approved for biking, it isn’t approved for horseback riding.
When you find an ASTM-approved horseback riding helmet, it means that the brand of helmet has been put through a series of tests and inspections to ensure that it will keep your skull protected in the event of a fall, a kick, or any other head trauma you may experience when it comes to horseback riding.
Likewise, not all horseback riding helmets you find will be ASTM-approved. It’s always important to check to see if your helmet has the approval to be used for horseback riding to ensure your safety.
How To Measure for a Horseback Riding Helmet
If you plan on purchasing a horseback riding helmet online, you’ll want to know your helmet size ahead of time. A properly fitting helmet should securely fit over your head, from your forehead to the back of your skull. If you shake your head back and forth, the helmet should stay in place instead of slipping forward or backward.
To measure for a riding helmet, you’re going to take a string and wrap it around the widest part of your head. this will from about one inch above your eyebrows and over the bump on the back of your head.
Once you’ve wrapped the string around your head, make sure you mark the length. Take it from around your head and use a tape measure to determine the length. The measurement of the string should determine your helmet size.
Now that you’ve found a great riding helmet, it’s time to find some riding attire. Check our recommended riding attire by clicking here! Read this article to learn how often to replace your riding helmet.
