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This page explains what governing bodies, standards bodies and veterinary bodies publish. It is not a substitute for instruction from a qualified coach or riding school, and it does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
This tool reads a rule, not a helmet
It compares the standards you tick with a body's published list. It does not check that a helmet carries the label, the quality mark or the tag the rule requires, that it fits, or that it is undamaged. The body's current rules and its officials decide at the competition.
How it works
The FEI's list of accepted helmet standards, published on 1 July 2025 and effective on 1 January 2026, phases standards in and out over three years. For 2026 it accepts any one of seven standards. For 2027 it fully accepts four (PAS 015:2011, Snell E2016 or E2021, EN 1384:2023 and ASTM F1163:23) and accepts ASTM F1163:2015 only together with one of the other three, and VG1 with EN 1384:2017 only together with one of the four. From 1 January 2028 it requires at least two of the four. We read the FEI list through copies hosted by other bodies, because the FEI's own page could not be opened.
Equestrian Australia's February 2026 notice follows the FEI list for FEI events and gives national competition more time: the 2027 conditions run until 31 December 2028 and the two-standard rule starts on 1 January 2029. US Equestrian's list has been in force since 1 August 2023 and is not the FEI list; the tool applies it to hunter and jumper competitions under rule GR801 and to dressage competitions, where US Equestrian's 2026 dressage booklet (rule DR120.1.1) requires headgear compliant with GR801. The UK unified rules of British Riding Clubs, British Eventing and The Pony Club cover 2026, and we found no UK rule for 2027 or later.
The tool compares the standards you tick with the rule for the body and date you choose. Bodies also require quality marks and, in the UK, a hat tag; the tool reports those requirements but cannot check them.
Sources
- FEI, Accepted Testing Standards for Protective Headgear, effective 1 January 2026 (copy hosted by an Australian campdraft body; the FEI's own page could not be opened)
- Equestrian Australia, FEI Jumping Rules 2026 as reproduced by EA, including the FEI headgear list
- US Equestrian, list of applicable international testing standards for protective headgear (effective 1 August 2023)
- US Equestrian, Dressage Attire and Equipment booklet (1 May 2026), rule DR120.1.1
- US Eventing, USEF Board approves amendment to protective headgear rule (26 July 2023)
- British Riding Clubs, Hat Rules 2026 (BHS-hosted)
- The Pony Club (UK), Hat Rule, no changes for 2026
- Equestrian Australia, Progressive Change to Helmet Standards (4 February 2026)
- Equestrian Australia, Accepted Helmet Standards for EA National Competition (February 2026)
- Equestrian Australia, notice of 22 April 2026