EMSA FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

FAQ – HELMETS

 

1. Is there any evidence or test results which suggest that the highest price ASTM/SEI helmets are more protective than those which are less expensive ?

There is no evidence that higher priced helmets or those which use exotic materials test better than the other certified models.  We don’t do comparison testing in the U.S. because one model will absorb more impact better than another on one impact site and then it may absorb less at another site.  Without knowing where an individual head is going to be impacted, there is no fair way to say that any one model is superior.  The Safety Equipment Institute and the manufacturer receive test result numbers, and unless the manufacturer releases them to someone, they are considered to be proprietary information.  Over the years some manufacturers have shared their information and from that limited data it appears that the least expensive sports helmets test the best; but all of the helmets on the certified product list exceed the minimum standards.  The ultra-light helmets with soft shells on the outside must add extra liner material in order to pass the equestrian hazard anvil test. This test approximates the edge of a horseshoe or the sharp edge of a jump standard.  A larger liner means a larger helmet, which not only absorbs energy but which also works to deflect blows toward the face, an uncovered area which is a frequent recipient of an impact. 
In general, for the small percentage of riders who have a difficulty getting a good fit in a less expensive helmet made in the range of XS-S-M-L-XL the more expensive helmets which come in the old style size increments of 1/8 inch may be a more comfortable alternative.  There are safety implications in a helmet which really doesn’t fit well.  The various available fitting systems (dial-a-fit, extra sizer pads, etc.) have all made it easier to get a better fit in a less expensive model.

 

2. Do any companies test beyond the ASTM standard and make those results available to the public ?

Most if not all companies test beyond the minimum standard, and most of them test other companies’ products for comparison, but this information is not shared with the public.
However, the very respected Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund in the U.K. has funded comparison testing by the Transportation Research Laboratory which has chosen its own series of tests (loosely based on the strictest UK standard, PAS015 and ASTM F1163 ) and give star ratings, much like what the Consumers’ Union does here in the US.  There is a difference in what I would call “style” in how these two standards evolved.  The PAS was the work of a small number of interested parties in the UK; ASTM F1163 took four years to write and had input from a huge range of volunteer specialists, with hundreds of people finally arriving at consensus as to its provisions.  TRL chose what it preferred from each standard ( again, the opinion of some highly trained engineers).  If you want to see their conclusions, have a look at www.mdirf.co.uk and select ENHAP TESTING RESULTS.  Unfortunately only one US manufacturer’s products were tested, but some of the products with high star ratings are dual certified in both countries and were ranked near the top of their style divisions.

Several years ago the Canadian Equestrian Federation funded a comparison study carried out by Biokinetics Inc. The result was that the two standards used by TRL were felt to be the best available.

3. Is there any guidance on the types of impact that damage helmets ?  For example, a helmet falling off a tack trunk and hitting the floor, a minor impact to the head, a horse banging his head on top of the helmet ?  Would all of these helmets need to be replaced ?

Counter to conventional wisdom, the forward speed of the fall is less important than the height from which we fall; gravity is consistent and it doesn’t matter in which sport or non-sport we fall and hit our heads, the damage from the same height will be the same for a particular individual. New research in other sports shows that there are major differences in vulnerability between different people, probably based on genetics, age, and previous impacts suffered.
The helmet with no head inside falling off the tack trunk, or out of the back seat of the car is unlikely to show any liner crush, and the liner is the most important part of the helmet as far as absorbing energy is concerned.  The horse who whacks you with his big bony head enough for you to feel pain is another story, and there are plenty of concussions which happen that way. Those helmets should be replaced, unless the blow was to your face and didn’t impact the helmet. We have also seen reports of riders who fell on their buttocks with no impact to the head on any surface and have suffered concussion; that helmet would also be unlikely to suffer damage.  Since liner crush is most frequent between the helmet shell where it touches the liner, it is invisible unless the helmet is taken apart.  A test lab or manufacturer can do this, but it is destructive to the helmet.  In the test lab we have taken impacted helmets and sawed them in half to see how much crush has occurred and where.  Unfortunately X-rays are not definitive; an MRI might be, but obviously the expense is hugely greater than replacing the impacted helmet, and considering how busy imaging facilities are these days getting approval for such a test would be quite a feat !

4. Do you have a listing of companies that either replace or provide discounts for damaged helmets ?  What are their requirements ?  I think this is useful information when purchasing a new helmet.

If you go to www.seinet.org and select Certified Products, Equestrian Helmets, you will see that there are many companies listed. Some of these have no US sales at this time, and the list is constantly being updated.  The place to find out about a particular model’s replacement policy, if any, is to read the fitting instructions/owners manual which comes with most helmets.  In general, there may be a time limit for replacement, a requirement that a copy of the original sales slip be produced, or you may have been required to register your helmet with the manufacturer within a short period after purchase.  In some cases you must work through a distributor, not a manufacturer or retailer to find out if they will replace the helmet. The wise purchaser will ALWAYS read the manual, because a discount on replacement of a higher priced model is a good investment.

 

FAQ – BODY PROTECTORS

1. Can BODY PROTECTORS keep me from having a back injury ?

Internal injuries ?  Shoulder/collarbone injuries ? Rib fractures ?

When a rider falls there are different forces at work.  Falling backward and hitting a jump rail, falling forward and hitting on the shoulder or an outstretched hand/arm, falling with the horse and being rolled upon, landing flat or landing with a twisted body; all of these can result in injuries.

Different models of body protectors cover different parts of the body, and some have laced fitting sections which have little to no energy absorbing material.  Separate shoulder/collarbone protection exists from some manufacturers.

Manufacturer labeling can give a rider an idea as to the protective qualities claimed, and no manufacturer claims that a body protector can protect against all injury.  Certainly an area not covered by the garment (such as the lower abdomen in most cases) will not be protected.  Nor can injuries to the back which involve torque be avoided. 

There have been a few studies done in the United Kingdom over the years, and it appears that body protectors made to modern standards may help protect against some rib fractures. However, when a horse rolls over a rider depending on positioning rib fractures and worse are mostly inevitable. 

Shoulder protection devices appear to give some protection of both the collarbone and the shoulder. Past thinking was that the outstretched arm/hand impacting the ground was responsible for collarbone fractures, but now it is felt that more of those fractures are caused by a direct blow to the shoulder.

The original body protectors were developed for steeplechasing, with its special hazards inherent in a group of horses moving at speed over large fences. Since chase jockeys may be run over by following horses when they fall, the appeal of padding which might prevent caulks or studs on shoes from contacting the rider’s body is obvious. Over the years British vests have been made to three different levels of protection, the smallest and lightest of these geared toward flat racing, the second level toward recreational riders in activities deemed of average risk, and the third toward steeplechasing and eventing. 

In the U.S. the American Society for Testing and Materials developed F1937 which is considered to be somewhere between the British levels 2 and 3.  In 2008 a separate ASTM standard F2681 has been developed for the use of racing jockeys who have sizing issues with the normal range of F1937 body protectors.  The difference in protective level between the two is minimal.

Short answer:  a body protector is mainly useful to prevent minor penetrating injuries, bruises, abrasions, possibly some rib fractures, and probably some shoulder injuries. 

To read more, go to the EMSA/AMEA past newsletters and look in the index for the issues with body protector articles.

 

FAQ  - LIGHTNING

17. Will lightning scare my horse ?

1. It might, but more importantly, lightning can kill you.  A lightning bolt is 54,000 degrees Farenheit and heats the surrounding air to 18,000 degrees F, twice the temperature of the sun.  It is hot enough to fuse sand into glass.  The typical lightning bolt is 1 gigavolt ( 1000 million volts).  It seeks the past of least electrical resistance, ie: metal (horseshoes, bits, stirrups), or the tallest object (a rider on a horse, a tree).

17. How do I prevent being caught in a thunderstorm ?

1. I suggest that prior to planning a trail ride, or before riding outside that you get a good weather briefing.  If you missed your local TV forecast, just go to www.weather.com or www.wunderground.com and look at the local forecast.

Since the exact time of local thunderstorms cannot be predicted, if there is a possibility of a storm you should keep a frequent eye to the sky and get back to a safe location before the storm hits.  In most parts of the country the majority of summer thunderstorms start in late morning, so an early ride makes sense.

17. If I am caught outdoors in a thunderstorm, how do I keep safe?

1. Avoid being the path of least electrical resistance.  Keep away from water.

Avoid high ground.  Avoid metal objects like fences and poles.  Avoid being under a tree; 25% of all outdoor lightning fatalities happened to people under trees.  Crouch down. Keep away from other people by at least 15 feet so if one of you is hit others can provide help or CPR.  Do not stand under a tree or a partially open shelter.

17. What can I do to protect my horse from lightning ?

1. The best advice is to steer clear of a dangerous situation. Plan ahead !  Failing that, at least one expert recommends that you put distance between yourself and your horse, since is likely to be carrying metal.    

If a thunderstorm is advancing toward you, and you can see it – flee it !  If you can hear it – clear it !

 

FAQ  - NEISS 2007

Q.  Where can I find emergency room admission information regarding equestrian-related injuries ?

A. EQUESTRIAN INJURIES IN U.S.EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Centers for Disease Control researchers do an annual estimate of U.S. equestrian injuries based on coding done at key hospital emergency departments.   Doris Bixby-Hammett MD has analyzed these reports going back to 1990 and they are available in the EMSA (formerly AMEA) newsletter archives.

The most recent of these articles using 2007 figures can be accessed Part1 , Part2 .

Past articles can be found in the following issues:

February 1994
February 1995
November 1995
November 1996
August 1997
November 1997
December 1999
December 2001  
Fall 2002
Fall 2006

There are many other excellent studies of equestrian injuries in the archives; the index can be sorted by topic, author or date to find them.

©2010 EMSA