What Riding Helmet to Buy for Your Child: A Parent's Guide
Highbrow Ranch is reader-supported. Some links in this post are affiliate links — if you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Buying your child's first riding helmet feels overwhelming — prices run from $40 to $400+ and the options are endless. Here's the good news: it doesn't have to be complicated. A good first helmet costs $60–$150, carries ASTM F1163 and SEI certification, and fits snugly with no movement. Everything else is preference.
👉 Browse all our kids' riding helmet picks in one place →
Our Top 4 Picks
- Best budget option: Great for starting lessons — affordable, certified, and ideal for a first helmet. Less adjustable than premium models.
- Most adjustable: Cute and highly adjustable — mid-range, grows with your child, and it actually looks good.
- Best for English riding: Designed for English lessons — classic shape and excellent fit for hunt, jumper, and dressage.
- Best looking: Premium pick — if your child cares how it looks (they do), this one pairs safety with style.
All four are certified and well-reviewed. See them side by side →
Certification Is Non-Negotiable
ASTM F1163 is the American equestrian helmet standard — impact, penetration, and retention testing. SEI means an independent lab verified it. CE is the European equivalent.
If a helmet doesn't have ASTM F1163 and SEI, don't buy it — no matter how much you like it. Every helmet in our picks is certified.
Measure First
Soft tape measure, just above the eyebrows, around the widest part of the head.
- XS: 19–20 in (48–51 cm)
- S: 20–21 in (51–53 cm)
- M: 21–22 in (53–56 cm)
- L: 22–23 in (56–58 cm)
- XL: 23–24 in (58–61 cm)
Write the number down and remeasure every 6–12 months. Kids grow fast.
Pick a Style
- English — smooth shape, small peak, black or navy. Best for hunt, jumper, and dressage. $60–$200. → our English pick
- Western — wider brim for sun protection. $50–$180.
- All-purpose — works for both, good if your child hasn't chosen a discipline. $60–$150. → our most adjustable pick
Ask your instructor which style your barn uses before you buy.
Check the Fit
- Sits level, 1–2 fingers above the eyebrows
- Barely moves front-to-back or side-to-side
- Cheek pads snug, with about one finger of room
- One finger of space under the chin when buckled
- Still comfortable after 10–15 minutes of wear
Shifts when they move? Too big. Pinches? Too small. And never size up hoping they'll grow into it — the helmet has to fit now to protect now.
What to Spend
- $40–$80 buys a solid certified beginner helmet. → start here
- $80–$150 gets better ventilation, lighter weight, and nicer looks. This is the sweet spot. → this one
- $150+ is Charles Owen / IRH / Ovation Elite territory — great for competitive kids, usually overkill for beginners. → if you want the nicest one
For a first helmet, aim for $60–$100.
Where to Buy
Our curated picks — every helmet in this post, in one place.
Also worth checking: Dover Saddlery and SmartPak online, local tack shops (best for trying on), or Facebook Marketplace and consignment shops (cheapest). If you buy used, confirm the helmet has never been in a fall — internal damage doesn't show from the outside.
Replace the Helmet When…
- It's been in a fall or dropped hard, even if it looks fine
- It's more than 5 years old
- It no longer fits
- The chin strap is damaged
The Bottom Line
Certification and fit. That's the whole decision. Get the measurement, pick from our four tested helmets, and your child is covered for the next few years of riding.
More in this series — Kids & Riding