Helmet Standards — Frequently Asked Questions

Earlier this year, Equestrian Australia (EA) published a progressive update to the helmet standards accepted for EA competitions in Australia. (Note: implementation timelines for FEI competitions are earlier.) Full details are available at the EA National Helmet Standards page.

EA's published standards outline which helmets will be accepted at EA competitions during the periods indicated. While EA does not regulate helmet compliance outside of competition, we strongly encourage all athletes to transition to helmets that meet the post-1 January 2029 standards as soon as possible.
Wearing a compliant helmet in competition is the sole responsibility of the athlete. In line with other leading equestrian nations, EA uses a colour-tagging system to help officials identify compliant helmets.

We've received a number of questions about how the tagging system works:

Q: Do I have to wait until 1 January 2029 to receive a green tag, even if my helmet already meets the post-2029 requirements?
A: No. Helmets that already meet those requirements can be green-tagged now.

Q: Some yellow-tagged helmets may only meet standards that will no longer be accepted after 1 January 2027. Will those helmets be re-inspected and re-tagged if they comply with the interim (January 2027–January 2029) standards?
A: No. It remains each athlete's responsibility to wear a compliant helmet in competition. EA does not intend to carry out an interim re-tagging exercise. All helmets will be progressively re-tagged green once they meet the January 2029 standards.

Q: Are there any insurance implications for riders who use non-compliant helmets outside of competition?
A: No. Under the general regulations, helmets meeting EA's accepted competition standards are only required to be worn at competitions. These rules do not extend to private riding settings such as at home. Based on this, the use of a helmet that does not meet EA's competition standards while riding outside of competition would not ordinarily affect access to EA insurance coverage. However, as with any insurance matter, coverage may depend on the specific circumstances of an incident.

To view all current helmet standards, visit: equestrian.org.au/content/helmet-standards-and-tagging

For further questions, please contact your State Branch or email [email protected].