Protective Headwear

For 2023, all BRC members will be required to have their hats tagged with a new PINK hat tag before competing in any BRC Qualifiers or Championships.  If your had does not already have a valid pink hat tag, please report to the Secretary’s office when you arrive.  The Official Steward will then check that your hat complies with an accepted standard, and will place a pink BRC tag on it.  

The accepted standards are listed in the latest BRC handbook under “Protective Headwear”  (go to  Downloads | The British Horse Society (bhs.org.uk) You will not be allowed to ride anywhere at that event if your hat has not been tagged, and hats which do not comply with an accepted standard will not be tagged under any circumstances.  

🚨2024 Body Protector Update🚨

A body protector is mandatory in all cross-country competitions/training (where fixed fences are used).
A BETA Level 3 displaying a Blue 2018 Label must be worn where a body protector is mandatory. From 1 Jan 2024, the BETA 2009 Purple Label will no longer be accepted. The ONLY exception to this requirement is that the Exo Body Cages will continue to be accepted, provided they have a BETA Level 3 Purple 2000 Label.
If a rider chooses to wear an airbag style body protector for cross-country it must be worn over a BETA Level 3 2018 Blue Label body protector. Hybrid Air-jackets and air jackets incorporated into a blouson style jacket are permitted.
Where body protectors are not mandatory i.e. dressage/show jumping the rider may wear any level/standard body protector.

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The current valid British hat standard is : PAS 015: 2011 , Provided it is BSI kitemarked or Inspec IC marked.

For standards applicable to hats of European, American and Australia/NZ manufacture, please refer to the BRC rulebook.

Body Protectors

From 1st Jan, 2024, only body protectors with the BETA Level 3 blue 2018 label will be acceptable at any BRC competition where body protectors are mandatory. If your body protector has the purple 2009 label and the BRC event requires body protectors to be worn, you will not be able to compete.

Where the use of a body protector is mandatory, air jackets are permitted but MUST be worn over a permitted Level 3 body protector and if activated, MUST be deflated or removed before continuing. Air jackets may be worn without another body protector underneath only where the use of a body protector is not mandatory for that phase