Crewe & District Pony Club
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Hat Rule 2007
It
is mandatory for all Members to wear a protective helmet manufactured to one of
the minimum standards listed below. It
must bear the CE mark and a quality symbol, either the BSI Kitemark,
the SAI Global symbol or the official Snell label with number. The CE
symbol on its own is not sufficient to ensure consistent standard of
manufacture. The PAS 015:1998
and the Snell E2001 meet higher impact criteria and therefore give more
protection.
NB
The prefix ‘BS’ on the EN 1384 standard does not mean that the
hat has undergone batch testing by the British Standards Institute – the hat
must contain the BSI Kitemark as well.
The
fit of the hat and the adjustment of the harness are as crucial as the quality.
Members are advised to try several makes to find the best fit, the hat
should not move on the head when the head is tipped forward. Hats
must be replaced after a severe impact, subsequent protection will be
significantly reduced. Hats deteriorate with age and should be replaced after
three to five years depending upon the amount of use. Hats must
be worn when mounted (this includes at prize-giving) with a chinstrap fastened
at all times. Hats with vertical plastic/metallic strips are permitted.
The Official Steward/Organiser may, at his discretion, eliminate a
competitor riding in the area of the competition without a hat or with the
chinstrap unfastened or a hat that does not comply with these standards. Children
under 9 years old
Medical
advice is that children’s neck muscles do not develop adequately to support a
fairly heavy helmet until the age of nine. Therefore
it may be appropriate for children under nine years of age to wear a lightweight
hat made to comply with above requirements. Hats
with long ventilation slits are not allowed for Members over nine years old.
Hat
Checks and Tagging
The Branch
DC will appoint two Branch officials (one of whom may be the DC) who are
familiar with The Pony Club rule for hats to carry out hat checks and tag each
hat that complies with the above requirements with a Pony Club hat tag.
Hats fitted with a Pony Club tag will not need to be checked on
subsequent occasions. Tags may only be fitted by one of the two appointed Branch officials after they have personally checked the hat. Tagging indicates that a hat meets the above standards, NO check of the fit and condition of the hat is implied.
It is considered to be the responsibility of the Member’s parent or guardian to ensure that their hat complies with the required standards and is tagged before they go to any Pony Club event. Also to ensure that the manufacturer’s guidelines with regard to fit and replacement are followed.
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