Abstract
Currently-available jockey helmets are typically assessed against performance standards which cater to equestrian helmets for all horse riding activities; however, severe impacts and head injuries in horse racing have become the focus of concern. The EN 14572 High Performance Helmets for Equestrian Activities Standard included a series of high energy impacts and other tests, such as lateral crush, that are not included in other equestrian helmet standards. Currently no helmet has been manufactured to meet this standard. This study assessed the energy attenuation performance of several materials that could be used to construct the inner liner of a jockey helmet designed to manage head acceleration to tolerable levels in high energy impacts. Among the materials assessed, it was found that dual-material samples performed better than single-material samples, with the combination of two polyurethane foams returning the lowest peak linear headform accelerations for higher drop heights. The results from this study compared well against the results of a similar study, with samples having better energy attenuation performance and smaller thicknesses. This study demonstrates the potential for new materials, and the layering of materials with different characteristics, to be considered for use in protective helmets.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.