Very small helmets

[horsemadmom]

Hi!
Does anyone know a make of children's riding helmet for toddler sized heads. I've seen the Troxel with the dial but only on US sites. I'm researching this for a therapeutic riding centre (miracle workers!) who often have children with CP as young as 2. Anything that fits under 50cm?

[cedmonds]

HI my DS had a hat from aged two and had a chamipon crash hat. I think charles owen goes that small as well. His hat was a 00 if thats any help but i think they do smaller. |

[cedmonds]

Just looked at Charles Owen go as small as 000 which is tiny.

[CMOTdibbler]

The Polly Hat goes down to 48, is adjustable, light and cheap - sounds ideal for this, but I have no experience of them.

Charles Owen go down to an 000 which is 49cm

[Butkin]

Until DD was 3 she rode in her troxel-style cycle helmet which had the same safety rating as a riding helmet and was much smaller and a better fit.

She was too small for Charles Owen or Champion until then.

[CluckyKate]

Another vote for the Polly hat - is made of the same lightweight material as a cycle helmet (so better than a conventional skull hat for little necks) but covers more of the crown so much safer.
Being adjustable means it will last much longer too [nods]

[horsemadmom]

Thanks all! Anyone else?

[horseymum]

second the charles owen going really small - my kids have fitted the 000 from below age 2 definitely. Our RDA centre has several children aged up to 9/10 who would use them too, with microcephaly. It is only one of the C & O styles that goes that small, if I remember our centre ordered from the rideaway catalogue. The polly hats would be good if neck control is an issue, being lighter. Whereabouts are you because at British RDA centres, riders can ride without a helmet under certain conditions, with permission froma physio and parents, in an enclosed area with a sidewalker. This may be something to look into? Also, if you phone charles owen up, they will recommend you a shop which has experience of fitting hats to 'less average' shapes and can safely pad a hat to fit. If all else fails, they can actually make specially, I think it is quite expensive though.

[horsemadmom]

Hi Horseymum,
The centre is in Israel and works with a wider range of issues than a British RDA. The health system there diagnoses children and gets them into therapy very early. Example- I assisted with a diagnosed autistic boy age 2 1/2. For the CP kids and the ones with dystonia, a lighter helmet would be better. They do work with them without helmets with the therapist mounted behind the child, side walkers and a leader but progress them when possible to riding with just a leader. That's when the helmets become an issue although, the horses are complete saints! Also OCD, PTSD and other emotionally challenged kids need the least cumbersome thing possible.
I had a bit of a weep watching a girl who started at 2, hemiplegic, deaf and partially blind from meningitis, she was cantering beautiful circles with a gorgeous balanced seat while lip reading her instructor. The horse knew to ignore the paralysed leg and take aids only from one side and adapt to one handed reins. The parents have 'issues' and the centre has kept this girl and many like her in therapeutic riding for free. This has nothing to do with the helmets- Just wanted to share why I want to help them.

[horseymum]

Oh, i didn't realise it was the centre in Israel you were wanting hats for. Probably a mixture of hats would be better so there is more chance of one of them fitting the various children. Maybe one of the manufacturers would show you how to pad the hats safely? Given that the riders will be under very controlled situations, that might be acceptable?

[CotswoldCountryMummy]

i bought one for Flo, who is 19 months old. I will check the size and get back to you.