THE PROTECTION OF HORSE RIDERS IN IMPACTS WITH THE GROUND. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1989 INTERNATIONAL IRCOBI CONFERENCE ON THE BIOMECHANICS OF IMPACTS, HELD IN STOCKHOLM, 13-15 SEPTEMBER 1989

A variety of foams in equestrian helmets have been assessed and some found to be inadequate. The impact response of the helmet for side or frontal impact depends on the foam yield stress and thickness and the helmet curvature. Grass surfaces can absorb more energy in a fall than the helmet, however in falls onto tarmac roads it is predicted that high head injury criteria (HIC) values will occur for some helmet designs.(A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 826430.