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Home / Equine Research Bank / Ann Biomed Eng / Equestrian STAR: Development of an Experimental Methodology ...
Annals of biomedical engineering2025; 53(9); 2309-2332; doi: 10.1007/s10439-025-03723-0

Equestrian STAR: Development of an Experimental Methodology for Assessing the Biomechanical Performance of Equestrian Helmets.

Abstract: The current equestrian helmet standards set minimal requirements for passing helmets, highlighting the need for a rating system that differentiates helmets based on their impact performance. This study's objectives were to compare equestrian helmet impact response kinematics between linear-driven and oblique impact conditions and then to evaluate the effect of incorporating oblique drop tests into a previously established equestrian helmet rating system, Equestrian STAR. Methods: Oblique drop tests were conducted with 45 equestrian helmet models at two impact locations, front boss and rear boss, at an impact velocity of 6.56 m/s. The resulting peak linear and rotational head accelerations were compared to those measured during linear-driven pendulum impacts on the same helmet models. A total of 720 impact tests were performed, making this the largest published study on equestrian helmets to date. Equestrian STAR was modified to include both pendulum and oblique impacts by computing and summing weighted concussion risks for each test condition. Results: Oblique impacts had peak linear accelerations ranging from 105.8 to 204.5 g and peak rotational accelerations ranging from 3304 to 13854 rad/s. Between the linear-driven and oblique impacts, peak linear acceleration was weakly correlated (R = 0.34, p < 0.001), while peak rotational acceleration was not correlated (R = 0.04, p = 0.21). Equestrian STAR scores calculated using both pendulum and oblique impacts suggested that the worst-performing helmet on both systems had nearly four times the concussion risk as the best-performing. Conclusions: Pendulum and oblique impacts have different methods of generating head rotation, which can highlight different modes of helmet performance. The updated Equestrian STAR helmet rating system differentiates between high-performing and low-performing helmets, enabling equestrians to purchase helmets best at reducing concussion risk and providing companies with a process to compare their helmet designs.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-04-28 PubMed ID: 40293632PubMed Central: PMC12391214DOI: 10.1007/s10439-025-03723-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study developed and evaluated a new experimental method for testing equestrian helmets, comparing traditional linear impact tests with oblique impact tests that better simulate real-world conditions.
  • The researchers updated the Equestrian STAR helmet rating system by incorporating oblique impact data, providing a more accurate assessment of helmet performance and concussion risk.

Background and Purpose

  • Current equestrian helmet standards only define minimal safety requirements but do not differentiate helmets based on how well they reduce impact forces.
  • There is a need for a rating system that reflects helmets’ actual biomechanical performance to help users choose better protective gear.
  • This study aimed to compare helmet responses under two types of impact testing — linear-driven and oblique impacts — and to integrate oblique impact data into the existing Equestrian STAR rating system, enhancing its evaluation criteria.

Methods

  • 45 different equestrian helmet models were tested in two impact locations: front boss and rear boss.
  • Oblique drop tests involved dropping helmets at an angle to produce both linear and rotational head accelerations at an impact velocity of approximately 6.56 m/s.
  • Linear-driven pendulum impacts were also performed on the same helmet models, a method traditionally used to measure helmet impact performance focusing mainly on linear acceleration.
  • A total of 720 impact tests were conducted, making this the largest dataset for equestrian helmet testing published so far.
  • The Equestrian STAR rating system was recalculated by combining concussion risk predictions from both linear and oblique test data, weighting them appropriately to reflect realistic injury risk.

Results

  • Oblique impacts produced peak linear accelerations ranging from roughly 106g to 205g, and peak rotational accelerations between 3,304 and 13,854 rad/s², indicating high rotational forces on the head.
  • The correlation between peak linear accelerations measured during linear and oblique impacts was weak (R = 0.34), suggesting linear tests alone poorly predict helmet performance in oblique impacts.
  • There was essentially no correlation (R = 0.04) between peak rotational accelerations from linear versus oblique impacts, highlighting that traditional linear tests fail to capture rotational forces which are important for brain injury.
  • The updated Equestrian STAR scores showed that the lowest-performing helmet had nearly four times the concussion risk compared to the highest-performing helmet, demonstrating the rating system’s ability to differentiate helmets based on safety performance.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Linear and oblique impact tests generate different head motion patterns: linear tests mainly generate linear acceleration, whereas oblique tests induce significant rotational acceleration.
  • Because rotational acceleration is a critical factor in concussion risk, including oblique impact tests provides a more comprehensive assessment of helmet protective capabilities.
  • The upgraded Equestrian STAR rating enables consumers to better identify helmets that reduce concussion risk effectively.
  • Helmet manufacturers gain a quantitative benchmarking tool to compare and improve their helmet designs against realistic impact conditions.
  • This methodological advancement enhances helmet safety research and promotes the adoption of higher-performance helmets for equestrian activities, potentially reducing the incidence and severity of brain injuries among riders.

Cite This Article

APA
Duma LA, Begonia MT, Miller B, Jung C, Wood M, Duma BG, Rowson S. (2025). Equestrian STAR: Development of an Experimental Methodology for Assessing the Biomechanical Performance of Equestrian Helmets. Ann Biomed Eng, 53(9), 2309-2332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-025-03723-0

Publication

Annals of biomedical engineering
ISSN: 1573-9686
NlmUniqueID: 0361512
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 9
Pages: 2309-2332

Researcher Affiliations

Duma, Lauren A
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. laurenduma@vt.edu.
Begonia, Mark T
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
Miller, Barry
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
Jung, Caitlyn
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
Wood, Matthew
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
Duma, Brock G
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
Rowson, Steve
  • Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Head Protective Devices
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Acceleration
  • Sports Equipment
  • Humans

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no competing interests to disclose and did not receive any benefits or funding from commercial parties related to this research.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Gagliardi SM, Stark NE, Begonia MT, Madigan ML, Rowson S. Development of a Fall-Specific Impact Testing Method to Evaluate Safety Helmet Performance and Injury Risk.. Ann Biomed Eng 2026 Mar;54(3):777-795.
    doi: 10.1007/s10439-025-03930-9pubmed: 41366575google scholar: lookup
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