The Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Regulations 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made under the Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Act 1990. Section 1(1) of the 1990 Act makes it an offence for various persons (a parent, a guardian, an owner of a horse, a person who has custody of a horse immediately before a child rides it, an employer of a child) to cause or permit a child under the age of 14 to ride a horse (defined in section 3 of the 1990 Act to include a pony, mule, donkey or other equine animal) on a road unless the child is wearing protective headgear of such description as may be specified in the regulations and in such manner as may be so specified.

In the case of helmets manufactured on or after 1st July 1992, these Regulations prescribe the description of the headgear by reference to the requirements of Council Directive 89/686/EEC of 21st December 1989 (OJ No L399, 30.12.89, p. 18) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment. For helmets manufactured before 1st July 1992, the Regulations prescribe the description of the headgear by reference to particular British Standards or equivalent standards or regulations in other Member States of the European Communities.

The Regulations also prescribe the manner of wearing the headgear.

The offence in section 1(1) is disapplied in the case of a child who is a follower of the Sikh religion while he is wearing a turban and in the case of the riding of horses within 30 metres of the high water mark provided that the horse is being led on foot by the owner or another person (aged 18 or over) authorised by him and no more than two horses are being led at any one time.

Copies of the British Standards specifications referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from any of the sales outlets operated by the British Standards Institute (BSI), or by post from BSI at Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LE (Telephone number: Milton Keynes (STD 0908) 221166).