Gatehouse Riding Hats

Which Gatehouse riding hat should you buy? For everyday schooling and most competition disciplines, the Gatehouse Conquest MKII Riding Hat (from £149.99) is the sensible default — Kitemarked to PAS 015:2011 and VG1, lightweight, well ventilated and supplied with a padded storage bag. If you want a traditional peaked hat built around an ABS shell, the Gatehouse Oxer comes in Regular Peak and Large Peak versions (both from £149.99) and meets the EN 1384-2023 standard. Younger riders and anyone after a classic velvet finish are usually best served by the Gatehouse Jeunesse Velvet Riding Hat (from £127.49). This collection holds 14 Gatehouse hats in total, and 7 of them have sizes in stock right now.

Which Gatehouse hat suits which rider?

Prices shown are the lowest currently in stock. Larger head sizes often sit in a higher price band, so the size you pick can change what you pay. Stock and sizes move daily.

What makes a Gatehouse hat different?

What are the shells made from?

It varies by model, and it is worth knowing before you buy. The Oxer (both peak sizes) uses an ABS outer shell over an expanded polystyrene impact liner, with stainless steel mesh and ABS ventilation points, a nickel chrome front vent and a textured PU leather inlay. The Volare is an Italian-designed fibreglass helmet with nine points of external ventilation and a four-point harness. The Conquest MKII and Jeunesse Velvet are built for a slim, light profile rather than a heavy shell.

Can I wash the lining?

Yes on every in-stock model here. The Conquest MKII, Jeunesse Velvet, Ciana and Conquest Suedette Crystal all use a quick-dry wicking padded liner that lifts out for washing. The Oxer uses a Coolmax comfort lining that is also removable, and the Volare has removable, washable internal padding. That matters more than people expect: a liner you can actually clean is the difference between a hat that stays fresh through a summer and one that does not.

Which ones come with a storage bag?

Gatehouse supplies a padded storage bag with the Conquest MKII, the Jeunesse Velvet, the Ciana, the Volare and the Conquest MkII Suedette Crystal. The Oxer listings do not mention one. A bag is not a luxury — it keeps the shell from getting knocked around in the back of a car or tossed onto a concrete tack-room floor, and knocks are exactly what shorten a hat's life.

Which hats can I use for cross country?

Gatehouse states that the Conquest MKII, the Jeunesse Velvet, the Ciana and the Conquest MkII Suedette Crystal are suitable for all riding disciplines with the exception of cross country, because of the peak. If cross country is your discipline, check your governing body's current hat rules before you buy, and get in touch if you would like us to confirm what a specific model is approved for.

How do I get the size right?

Measure around your head with a soft tape, roughly 2cm above your eyebrows and around the widest part at the back, and read the number in centimetres. Gatehouse sizes are given in cm, so a 55cm measurement points to a 55cm hat. Sizing across the collection spans 52cm to 63cm depending on model. A correctly fitted hat sits level, feels snug all the way round with no pressure points, and does not rock when you shake your head with the harness undone. If you are between sizes or the fit feels off, get in touch and our team will help.

When should a riding hat be replaced?

Replace any hat that has taken an impact, even if it looks fine — the impact liner is designed to crush once, and once it has done its job it cannot do it again. Also replace a hat if the harness is frayed, the shell is cracked or deeply scratched, or the fit has loosened over time. If you are unsure whether a knock counts, treat it as if it does.

Free UK delivery over £50 · 90-day returns · Expert help

Last reviewed 2026-07-24 by the Just Horse Riders team.