I personally don’t see the top hat helmet as viable - it will never look right to your eye because it will be out of proportion to what you’re used to seeing. It’s like a side-by-side comparison of full fat super-premium ice cream and nonfat yogurt. Both taste good in isolation, but if you’re expecting ice cream and someone gives you yogurt, you’re going to be disappointed.

I think a regular ASTM velvet helmet will look better, or hey - dressage can choose to make its own style from this. It has been remarkable to watch hunter riders resist the velvet ASTM hats, and then suddenly adopt the GPA look in a very short period of time.

I hope judges will get together to assure competitors that they don’t care about rider headgear, and I hope all of you coaching elite riders will encourage them to wear protective headgear.