A NEW collaboration between veterinary professionals, researchers, and leading safety helmet manufacturers could see a long-overdue change in how equine vets protect themselves on the job.

The initiative follows sobering research led by the University of Liverpool and backed by CVS Equine, which revealed an alarming rate of injury among equine clinical staff - particularly head trauma, often sustained in seemingly everyday situations.

Gathered under one roof were equine vets, nurses, yard managers, practice leaders, and health and safety experts, alongside helmet engineers from global safety brand Uvex. Their shared goal? To design a helmet specifically for equine veterinary professionals.

A staggering 94.3% of equine staff surveyed had experienced a work-related injury. Perhaps most concerning, only 20% were wearing a helmet when their most recent injury occurred, and fewer still -just 17% - when they suffered their most serious. In many cases, the injuries weren’t the result of direct kicks, but from being thrown or knocked into hard surfaces.

One research participant remarked that while helmets are second nature in the hunting field or show ring, they remain rare in the veterinary setting.

Current options

But this isn’t just about handing out riding hats and ticking a safety box. Veterinary industry professionals who gathered as part of the research were clear: the current options don’t cut it. Riding helmets are often too bulky or warm, while industrial hard hats lack the flexibility needed in a hands-on, fast-moving equine context.

Vets called for lightweight, ventilated helmets, with unrestricted peripheral vision and the ability to attach essential tools like head torches or visors. It’s not about style - it’s about function, and safety that fits.

Crucially, the group acknowledged that helmet adoption won’t hinge on design alone - it will require a cultural shift. One that sees safety not as a sign of weakness, but of professionalism. A sign that you value your team, your clients, your own future.

Sophie Ignarski, director of CVS Equine, spoke with conviction:

“If the adoption of protective helmets saves just one life or prevents someone from sustaining life-changing injuries, then it is worth it.”

She’s right. And while cultural change takes time, this initiative signals a profession beginning to turn the mirror on itself - not to criticise, but to care.