Mind Your Melon: Rio Riders Flaunt Their National Pride With Style

There are many ways to show your national pride at the Olympic Games, but until recently, equestrians were a bit more limited in how they could display their country’s swagger in a sport steeped with conservative fashion traditions. It used to be a flag on your saddle pad and maybe a bit of collar piping if you so dared.

But today, the world’s equestrians are choosing bolder fabrics (Can’t get enough of Qatar’s deep burgundy coats!), sassier ear bonnets, and most important, patriotic brain buckets.  Here’s a selection of some our favorite national helmeteers:

    1. Rene Lopez, Colombia:

      Rene Lopez COL Con Dios III

      Rene Lopez COL Con Dios III. PC: Arndt Bronkhorst/FEI

    2. Christian Ahlmann, Germany

      JUMPING INDIVIDUAL GER AHLMANN Christian Photo Richard Juilliart

      JUMPING INDIVIDUAL GER AHLMANN Christian
      Photo Richard Juilliart

    3. Alvaro Doda de Miranda, Brazil

      JUMPING INDIVIDUAL 2nd Qualifier. BRA dE MIRANDA Alvaro Doda Photo Richard Juilliart

      JUMPING INDIVIDUAL
      2nd Qualifier. BRA dE MIRANDA Alvaro Doda. Photo Richard Juilliart

    4. Eric Lamaze, Canada

      Lamaze Eric, CAN, Fine Lady 5 Olympic Games Rio 2016 Photo © Hippo Foto - Dirk Caremans 17/08/16

      Lamaze Eric, CAN, Fine Lady 5.  Olympic Games Rio 2016
      Photo © Hippo Foto – Dirk Caremans

    5. Tiffany Foster, Canada

      Amy Millar and Heros. Photo by Cealy Tetley/Equestrian Canada

      Amy Millar and Heros. Photo by Cealy Tetley/Equestrian Canada

    6. Lucy Davis, USA

Whether sporting a flag, your barn colors, or your most recent Friday night bedazzling work, remember that sporting a helmet of any variety is always in style. #Mindyourmelon, and Go Jumping!