Helmet Safety Symposium scheduled for Saturday, July 23

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Reese Koffler-Stanfield
Dressage rider and USEF Safety Committee rider representative Reese Koffler-Stanfield will be one of the panelists at the Helmet Safety Symposium. Photo: Leslie Potter

The equestrian helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets will be presenting the second Helmet Safety Symposium this weekend in Lexington, Kentucky.

The previous symposium, held last winter in Wellington, Florida, was very well-received. This follow-up will feature presentations and panel discussions on a wide variety of topics related to equestrian safety and injury prevention. Topics include traumatic brain injury, the role of professional riders in helmet awareness, safety standards for equestrian helmets, and how to increase acceptance of helmet use among equestrians.

Presenters include John Long, CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation, retired jockey PJ Cooksey, Grand Prix dressage rider Reese Koffler-Stanfield; eventer Cathy Wieschhoff, Riders4Helmets co-founder Lyndsey White, and other equestrians and physicians.

Additionally, a video presentation titled “Expect the Unexpected” by Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye will kick off the event. King Dye’s 2010 riding accent that left her in a coma was the inspiration for the Riders4Helmets campaign.

The symposium is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is encouraged. To learn more, visit www.riders4helmets.com

6 COMMENTS

  1. Everybody needs to stop talking about helmets I’m so tired of it!!! We get that it safer and smarter to wear one but that’s all magazines and websites talk about it!!

  2. I THINK ITS A GREAT IDEA TO KEEP STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF HELMETS. IVE HAD 2 CONCUSSIONS FROM FALLING OFF A HORSE, AND I NOW RIDE WITH A HELMET. I KNOW MY BRAIN CANT TAKE ANY MORE BRUISING FROM FALLING OFF A HORSE (ALL BECAUSE I WAS TOO STUPID TO WEAR A HELMET). I GET HEADACHES MORE OFTEN NOW TOO. I LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW THAT A FALL OR ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE ON ANY HORSE, NO MATTER THEIR EXPERIENCE. PERIOD. WEARING A HELMET WHILE RIDING, NO MATTER THE DISCIPLINE OR EXPERIENCE, CAN NEVER BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH BECAUSE PEOPLE’S SAFETY AND LIVES ARE AT STAKE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ABOUT ARTICLES ON WEARING HELMETS.

  3. I think a big problem is that show rings are not always encouraging it for adult riders. In the mini world helmets are only seen in roadster driving– it should be required in all driving classes.

  4. I never get sick of people stressing the fact that helmets are needed. Some riders say that they’re experienced enough, or they’re riding a small pony. Whether on a 12 hand miniature or a 16 hand draft, I extremely believe in helmets, just because when you’re riding there’s nothing on your horse but your life.

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