Here are more of your quotes,  photos and stories that you have shared with us regarding helmet wearing. We are grateful to all of the riders4helmets campaign supporters and fans on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/riders4helmets and Twitter: http://twitter.com/riders4helmets. Please keep sending us your photos and stories, email to lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com.

From Equiduet Mariam: “My helmet and vest saved me yesterday. My horse and I fell after a jump when he lost his footing. In spite of the helmet, I still ended up in the hospital with a concussion. I can’t imagine not wearing one. Time to replace the helmet, needless to say – once I am mobile again I will be shopping before riding. I’m using my fall as a reminder to my students that accidents happen, and wear a helmet, every ride, every time!”

Orianna Zimmer riding Wonder Horse

From Ashley Duarte Devlin: “I had a terrible fall 2 years ago, thankfully I was ok. When I went to the doctorl I was told that if I had not been weaning a helmet, chances are I would not have made it out ok. I try not to get on any horse, no matter how safe or quite, without wearing a helmet, i dont think it is worth it anymore. Thank you for creating something like this.”

Lindsey Doyen and Remington

From David West: “I had a horse flip over backward on me 5 years ago and I was not wearing a helmet. Now that I do Dressage and Eventing a helmet is required to ride on my farm.Lucky I did not hurt my hard head!”

Safety First – From Michael Killingbeck

From Ann Clarke: “When I moved barns last year, I was very surprised at the number of adults who didn’t wear helmets! I came from a barn where everyone wore them and I wouldn’t even think of riding without one! You can put a cast on a broken limb but if you break your head, that’s not so easy to fix...”

Melissa McDonald sorting cows in her Tipperary Titan

From Amanda Jones: “I’ve recently gotten back into riding since childhood. Back then no one really wore helmets so it was something I was not used to, but now that I have children and they have a pony I bought all of us helmets. I must lead by example. The other day I went trail riding with 4 other adults and I was the only one wearing a …helmet. Yes I felt a little strange, but I didn’t let it stop me from strapping on my Troxel Sierra. In the SC heat & humidity I thought I would be miserable, but I wasn’t. Took some “ribbing” from another rider the other day, but still didn’t let that sway me from wearing my helmet. I hope my children will benefit and learn to always wear theirs even while facing peer pressure not to….hopefully one day it will be the ones not wearing theirs that will get “ribbed” and peer pressured to strap one on.”

Olympic Silver Medalist Gina Miles and her team wearing their helmet campaign t-shirts

From Sue Campbell-Panozzo: “I fell off my calm horse two weeks ago. If not for my helmet I would have had a major concussion. I just had major road rash and a mild concussion. Wear a helmet.”

Diana McGovern: My sons both Special Olympics Equestrian participants always wear helmets and I do too. I came to riding as an older adult and I would never ride without a helmet.

From Miranda Flowers: “I got bucked off 4 1/2 years ago, landed head first two feet from a jump. Cracked my helmet,  if I did not have it on I would of been in bad shape or dead but just have a sore leg still.”

From Lisa Chadwick: Helmets are the IN THING!!!!!!

From Denise Tross: “My helmet saved my life back when I was 16 – and I have never ridden without one. Someone I knew was killed when longing his horse that he had own for over 10 years – somehow the horse had kicked out and got his head.”

Stacie Moyle: I recently rode my first ever Prix St. George test. Instead of a top hat and tailcoat, I wore a helmet and tailcoat.

From Gary Hornstein: “MY daughter was 12 yrs old when she died, from not wearing a helmet. Her name is, and I say is instead of was because she is always with me, Nicole Marie Hornstein, IT happened once, that’s all it took once… she was with a trainer and the trainer new the rules, she must wear a helmet at all times. it was a Sunday afternoon, I got to the seen she was already in a seizure Colies hands were curling, the fall caused a concussion and she aspirated into her lungs, she was drowning, dieing before my very eyes,and I could do very little Colie lasted 20 days and went through bran staff infection, staff ammonia.she smothered to death. I never left her side. I did the helmet law NICOLE’S LAW. Colies birthday was 2 days ago she would have been 17. WE miss love and you COLIE, DADDY”

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) pledged their support to the riders4helmets campaign from the outset. “The USEA is proud to support this helmet campaign as the safety of our members whenever mounted along with their horses is our top priority,” – said Jo Whitehouse, CEO, United States Eventing Association. The following is an excellent educational article on concussions and second impact syndrome that was produced by the USEA and originally appeared on their website. No matter whether or not you participate in eventing, all equestrians should read the following information.

Wake Up To Concussions

The most common head injury in sport is concussion. Riding of any kind – not just jumping, ranks third in the number of concussions sustained by adults. This brochure is designed to help riders recognize concussion in the field so that appropriate medical assessment and management can follow.

Riding is a contact sport – just like football, soccer, skiing or boxing. Every rider may someday fall and hit their head on the ground or another hard object. No matter how good or experienced the rider, no matter how gentle the horse, no matter how safe the environment or the ‘job’ of that ride, anyone can hit their head due to a fall off their horse. Even you. That fall could cause a concussion, an injury to the brain specifically caused by a trauma to the head.

Chances are you’ll never need to know about concussions. But, just in case you or someone you train, judge or watch falls off a horse and hits their head, here are some answers to commonly asked questions about concussions.

Wake Up to Concussions: Be ready to ask these questions and know these answers.

Do you always lose consciousness when you have a concussion?
No! Only 5 concussions in 100 involve any loss of consciousness. Almost all mild concussions occur without any loss of consciousness.

What are some key symptoms of a mild concussion?
• Feeling like “you had your bell rung” or getting “dinged” or “seeing stars”
• Not knowing what happened (little or no memory) just before and/or just after a fall
• Headache
• Loss of balance and/or equilibrium
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Fuzzy and/or blurry vision
• Poor concentration or inability to carry out a set of simple instructions
• Drowsiness and/or fatigue
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Poor memory or forgetfulness about “routine” things like “losing” your keys
• Irritability or unusual aggressiveness

Wake Up to When a Rider Hits Her Head due to a Fall Off Her Horse

What to ask a rider immediately after she hits her head due to a fall even if she does not appear to look symptomatic – dizzy, confused, out of balance, etc.
• What day is it?
• What is the name of the competition?
• In what place or town is the competition located?
• What was your start time?
• What number is your next fence?

What happens if the rider answers all the questions correctly and appears to be physically all right?
The rider can immediately continue with the course.

What happens if the rider misses questions and appears confused?
The rider ought to be held and observed for 15 minutes.

What happens if the rider answers all the questions correctly after 15 minutes and appears to be physically all right?
The rider can continue on course or can ride his additional horse(s) in the competition.

What happens if symptom(s) continue after 15 minutes?
• The rider competing day is over.
• The rider should not be left alone at the barn
• The rider should be transported for medical evaluation.

What happens if symptom(s) appear to worsen in those 15 minutes? (For example, the rider gets a headache or becomes dizzy, nauseated, confused, etc.) The rider should be transported to a medical facility for evaluation. Remember, the rider does not have to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion.

What happens if the rider loses consciousness for any period of time (10 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) as a result of the fall?
The rider should be transported immediately to a medical facility for evaluation.

Wake Up to Concussions

Are there different types or grades of mild concussion? Mild concussions can be divided into 3 types. Grade 1 concussions are far and away the most common riding trauma.
• Grade 1 - no loss of consciousness, no confusion at all, no key symptoms after 15 minutes
• Grade 2 – no loss of consciousness, transient confusion, one or more key symptom(s) after 15 minutes
• Grade 3 – loss of consciousness for any period of time (10 seconds, 1 minute, etc.)

Are some folks more likely to get a concussion?
Yes, adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24), people over 65 and women are more vulnerable to head injury.

Wake Up to a Second Injury Before the Concussion Heals

During the recovery period from concussion, people are at risk for other types of additional accident or injury. In a fit, healthy, person a second trauma to an already injured head that has not yet completely healed may have disproportional consequences. It does not matter how mild a second hit nor does it matter what causes a second trauma, hit, snap or jerk to the head. It could be as simple as a friendly slap on the back or being rear-ended in a traffic accident.

It is essential that the brain be given adequate time to “heal” from any concussion. The concussion, the head trauma is what matters, not the fall from a horse, the traffic accident, or another sports related injury such as skiing, soccer, etc. There are serious risks if the brain is not allowed to completely heal from a concussion. A rare but catastrophic risk could be Second Impact Syndrome, which can be fatal. Second Impact Syndrome is no joke.

Protect yourself from repeated head injury before the original concussion has healed. Do not ride or participate in any other sport until all symptoms of a first concussion are totally and completely resolved.

Never – ever, “tough out” a concussion. The saying “no pain, no gain” does not apply to concussions!

Wake Up to Reasonable Return to Riding

Recovery and management of concussion should follow physicians’ instructions. The following are minimum guidelines for returning to play in the horse sports.

How long should the rider wait before riding again after sustaining a concussion?*
• Grade 1 – same day only if no symptoms after waiting 15 minutes
• Grade 2 – one week only after there are no symptoms both at rest and during exertion and being medically cleared by physician
• Grade 3 – should be assessed by physician regularly until all symptoms completely resolved – two weeks after there are no symptoms both at rest and during exertion and being medically cleared by physician

After multiple concussions, it may be necessary for the rider to discontinue the sport for the season. In rare occasion, the rider may need to reconsider the sport.

Remember, all concussions count – it doesn’t matter if traumas to the head are caused by falls from horses, car accidents, other sports related injuries such as skiing or soccer, or falls against a hard surface like the floor, a rock or a tree.

* Individual differences and medical history may increase time required before returning to the playing field.

For more information about the management of concussion in sport contact: Brain Injury Association at (800)444 6442 or www.headinjury.com or brain@headinjury.com; the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/ncip/tbi; or the USEA Safety Committee concussion@equestriansafety.com.

Gladstone, NJ (August 19, 2010) – Dressage rider Lauren Sammis, who earned a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games, awarded fellow dressage rider Crystal Gaskell with a brand new Charles Owen helmet during the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Gaskell, of Cazenovia, New York, won the helmet through a Charles Owen Helmet raffle, in support of the Riders4Helmets campaign started by SUCCEED and Jeri Bryant, with all the proceeds from the raffle going to the USET Foundation.

“I always ride in a helmet and I was looking for a new helmet so this works out great,” said Gaskell, adding that she was extremely excited about winning the raffle. “I have a 23-year-old Dutch horse that I ride named Figaro. He did his first grand prix with my daughter when he was 21.”

Sammis, who competed at the Dressage Festival of Champions on Sagacious HF, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Al Guden of Hyperion Farm, was pleased to award Gaskell with her new helmet. A strong supporter of all riders wearing helmets, Sammis wore a helmet during the Dressage Festival of Champions, as did competitor Sue Blinks.

“Charles Owen donated the helmet in support of the Riders4Helmets campaign and to help raise awareness about helmets and safety,” said Danielle Santos, Marketing and Public Relations Manager with Charles Owen. “All of the money raised through the raffle went to support the USET Foundation. We are thankful that more riders are wearing helmets during competitions and grateful to Lauren for helping us promote helmet awareness and safety.”

Tickets for the Charles Owen Helmet raffle were sold at Sho Clothes Dressage boutiques mobile store at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, as well as from volunteers throughout the show grounds. “We really believe riders should wear helmets and you never know when the simple act of strapping on a helmet could save your life,” said Michele Hundt, who co-owns Sho Clothes. “It was wonderful selling the raffle tickets for the Charles Owen helmet as we had the opportunity to talk to lots of people buying the tickets. There is definitely an overwhelming desire among the show community for riders to wear helmets.”

Raising awareness for helmet safety began in earnest when Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye suffered a riding accident that left her in a coma for several weeks. King-Dye was not wearing a helmet at the time of her accident. “I am hoping that all riding disciplines evolve and make helmets a socially acceptable part of their show attire,” Sammis said, adding that she also schools daily in her Charles Owen helmet. “I am a huge fan of Courtney and her accident proves that accidents can happen to the best of riders, at any level, in any situation.”

For more information on Sammis, visit her website at http://SammisSales.com.

Photo: Crystal Gaskell (left) was the lucky winner of a Charles Owen Helmet, during a raffle to support helmet awareness, at the 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Gaskell was awarded her helmet (from left to right) by Grand Prix rider and Pan Am Gold Medalist Lauren Sammis, Charles Owen Marketing and Public Relations Manager Danielle Santos and Al Guden, who owns Sammis’s dressage partner Sagacious HF. (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

We are having a sale in the Courtney King Dye Medical Fund/Equestrian Aid Foundation eBay store, as we begin to wind the store down. Many items have been reduced from their recommended retail pricing. You can visit the eBay store to purchase items at this link: http://stores.ebay.com/Courtney-King-Dye-Medical-Fund.

Items offered for sale in the eBay store include (this is not a full list of items):

IRH Elite ExtremeRiding Helmet. RRP $189.95, bidding starts at $80.00.

The Dressage Competitors Handbook. RRP $28.95, bidding starts at $20.00.

Steffen Peters & Ravel Ladies Polo Shirt. RRP $50.00, bidding starts at $35.00.

EquestrianProfessional.com membership. RRP $150.00, bidding starts at $80.00.

IRH Elite Ultra Riding Helmet. RRP $239.95, bidding starts at $95.00.

Assorted styles/designs of the very trendy dav Rain boots that have been featured in numerous National magazines this year are ideal for keeping your feet not only dry, but for making you look stylish as well. RRP  $80.00, bidding starts at $30.00.

Caledonia, IL (August 13, 2010) – USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion Chester Weber is a strong proponent of wearing helmets, and during the recent Iron Horse CDE he and his team not only wore their Charles Owen helmets, but Weber stepped into the spotlight as a presenter during the silent auction. Weber presented Mary Sheerin, of Lexington, Kentucky, with a certificate for a Charles Owen helmet after Sheerin won the bid for the helmet during a silent auction to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

During the Iron Horse CDE, in which Weber won the Four-In-Hand division, Weber joined forces with two of his sponsors, Charles Owen and SUCCEED, to auction off a Charles Owen helmet certificate during the competitor’s party silent auction. Weber is encouraging all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign, a spin on SUCCEED’s Riders4Helmets campaign.

“Mary was thrilled to win the helmet and have it presented to her by Chester Weber,” said Barb Sheerin, Mary’s mother. “Mary loves her other Charles Owen helmet but has been wanting a pink Charles Owen skull cap, so that is what she will buy with her certificate.”

Sheerin said the entire family, including her other two children, wear Charles Owen helmets. “Mary is an eventer and at Iron Horse she was my navigator. I showed my pony in combined driving and we ended up fifth, so it was a great weekend for us,” Sheerin said.

Sheerin added that she and her daughter enjoyed watching Weber compete. “When you watch Chester you are watching the best of the best,” Sheerin said. “It was amazing to watch him and then get to meet him when he presented Mary with her Charles Owen certificate.”

Charles Owen is a long-time partner with Team Weber, and Weber and his navigators wear Charles Owen helmets while at home and during competition. “Anything we can do to spotlight the importance of wearing a helmet is a plus,” Weber said. “I believe it is essential for drivers and their team to wear helmets during the marathon, and hopefully the silent auction for the Charles Owen helmet was a step in the right direction in encouraging all drivers to commit to wearing helmets.”

Weber has spent the summer competing in the United States, as he gears up for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. “I have competed in two other World Equestrian Games and it is always an honor to represent your country,” Weber said. “Being able to compete on home turf is even more exciting. This is the first time in history that the World Equestrian Games will be held in the United States and I am eagerly anticipating an amazing competition.”

For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com.

Photo: Combined Driver Chester Weber, the eight-time United States Four-in-Hand National Champion, presents Mary Sheerin with a certificate for a new Charles Owen helmet. Sheerin won the bid for the helmet during the silent auction at the Iron Horse CDE. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Excell)

Caledonia, IL  – Combined Driver Chester Weber knows the importance of safety, which is why he and his team always wear their Charles Owen helmets during the marathon at a Combined Driving event. Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is stepping up to encourage all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign which is a spin on SUCCEED and Jeri Bryant’s riders4helmets campaign.

During the upcoming Iron Horse Combined Driving Event at Sherwood Farms, in Caledonia, Illinois, Weber will join forces with Charles Owen and SUCCEED, two of his Team Weber sponsors, to auction off a Charles Owen helmet certificate during the competitor’s party silent auction. While one lucky person will go home with a new Charles Owen helmet certificate, which could save their life, all of the money raised for the helmet during the silent auction will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

“I believe it is essential for drivers and their team to wear helmets during the marathon, and hope that the silent auction for the Charles Owen helmet will be a step in the right direction for all drivers committing to wearing helmets,” Weber said, adding that he will present the silent auction winner with the helmet certificate.

Weber will compete his award-winning team at the Iron Horse CDE, and said he is looking forward to teaming up with Charles Owen and SUCCEED while at the event. “Charles Owen is proud to offer a silent auction item to the Iron Horse CDE and appreciates the opportunity to work with riders4helmets and Chester Weber to make a safer world for riders and drivers alike,” said Danielle Santos, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Charles Owen, Inc.

While at the Iron Horse CDE, Weber will also take part in a local live radio show on Tuesday, July 27th at 6pm. The live show will encourage the surrounding communities to become spectators at the Iron Horse event. The station, BNNS Radio, hopes to broadcast live at Iron Horse on the weekend of the event, July 30 to August 1, to listen to the live show visit www.bnnsradio.com.

“I am always willing to promote our sport of Combined Driving,” Weber said. “The radio show will also give me a chance to encourage all drivers to wear their helmets during the competition.”

For more information on Weber, visit his website at www.chesterweber.com. For more information on the Iron Horse CDE, visit their website at www.ironhorsecde.com.

PHOTO Credit: My Elisabeth Weber.

The following is part of an update from 2008 U.S Olympic Team rider Courtney King-Dye who suffered a serious head injury in a riding accident in March of this year. You can read the rest of the entry at Courtney’s website: www.courtneykingdressage.com.

“I am often asked how I feel about the discussion on helmets. Although I don’t want helmets to be all my accident means, I believe any protection is good. I normally ride my young horses or horses I’m concerned about with a helmet, but being in a hurry, I didn’t get one, and here I am. Who knows if a helmet would have saved me; I couldn’t have made the horse not trip, but I KNOW any protection is good protection. We all know and accept that big animals are unpredictable. Let’s face it, s*#t happens. I happen to be an example of that, and all I can say is, WEAR A HELMET!”

We launched the riders4helmets website as a result of Courtney’s accident and after Jeri Bryant (co-founder of riders4helmets) donated helmet campaign t-shirts to the Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store. Courtney still has a long road of recovery ahead even though she is making excellent progress. Please visit the eBay store and see if there is an item that might be of interest to you, or if you want to donate an item please email lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com. The eBay store also supports the Equestrian Aid Foundation, who assist anyone in the equestrian world suffering from life threatening illness, catastrophic accidents or injuries by providing direct financial support for their medical or other basic needs

More photographs from National Helmet Awareness Day. Do you have a photo from July 10th (or any other day) to share of you wearing a helmet? If yes, email your photo to lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com for inclusion on this site.

Sandy Lovato, Deb Balliet (Equestrian Land Conservation Resources) and Eclipse Award Winning Jockey Frankie Lovato Jr.

This visitor to the booth had great fun demonstrating safe helmet fit on the Equicizer

Polly Barger with the Certified Horsemanship Association and friend check out the Charles Owen Helmets on display at the riders4helmets booth

Kemi O’Donnell, the mother of Christen O’Donnell who was 12 years old when she died as a result of head injuries sustained while riding, spent the day at the booth.

Ann Quattrocchi with Good to Go Medical Cards receives an entry for the helmet coloring contest from a visitor to the booth.

Deb Balliet (Equestrian Land Conservation Resources) saddles up.

A Robert Murphy Hunter Show was being held at the Horse Park on July 10th, the same day which we had the riders4helmets booth at the park. Here is Robert Murphy organizer of the show, who was on helmet watch throughout the event.

The Charles Owen banner opposite the riders4helmets booth.

A visitor to the riders4helmets booth.

This rider was competing in the Robert Murphy Hunter show and stopped by the booth to say hello with her horse.

Discussions about requiring dressage riders to wear protective riding helmets gather momentum. By Nancy Jaffer.

Read award-winning journalist Nancy Jaffer’s latest report detailing protective riding helmets in the world of equestrian sport. Initially published by Practical Horseman magazine and kindly used here with permission of Nancy Jaffer.

The devastating head injury suffered by dressage Olympian Courtney King-Dye in a terrible fall last March has generated a dramatic reaction that could well end in a mandatory protective riding helmet requirement for her discipline at least in the United States–and perhaps elsewhere as well.

Courtney was far from the first person riding without a helmet to suffer a horrific head injury, but what happened to her captured people’s attention, immediately and convincingly. Was it the fact that her rise to the top had been well-documented and followed eagerly over recent years by the public? Or that someone so young, attractive and athletic could be laid low in an instant. And, as a corollary, if it happened to her, it could happen to anyone?

An object lesson from Courtney’s fall is how it affected her family and friends, whose support has been vital to her recovery (read this exclusive interview with Courtney). Waiting through the weeks she was in a coma, when they didn’t know her fate, took a toll that was greater on them than it was on her worried fans. The increased recognition that a head injury affects far more than one person has convinced some to put on a helmet simply because they’re concerned about those around them, even if they’re cavalier about themselves.

Michael Barisone, riding the one-handed finale of his Grand Prix freestyle on Olympus in 2010, wears a helmet for his performance (but no coat, since it was more than 90 degrees). PHOTO Copyright: Nancy Jaffer.

The first National Helmet Awareness Day July 10 was a huge success. Presented by the new riders4helmets organization backed by one of Courtney’s sponsors, SUCCEED, it drew attention to the need to wear a helmet with a gathering at the Kentucky Horse Park that included a variety of testimonials and demonstrations.

They included how a cantaloupe fared when dropped from a height of 13 feet (equivalent to a rider mounted on a horse) while wearing a helmet (not a dent) and not wearing a helmet (ouch!). One non-helmet-wearing cantaloupe smashed completely and a second broke open. More than 200 retailers offered discounts on protective headgear around the country that day, and Lyndsey White, co-founder of riders4helmets, said queries came from several foreign countries about starting a similar initiative.

Rule Change Discussions

Meanwhile, there’s been a lot of buzz about the possibility of a mandatory helmet rule for dressage. The FEI (international equestrian federation) came out with a statement from its dressage committee that “strongly” recommends riders wear protective headgear while training and warming up for competition. They continue to have the option of wearing protective headgear in the arena, but some top-level riders fear that doing so will single them out in the eyes of the judges, perhaps indicating that their horses are difficult.

There is a way to solve that, however.

“If everybody wore a helmet, everybody would look the same,” said Michael Barisone, a Grand Prix rider and member of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) High Performance Dressage Committee.

U.S. Equestrian Federation CEO John Long

John Long, the USEF’s CEO, noted the concept of requiring dressage riders in this country to wear protective headgear is “really only in the discussion stage at this point. I think it will be a longer process.” Unlike the FEI recommendation, however, John believes, “If we’re going to do it, it should be in the warm-up areas and during competitions.”

But the USEF is far from that point now, and not every Grand Prix rider agrees with Michael’s perspective. Many feel the choice should be left up to the individual. “There’s lot of tradition that is balanced against safety. I suspect this is not going to happen any time soon,” John concluded, “but it’s good that we’re talking about it, because once the collective equestrian family gets it out on the table, something good will come out of it.”

Michael, however, would like to go much further, and in the current climate favorable to helmets that was created by Courtney’s accident and insurance considerations, it may be possible to advance such ideas.

“My personal opinion is it should be mandated for all equestrian sport, anytime when mounted, all over the world. You can’t bicycle race without a helmet, you can’t play hockey without a helmet, you can’t play football without a helmet,” he pointed out.

“I probably have not been diligent over my career, thinking I’m invincible,” he conceded. But Courtney’s accident and the broken pelvis suffered by three-time Olympian Guenter Seidel (who was wearing a helmet when he fell last month) demonstrate that “any and all of us can get hurt. It’s cheap and easy insurance to see that head injury is plucked out of the equation, or at least to minimize it,” he said.

A Grassroots Effort

The grassroots response to Courtney’s accident has gathered momentum fast. After Courtney’s fall, when no one was sure what her future would hold, California photographer Sheryl Ross went into action.

“When I heard about her accident, I was deeply moved by it. The first thing I thought was, ‘What can I do to help?’” She contacted a designer friend in New York and California photographer Terri Miller, who gave her an image she could use for a “Come Back Court” T-shirt and posters. The site “did fabulous; we got several thousand dollars for her,” Sheryl said.

Once Courtney came out of her coma, Come Back Court had completed its mission. But another separate initiative was beginning. Jeri Bryant, a California amateur dressage rider with marketing expertise, said Courtney’s accident “flipped a switch in my brain.”

“I’ve not always consistently worn a helmet,” Jeri admitted, citing the fact that they can be “inconvenient and cumbersome.” But you won’t catch her without one now.

“It’s never too late to change your view on that,” she pointed out.

She came up with the slogan, “Strap One On” and created a T-shirt with the slogan. After printing 36 of them herself, she wore one to a local feed store, and it started a discussion.

“This is a good idea,” she decided.

She contacted Lyndsey White, who was running an eBay store to benefit Courtney, and asked to donate the shirts. That was the root of riders4helmets, as the idea caught on and the website riders4helmets.com was developed. It has taken on a life of its own and continues to fulfill Jeri’s objective.

“I wanted to raise awareness. What got me with Courtney was that this was just a slip” by the horse she was riding, Jeri said. “Why should anybody put themselves at risk? If it changes one person’s perspective, then I’m happy with that.”

Here are some photographs from the event that was held at the KY Horse Park on July 10th to celebrate National Helmet Awareness Day. If you have photos to share with us from your own event or just of you wearing a helmet, please email them to lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com.

The riders4helmets booth at the Kentucky Horse Park

Dressage rider Reese Koffler-Stanfield was on hand at the booth to answer questions.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Brooks & Ann Quattrocchi of Good To Go Medical Cards spent time at the booth answering questions on riding related head injuries and the need for medical information cards when riding.

Representatives from International Riding Helmets & Charles Owen demonstrated Correct Helmet Fit at the booth.

Riding Western Style was a new experience for Reese who normally rides dressage but she took it all on her stride.

2010 Radio Show host Samantha Clark

This wonderful family stopped by the booth and shared a helmet wearing story with us and then enjoyed a little fun on the Equicizers.

Demonstrating that you can’t get a helmet that is too small to fit no matter what faces you pull!

Event rider Cathy Wieschhoff spent time at the booth answering questions on the importance of wearing a helmet every time you ride.

When we told this dog that we wanted him to wear a helmet in support of helmet awareness day he wasn’t having any of it.

Eclipse Award Winning Jockey Frank Lovato Jr spent the day at the park sharing helmet wearing stories and brought along his Equicizers for some fun.

Althea the Equicizer was all ears as we discussed helmet wearing stories.

All fun aboard the Equicizer (we forgive the sandles as she just stopped by the booth to say hi).