Riders4helmets to Host Helmet Safety Symposium

Source: Equestrian Sport Productions News Release

Helmet safety topics to be discussed by leading equestrians and representatives from equestrian organizations and corporations

Aurora, OH - Riders4Helmets, the helmet awareness campaign founded by Jeri Bryant and Lyndsey White of equine health product SUCCEED® Digestive Conditioning Program®, will be hosting a "by invitation only" Helmet Safety Symposium. The event will take place January 8th, 2011, at the White Horse Tavern, Wellington, FL, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by Troxel Helmets, Charles Owen Helmets, Tipperary Helmets, Samshield Helmets, and the USEF.

The Helmet Safety Symposium has been organized to bring together representatives from various corners of the equestrian world to discuss the importance of wearing helmets, rider safety and to improve helmet designs, rules and more. The event will provide a series of panel discussions throughout the day. Many in attendance will also sit on the panels, including leading equestrians, representatives from the helmet safety testing authorities, helmet manufacturers, equestrian organizations including USEF and the FEI, and neurosurgeons. The chair of the meeting will be Dr. Craig Ferrell, physician to the United States Equestrian Team.

Symposium panel topics will include the following: The Incidence of Head Injury in Equestrian Sport, Concussion and Brain Injury Mechanisms, History of Helmet Designs and Standards, History of Rules Related to Wearing Helmets, Helmet Design, Helmet Standards, and, Rules Regarding when Helmets Should be Required.

While attendance to the symposium is strictly by invitation only, a limited number of auditing places have been made available to interested equestrians at a cost of $75.00 per person. To sign up as an auditor for the symposium, please visit www.riders4helmets.com. The auditing fee includes a buffet luncheon and cocktail reception that will follow the symposium.

"I am looking forward to this important discussion and the growing awareness of head protection by USEF and FEI," said Dr. Richard Timms, Chairman of Troxel Helmets, one of the event's sponsors. "USEF's and FEI's positions supply leadership examples to the remainder of the equestrian world. The history and evolving knowledge related to head injury and head protection supports our timely attention to the issue."

Riders4Helmets was founded in early 2010 after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye was seriously injured in a riding accident. King Dye, who remained in a coma for a month following her accident, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.