Riders4Helmets to Host Fourth Helmet Safety Symposium

Dressage

American Dressage News

The popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets will be hosting the 4th Riders4Helmets Safety Symposium on Saturday 2 February 2013 at the Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY from 8.30am to 5pm.

For those who cannot attend the symposium in person, videoed sessions will be available on www.riders4helmets.com following the event.

Attendance to the symposium is open to any member of the public, but individuals who plan to attend must pre-register in advance in order to avoid the $10 on the day entrance fee. To pre-register, please register here.

The Helmet Safety Symposium will bring together representatives from various corners of the equestrian world to discuss the importance of wearing helmets, rider safety and education, and to improve helmet designs and more. The event will provide a series of short lectures and panel discussions throughout the day. Many in attendance will also sit on the panels, including equestrians, helmet manufacturers, equestrian organizations, and neurosurgeons. The chair of the meeting will be Lyndsey White of Riders4Helmets.

"We are very excited to be hosting the 4th Riders4Helmets Safety Symposium and to see it continue to expand not only into other equestrian disciplines but all aspects of equestrian safety," said Lyndsey White. "The symposia are a fantastic opportunity to bring together many individuals, organizations and associations all in one place, to continue important discussions regarding equestrian safety. We are already planning the 1st International Equestrian Safety Summit for summer 2013 to be held in the UK, which will take the symposia concept to an even wider audience."

The Craig Ferrell M.D Equestrian Safety Awards named after former USET Physician and Chair of the FEI Medical Council Craig Ferrell, will be presented at the symposium. Mrs. Lorraine Ferrell will be in attendance to observe the recognition of individuals who have been nominated by equestrians, as being exceptional role models for helmet wearing, or equestrian safety.

Symposium topics will include the following:

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions: The Latest Research, Long Term Effects and Revolutionary Technologies
Helmets in the Western World
Educating Our Youth
Helmets On The Trail
In Memoriam: Cheryl Strong-Camilleri
Gaining Acceptance In The Equestrian Community For Helmet Use
We Are All Role Models: Setting An Example
Safety Incentives: Thinking Outside The Box To Get Helmets Introduced Into Non-Helmet Wearing Disciplines
Helmets And The Breed Organizations
Current Helmet Rules: Clarification Across The Disciplines
Riders4Helmets: Three-Years On

Speakers include:

Champion Barrel Racer: Megan Sparks
Olympians: Courtney King-Dye (via video), Darren Chiacchia
Multiple CMSA World & National Champion Cowgirl: Tammy Sronce
HorseThink™ Keeping You Safe: Scot Hansen & Sandy Siegrist
Champion Reiner: Lyndsey Jordan
ACTHA: Caroline Scrima
Britni Lovelace, Brooke Smith & Zane Lovelace
Equestrian Mental Skills Coach: Tonya Johnston
Neurosurgeon (name to be confirmed)
RidingHorses.com: Kathy Slack
Reserve Champion Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover: Mary Miller Jordan
Equestrian Mental Skills Coach: Tonya Johnston
USEF: Leigh Anne Claywell
Tipperary: Len Clemente

The full symposium agenda and speaker list (with bios) will be available shortly. A number of safety related vendors will be attending the event.

To book a discounted hotel room at the host hotel, please call the Clarion, Lexington, KY at (800) 424-6423 and use discount code “Riders4Helmets”.

The Kentucky Horse Council Round Up will also be taking place at the Alltech Arena on the same day as the safety symposium. The Round-Up will feature a number of demonstrations, activities and events, culminating in a concert on Saturday evening with country music legend John Michael Montgomery.

For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign, visit www.riders4helmets.com