British Dressage’s rules have now been changed to make it mandatory to wear a protective riding hat meeting international safety standards. In a previous post I have stated that I support this change to the rules. Senior riders are demonstrating support for the new rule.
- Isabell Werth has said that she will wear a safety helmet in competition from now on. There is a picture in this news article and I think the helmet looks very attractive and is colour coordinated with Isabell’s jacket.
- Anna Ross Davies says “All my team and I always wear a hat, its simply ‘a no brainer’, there are so many light weight hats on the market that are lightweight and look great too, there is no reason not too.”
- Emile Faurie says “Following several high profile riding accidents of late, it really hit home that every day the people I work with and care about were putting themselves at risk by not wearing a hat. Since then we have adopted a ‘no hat no ride’ policy at Heath Farm, I applaud any trainer, rider, equestrian centre that do the same.”
- Courtney King-Dye, a US dressage competitor at the 2008 Olympics, had a bad fall when schooling a horse that tripped. She now walks with a cane, cannot go up stairs unaided, has slurred speech and can only ride safe horses in walk. As a result of her fall Canada is the first country to require all competitors at all levels (including the Olympics) to wear a safety helmet at all times at competitions.
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