Riders4Helmets.com has teamed up with leading helmet manufacturers to host the eighth International Helmet Awareness Day on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday 17. Building on the success of International Helmet Awareness Day 2016, participating retailers all over the world will be offering discounts on helmets on these dates.
International Helmet Awareness Day was founded in 2010 as a direct result of US Olympian Courtney King Dye’s accident, with the aim of educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitting, secured and certified helmet.
The helmet brands that have committed involvement in International Helmet Awareness Day 2017 are: Caldene, Champion, Charles Owen, Gatehouse, GPA, Harry Hall Hats, International Riding Helmets (IRH), Kask, KEP Italia, LAS helmets (Leslie Sutcliffe UK), One K, Ovation, Samshield, Tipperary, Troxel and Uvex.
“It is a testament to the continued need for educating equestrians on all aspects of helmet wearing that sees us organizing our eighth International Helmet Awareness Day,” said Lyndsey White, Riders4Helmets. “Retailers in Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, USA and Zambia have already registered to participate in this year’s event. Last year, retailers had so many people wanting to be fitted for helmets that they asked us to expand the event to two days this year, so everyone could be properly fitted."
Retailers around the globe who wish to register to participate in the event may register at this link and will then be added to the participating retailer map (please note - retailers will not immediately appear on the map but will once the listing is approved). Only retailers who register with riders4helmets will be eligible for restocking discounts from the participating helmet brands (participating brands vary by country). There is no fee for retailers to participate this year as the event is being sponsored by Equiseen LLC.
Equestrians may visit this link to learn more about International Helmet Awareness Day and may search for participating retailers by “Name” or “Geographic Location” at this link. Equestrians are encouraged to visit the site on September 16th and 17th, 2016, to view the most current update, as participating retailers will continue to be added on a daily basis.
For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign, visit www.riders4helmets.com. You can also follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.
With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.