The helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets will be hosting the 2011 Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium on July 23, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by Tipperary, Troxel Helmets, Charles Owen, Samshield, Ovation, Equestrian Professional, and the Equestrian Aid Foundation.

The symposium was organized to bring together representatives from various corners of the equestrian world to discuss the importance of wearing helmets and rider safety, and to improve helmet designs, rules, and more. The event will provide a series of lectures and panel discussions throughout the day. There will also be panel discussions featuring equestrians, representatives from the helmet safety testing authorities, helmet manufacturers, equestrian organizations, and neurosurgeons. The hosts of the meeting will be Craig Ferrell, MD, physician to the United States equestrian team and Chair of the Fédération Equestre Internationale Medical Council, and, Lyndsey White, cofounder Riders4Helmets.

"We are very excited to be hosting the second Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium and to see it continue to expand," said White. "Since U.S. Olympian Courtney King Dye’s accident in 2010, awareness of the importance of helmets has grown significantly and we are delighted to be bringing together individuals, corporations and organizations all in one place, to continue important discussions of equestrian safety related to helmets