FEI Launches Global Safety Helmet Campaign

The move prefaces the implementation of a rule mandating the use of helmets while riding at FEI events.
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The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has launched a global campaign to promote the use of protective headgear. The move comes two weeks before implementation of a new rule making the use of a properly fastened protective headgear mandatory while riding on the show grounds at FEI events. The campaign, which will be conducted mainly online, begins today, a fortnight before the new rule comes into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

An important part of the campaign will be a series of emails with strong visuals reminding athletes of the importance of safety, and particularly of helmet use. These reminders will be sent to the national federations, athletes and officials clubs, and various FEI stakeholders on a regular basis throughout 2013. A special page outlining the protective headgear requirements specific to each of the seven FEI disciplines on the field of play and outside the competition arena has been created on the FEI website and can be accessed online.Widgets for simple access to all the relevant information can be downloaded from the FEI website.

"The helmet rule, which was unanimously adopted by the FEI General Assembly in 2011, is a significant step forward towards the better protection of our athletes," said FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos. "Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, protective headgear will be compulsory at all FEI events and we strongly encourage everyone involved in international equestrian sport to familiarize themselves with the new general and sport-specific rules. The welfare of all our athletes, human and equine, must be protected."

Helmet use has been at the forefront of several campaigns in recent years. American Dressage rider Courtney King-Dye, recent winner of the FEI Against All Odds Award, advocates educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets through the Riders4Helmets campaign. In 2010, King-Dye, who had represented the United States at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and at the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals 2007 and 2008, suffered a traumatic brain injury when a horse she was schooling tripped and fell and, with no helmet to protect her, she fractured her skull in the fall. After four weeks in a coma, she spent three months in hospital relearning how to walk and talk. The after-effects of the accident still severely affect her coordination and speech. She is now aiming to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

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