June 11th - Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day

Helmet Awareness Day at Chaar

We want to encourage riders of all ages and disciplines to join us for Helmet Awareness Day. Our Associates are trained in helmet fitting to make sure your helmet is comfortable and protective.

Who can benefit from a new helmet?

• New riders of any age - learn why it is important to have your own helmet when you take your first steps into the equestrian world.
• Riders who have recently taken a fall - your helmet may appear unharmed but could suffer from unseen damage. Find out why it's essential to replace a helmet after a fall or other impact.
• Riders who compete - rule changes within the USDF, FEI, and USEF rated shows require more riders to wear helmets. Learn about these new rules while getting fitted for a new show helmet.
• Any rider who has not replaced their helmet in the last 5 years - Most helmet manufacturers recommend replacing your helmet every 3 to 5 years to account for wear and tear that may reduce the helmet's effectiveness in a fall.  Also, many barns and associations require riders to wear helmets with current ASTM/SEI certifications. If your helmet is more than 5 years old, it may not meet these standards. 
• Anyone who practices safe riding - You don't need an excuse to shop for a new helmet. Your life and passion to continue riding is reason enough!

Celebrate Charles Owen's 100th Anniversary
2011 marks the 100 year anniversary of Charles Owen - a long established and well-respected helmet brand.  Anyone who tries on a helmet on helmet awareness day gets a piece of birthday cake (while it lasts).

The Inspiration Behind the Helmet Revolution

On March 10th, 2011, US Olympic Dressage rider Courtney King-Dye suffered a serious head injury after falling from her horse who merely took a bad step while schooling. Courtney was not wearing a helmet at the time and as a result from her injuries remained in a coma for a month following the accident. Since waking, her rehabilitation process has been long and arduous, and left the rest of the equestrian community shocked.

It is unfortunate that too often riders will mount-up without proper safety gear. While many barns and associations enforce Helmet rules for younger riders, there is little but our own code of safety awareness for experienced adult riders to abide by. Courtney King-Dye was not the first of highly-skilled riders to take a fall without a helmet on, but her popularity made knowledge of her accident wide-spread. If someone as seasoned as her could come so close to death on a horse many would consider "bomb proof," then clearly we need to rethink our stance on Helmet usage - this is where Lyndsey White, founder of Riders4Helmets came in.

Teaming up with Jeri Bryant, the designer of the "Strap One On - Everyone's Doing It" t-shirts, the two launched the Riders4Helmets campaign. Their two major goals: help raise funds for Courtney King-Dye's medical expenses, and help prevent future accidents like her's by educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing a helmet.

"I am proud to say that we receive many emails from equestrians who have purchased their first helmet after reading the articles on this site (Riders4Helmets.com). If we can save one life then all the hard work will have been worth it." ~Lyndsey White

DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING “STRAP ONE ON, EVERYONE’S DOING IT”

*Discount for in-stock merchandise only. Valid 6/11/2011 on in-store purchases.  Discount not applicable to online orders.