Olympian Courtney King-Dye's head injury has persuaded many dressage riders to wear helmets as a long-overdue safety measure
Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks began wearing a helmet for Grand Prix competition after another dressage rider, Courtney King-Dye, suffered a head injury when she wasn't wearing protective headgearFrom coast to coast, Courtney King-Dye's coma has sounded an alarm for dressage riders who finally are starting to don protective headgear.
The Olympic equestrian wasn't wearing a helmet March 3, when a horse she was training tipped over and she hit her head on the ground in Loxahatchee, Fla. King-Dye remained unconscious in a West Palm Beach hospital Saturday as supporters rallied around with prayers and financial contributions.
Few upper-level dressage riders use protective headgear regularly; after all, when they compete, they wear easily crushable top hats.But following Courtney's accident, helmets proliferated in schooling rings at horse shows around the country. Even the nation's number one dressage rider, Steffen Peters, switched a helmet for the baseball cap he usually favors when schooling, and many others followed suit.
U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams, a Grand Prix rider himself, hopes there is a long-term trend in the current recognition of the need for safety.
"Certainly when someone so high profile and well-loved as Courtney has such a terrible accident, it brings a tremendous awareness to the potential dangers of riding," he said, noting the USDF requires use of a helmet at its functions.
"There already has been a lot of discussion about requiring helmets and I suspect there will be a lot more both within the USEF (U.S. Equestrian Federation) and USDF. Whether or not it will lead to rules requiring their use is hard to say. At this point, it's too early to predict if helmets will become the norm in competition, especially when tail coats are worn," he said.
Some riders believe that top hat and tails are indivisible as symbols at the top of the sport, and that the coats can't be worn without the hats. However, the hunter riders who used to wear top hats with their shadbelly tailcoats in classics and derbies are now required to wear protective headgear, and nobody thinks twice about it anymore.
"Ultimately," said Williams, "I have always thought it is a personal decision, but one that should not be taken lightly due to the risks involved. However, it is becoming very obvious that our top riders need to recognize, for better or worse, they are setting an example that others will copy. I believe that in the very near future, as safety concerns increase and liability and insurance issues mount, helmets will be commonly used both at home and at competitions."
Heather Mason, a trainer who runs Flying Change Farm in Tewksbury, said helmets have been standard equipment in her program for years.
"I am one of very few at the CDIs (internationally recognized shows) who school in a helmet," Mason stated.
"I always wear an approved helmet at home and so do all my students. At shows, I wear one on all my horses the day we arrive for schooling. I show most of the 2nd Level and below horses in a helmet and certainly have shown through 4th Level in one on more unpredictable horses."
Mason said she wear a top hat only in FEI (international equestrian federation) classes or on "sensible" horses.
"I would have no problem with helmets being required, but think it will (be) hard to get through unless the FEI also mandates it. I do think that anyone holding an amateur card should wear one at all times. And I am always amazed at riders without helmets on naughty horses at the shows at all levels, as it seems to be an unnecessary risk in my opinion."
Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks wore a helmet instead of her top hat in the Grand Prix Special competition at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby last weekend.
"It's unfortunate that it's always something like this that gets people thinking about these things," said Brooks, but noted her coach, another Canadian Olympian, Ashley Holzer, has always worn a helmet while schooling.
"I'll definitely wear it every time I sit on a horse," said Brooks. "There's a potential for them (horses) to slip at any time. It's crazy not to wear them (helmets). You've got to wear a helmet when you go skiing, you've got to wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle. Our sport needs to catch up. We don't need to wait for the FEI
to tell us. I think we're all intelligent people and we can put the helmet on our heads.
"Now I regret I didn't wear a helmet in the Olympics," said Brooks, who vowed to wear one in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this September if she makes her nation's team.
ON THE RAIL -- Courtney King-Dye has begun breathing on her own periodically as hospital staff works to wean her off a ventilator. Those wishing to send her cards or contributions for medical expenses may reach her at 2442 Muir Circle, Wellington, FL 33414. E-mails may be addressed to comebackcourt@gmail.com.
The first WEG in the United States may not be the last. Even before this fall's WEG in Kentucky, Equestrian Sport Productions Saturday announced plans to bid for the 2018 WEG at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla.
A spread-out bedroom community of 60,000, Wellington is unlike any of the other cities, such as Rome and Jerez, Spain, that have hosted the WEG since its 1990 inception in Stockholm.
Paul Schofield, Wellington's town manager, said that while there's plenty of land for the eight world championships contested during a WEG at the center, there's little room for parking on-site. What needs to be figured out is the logistics of how transportation shuttles can be organized and traffic is routed on the two-lane roads around the center. There would be no plans, Schofield said, to widen roads for an one-off event that will only be held for a few weeks.
The WEG could be held at the end of October or thereabouts, the time of year when hurricane season draws to a close. Organizer envision bringing neighboring towns and counties into the mix, especially since there is only one hotel within Wellington's borders..
After 14 years, jumper rider Callan Solem is leaving Carol Thompson's Quiet Winter Farm in Colts Neck for a new base at the farm of Virginia and Colin McNeil in Chester Springs, Pa.
"I'm really happy to be moving forward and have my own place in the industry,'' said Solem, 31, who is bringing grand prix horse VDL Torlando with her.
Last weekend, Solem won the $50,000 grand prix at HITS Ocala with Allison, the third victory of the season for the mare owned by Quiet Winter and B.J. and Ross Maghan. Solem, who is recovering from a broken finger, has been trying to qualify for September's $1 million HITS grand prix in Saugerties, N.Y., and needs just one more start to make the rider rankings list.
Solem, who has been with Quiet Winter since she was a junior rider, lived in the basement of Thompson's house.
"I so much appreciated all her guidance and support. The roots are deep," said Solem of Thompson, while emphasizing how grateful she was to have worked with Thompson, a U.S. Equestrian Team veteran, but felt she couldn't turn down the McNeils' offer.
The situation understandably is difficult for Thompson.
"My feelings were badly hurt by the whole thing," she conceded, adding she hasn't made any decision about what to do with Allison and Mianta, another horse from her barn that Callan rides.
"I'd like to be able to finish out Allison and Mianta's careers with them. We're trying to work things out," said Solem, who has a particular attachment to 18-year-old Allison.
"I hope she's happy with the choice she's made," said Thompson.
"I wish her well."
There's going to be a tack and clothing sale Friday from 6-10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Someret County 4-H Center on Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Those who want to sell things can take them for consignment Wednesday or Thursday from 7-9 p.m.
The 4-H takes a 20 percent commission and only clean and safe tack and clothing are accepted
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Sunday: West Milford Equestrian Center Show, 367 Union Valley Rd., Newfoundland; Baymar Farms how, 38 Harbor Rd., Morganville; Lord Stirling Stable St. Patrick's Day Trail Ride, 256 Maple Ave., Basking Ridge; N.J. Quarter Horse Association All-Breed CharityTrail Ride, Assunpink (call 908-418-5923 or go to www.njqha.com).
Friday: Palermo Show Stable Show, 1555A Burnt Mills Rd., Bedminster (through next Sunday); Tack Sale, 4-H Center, Milltown Road, Bridgewater (also Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m..)
Saturday: Snowbird Acres Show prestened by CJL Farm at Hunter's Crossing Farm, 121 E. Valley Brook Rd., Long Valley; Woodedge at the Park, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown (through next Sunday).
Next Sunday: Carriage Drive, Lord Stirling Stable, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge (9 a.m. start); Silver Bit & Spur Show, 631 Route 523, Whitehouse Station; CJL Farm Show, Baymar Farms, 38 Harbor Rd., Morganville; Bit O' Woods Farm Dressage Schooling Show and Clear Round Jumping, 2207 Fostertown Rd., Hainesport.
</tgc> Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.
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