Equestrian Helmet Safety Initiative

The importance of helmet safety, as we all have come to understand it, is of high importance to our health and well-being and that of equestrian sport. The Equestrian Helmet Safety Initiative is dedicated to the research program that will elevate the study of head impact and concussion risk in an equestrian environment to a new standard. Research will be conducted in lab settings and field video data on a variety of equestrian events with significant attention to jumping, where many injuries occur. This project will set the framework to better understand concussive biomechanics in the equestrian industry and better inform helmet manufacturers for improvement with environment-specific design. Because we believe the life and safety of every rider, whether competitive or pleasure is vital.

This research program will study head impact and concussion risk in an equestrian environment. Research will be conducted in lab settings and field video data on a variety of equestrian events with significant attention to jumping, where many injuries occur. This project will set the framework to better understand concussive biomechanics in the equestrian industry and better inform helmet manufacturers for improvement with environment-specific design.

To launch this initiative, in December of 2019 at the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s (USHJA) Annual Meeting in Denver, Co, Dr. Barry Miller of the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab presented on the topic of helmet safety and the helmet safety research they have undertaken. As a direct result of this presentation, the USHJA Board of Directors immediately expressed their belief that helmet safety is a priority and as such has made a commitment of $100,000, towards our $450,000 goal to support the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab’s research in this life-saving project.

It is our hope that every equestrian organization, and person involved in the equestrian community, will donate to support this movement to improve the helmet rating system which influences the standard of safety during the manufacturing of equestrian helmets.

With your help, we can be major contributors to saving lives within the equestrian community.

Find out more about the Equestrian Helmet Safety Initiative at https://www.ehsi.net/.