OUR GOAL
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.
Mary Babick
President
USHJA
The importance of helmet safety, as we all have come to understand it, is of the highest importance to our health and well-being and that of equestrian sport. Our pledge to this campaign is not only a commitment to furthering research and technology in this field, but also a commitment to our equestrian community to help make it safer for all involved.
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Logo prominently displayed on the EHSI website and hyperlinked
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Inclusion in all "thank you" emails
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Inclusion in all press releases around ESHI and USHJA
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(5) dedicated social media posts
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'Thank you' blurb in In Stride Magazine
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Inclusion in all EHSI marketing materials
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Logo prominently displayed on the EHSI website and hyperlinked
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Inclusion in all "thank you" emails
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Inclusion in (1) press releases around ESHI and USHJA
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(3) dedicated social media posts
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Logo displayed on the EHSI website
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(1) dedicated social media post
LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT
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Logo displayed on the EHSI website
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Inclusion in (1) thank you email
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Inclusion in (1) press releases around ESHI and USHJA
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(2) dedicated social media posts
Barry Miller, PhD, MBA
Director of Outreach and Business Development, The Biomechanics Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech
Thank you to those who joined our informational webinar led by researcher Dr. Barry Miller. For those that attended that would like a recording of the webinar or those that were unable to attend and would like to view, please contact us.
Dr. Barry Miller's presentation last December at the USHJA annual meeting.