I recently spoke to Lyndsey White of the Riders4Helmets campaign. Lyndsey and fellow campaigner Jeri Bryant started Riders4Helmets after Olympic level dressage rider Courtney King Dye fell from her horse and sustained a life changing head injury. Since its beginnings in the spring of 2010, the Riders4Helmets has promoted an ongoing educational helmet wearing campaign nationally and internationally, garnering the enthusiastic participation of top level equestrians, retailers, manufacturers, medical professionals and supporters in a wide variety of equine disciplines.

In a brief time, Riders4Helmets has made a significant impact on individuals and supporting associations. Lyndsey shared some interesting facts about helmet use and why every rider should “strap one on”.

Why should horseback riders wear helmets? Are there really that many head injuries from riding?

Lyndsey: 2007 data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) states approximately 78,000 people visit the ER for horse related injuries and head injuries account for about 15% of that total. That means there were about 12,000 head injuries in 2007. A leading neurosurgeon from Vanderbilt University claims of all of the common sports and activities horseback riding is the number one cause of head injuries above any other sport.

What’s it going to take to get western riders on board? They seem to be dragging their heels when it comes to helmet use.

Lyndsey: I think USEF CEO John Long, really hit the nail on the head when he said, going forward it’s about making sure that the youth coming through the sport are wearing helmets.

By the time they are adults it will be normal to wear a helmet. And you have to make it cool to wear a helmet, so there is no stigma, and it’s just as acceptable to wear a helmet as a cowboy hat. There needs to be no negativity about wearing a helmet. I think the youth participants in the sports where helmets are not traditional are going to be the key to making wearing helmets normal.

What’s the most common argument for not wearing a helmet?

Lyndsey: The number one reason for not wearing a helmet according to the Riders4Helmets recent poll is that people think they are so experienced that they don’t think they need a helmet. Jean White wrote an article where she states, “beginner riders fall off, and experienced riders get launched”. And that is so true, if you think about it, experienced riders stay in the saddle much longer before they come off and the fall is going to be much worse. They’re riding greener horses, riding faster and jumping higher. The second reason is that people feel that it just isn’t going to happen to them.

Are some helmets safer than others?

Lyndsey: The most important thing when choosing a helmet is you must buy an ASTM and FEI certified helmet. I don’t know that one kind is more protective than the other. One thing that alarms me is that there are leading retailers that still sell apparel that looks like a helmet, but are really only decorative hats. I’m shocked you can go on websites or into stores and there, in the middle of all the approved helmets is a hat that is not really a helmet. That would be something I would definitely stress to novice riders-make sure your helmet is approved. A good non-riding friend lost a child after they inadvertently bought an unapproved helmet. The hat may actually have contributed to the fatal injury. If there is a small label on the inside that says “Apparel Only” then it is not a safe helmet.

What advice would you give to a beginner rider?

Lyndsey: You only get one brain, and like so many doctors have told us, one concussion is one too many. Every time you hit your head you do damage. You don’t get an opportunity to undo the damage. It’s a one time thing, and it really doesn’t help to look back and wish you’d worn a helmet. I think for a novice rider, you don’t want to be in a position of regret.