sustainabledressage

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) joined numerous other riding organizations in early January to discuss updates in helmet technology and safety. The result was a universal vow to improve helmet safety for all riding sports. Weeks later the USEF Board of Directors made good on its promise by voting in tougher protective headgear standards during the Annual Meeting.

The new helmet regulations effect dressage and eventing competitions. While the eventing world has steadily been moving toward tighter helmet rules, the dressage world had been slower to respond until a riding accident in 2010 seriously injured an Olympic-level rider not wearing protective headgear.

The new dressage rule states that mounted riders under age 18 on competition grounds are required to wear and buckle an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet at all times. Competitors 18 and older may choose between a top hat and a helmet only when competing in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges levels and above. To encourage optional helmet use, the rule forbids a judge to give a penalty to a rider wearing protective headgear. All mounted riders, regardless of age, are now required to wear helmets when not competing.