Ecogold™, manufacturers of saddle pads and protective horse boots, wants to express publicly that they support helmets in competitive dressage and the dressage phase of three-day eventing, in light of proposed rule changes regarding helmets. Following the serious and well-publicized injury to Olympic dressage rider Courtney-King Dye, who sustained a serious brain injury when a young horse she was schooling fell and she hit her head, the helmet debate has been at the forefront of the media and people’s attention for much of 2010ss.

During the 2010 Palm Beach Derby CDI in Loxahatchee, Florida, Ecogold sponsored Canadian dressage riders Jacqueline Brooks and Ashley Holzer were the first competitors to ride an FEI Grand Prix test wearing a helmet. Brooks asked the Ground Jury for permission and there was nothing in the FEI rules preventing riders from wearing a helmet in competition.

In April 2010 the movement spread to eventing when US event rider Allison Springer became the first rider in a helmet in the dressage phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

The debate over whether helmets should become mandatory is a hot topic: some people believe that the traditional look of the top hat in FEI competition should continue, while others feel that the safety of competitors is paramount. Dressage Canada wants to lead the way and make helmets mandatory in the warm-up arena for all riders. The United States Dressage Federation and United States Eventing Association will discuss various rule proposals at their respective conventions, ranging from recommending helmets to making them mandatory at varying levels.

Ecogold supports helmets in all dressage competition, including FEI level dressage and the dressage phase of eventing. In 2010, Ecogold changed their product labels and all of their new marketing materials to show images of Grand Prix dressage riders sporting helmets in competition. Notably their 2011 catalog features Olympian Jacqueline Brooks, a pioneer in the promotion of protective headgear for dressage riders at all levels, on the cover.

Brooks commented, “The move towards wearing helmets is a positive and overdue one. Dressage is not only behind other equestrian sports such as jumping and eventing but lagging far behind many sports such as skiing, bike riding and hockey both on professional and recreational levels. The argument they don’t look as good is simply not appropriate; it is time to treat our sport like the sport it is. Technology to protect us should be welcomed not rejected.”

Ecogold representative Patricia Da Silva commented, “ECOGOLD sponsored riders were the first to ride down a centerline wearing helmets and we are very proud of that. It must have taken a lot of courage on their part to put safety before tradition. They’ve had to deal with external pressure not to wear their helmets and that is why we want to support the cause by taking a public position.” 

Three-Day event rider Chelan Kozak, who represented Canada at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 1994 World Equestrian Games, said that she would support a mandatory helmet proposal. “I’d be sad to see the traditional look of the top hat be forced out, but as a 1995 head injury survivor, I would support a mandatory helmet rule. I’m old enough to recall this same debate over body protectors and approved helmets. A safety device that SHOULD be implemented at preliminary level and above is cross-country air vests!”

Ecogold is comprised of a team of experts in the field of textile engineering with more than 40 years experience in high-performance fabrics. All Ecogold products are made in a company-owned factory in Montreal, Quebec to ensure the best quality materials and workmanship.

For more information or to order Ecogold saddle pads or protective horse boots, please visit www.ecogold.ca or call 1-866-432-6465.