Dr. Ann Reilly’s forum echoes similar complaints mentioned in letters from Gary Baker, Patty Heukeroth and others previously published in the Chronicle, suggesting that the research that led to our rule requiring ASTM/SEI-approved helmets for riders competing over fences was flawed and that the helmets are unsafe.

Let me begin by saying that Dr. Reilly is correct about one thing–no helmet will prevent all injuries and/or death. There is, simply, no “perfect helmet.”

And no equestrian helmet is designed to protect the rider’s neck. Equestrian helmets manufactured to the ASTM/SEI standard are designed to protect the rider’s brain in one way–by absorbing the energy sustained by impact and reducing the amount of energy applied to the brain.
These helmets should be fitted properly with a secure harness to do their job. If not properly fitted, accidents like Dr. Reilly suffered can occur. I agree that we need more education and training for proper fit.

Mr. Baker alleges that the University of Virginia Trauma Center has seen many cases of injury attributed to ASTM/SEI-approved equestrian helmets and that they’ve recommended that riders not wear them.

I have contacted the trauma coordinator at the University of Virginia Medical Center, who assured me that she knows nothing about such advice. She even followed up with physicians and other practitioners, and they knew of no cases where this was true.

Dr. Reilly alleges that Dr. Barth Green of Miami has been studying these issues for years and has more experience than any member of the USEF Safety Committee. My research into Dr. Green’s background indicates that he does have more “experience” in neurosurgery and spinal cord research than any of our committee members. But this is insignificant since we did not perform the helmet research ourselves.

We studied a myriad of investigations performed by professional researchers, but I could not find any research published by or attributed to Dr. Green specifically regarding equestrian helmet safety. Other investigations by him have no bearing on this particular rule.

No Response
Dr. Reilly further alleges that Dr. Green insists that “at the present time there is no safe helmet on the market.”

Andrew Ellis, chairman of the USEF Safety Committee, and I each tried for at least two months to contact Dr. Green for his input and to verify these statements and others. But he has not responded to our calls or e-mails.

With all due respect, if Dr. Green were so focused on ASTM/SEI-approved helmets, I would hope that he (or any other expert) would relay to us his concerns, research and recommendations.

The USEF’s rules affect thousands of equestrians, and if there is documented evidence, we could put it forward to other experts and revisit the issue. So far, no one has been able to provide us with any credible or documented research against ASTM/SEI-approved helmets. All information has been anecdotal.

Dr. Reilly, Mr. Baker, Ms. Heukeroth and others have inferred that we only used two years of incomplete statistics and that helmet manufacturers provided the research to further their business.

Again, I will state that we did not do the research. The USEF Safety Committee studied research that has been done for many years by many different reputable researchers and organizations experienced in neurology, sports medicine, emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, helmet safety and engineering. In particular, Dr. Bill Brooks and Dr. Doris Hammett are leading researchers in equestrian injury and were very instrumental in our process. Drusilla Malavase, an experienced equestrian forensics expert, has also led the push for safer helmets for decades.

Legal experts also researched the issue, and the American Medical Equestrian Association/Safe Riders Foundation was also a tremendous source.

Anyone can search on the internet for equestrian helmet research and find many sources. We have also prepared an educational packet with references for anyone who requests it.

The U.S. Pony Clubs, U.S. Eventing Association, Federation Equestrian Internationale and other equestrian organizations have used the same research worldwide.

It’s interesting that the subject of Patey helmets keeps appearing in these letters. Margie Hough-Sabotini of Regal Crowne, a distributor of custom-fitted, non-certified helmets, has been a vocal critic of this rule. And I’ve been told that she, Dr. Green and others are working to develop a new standard and design for a helmet that will meet SEI certification. A proposal was also submitted to the USEF asking for an extension of the effective date of the new helmet rule, probably to allow this particular brand of helmets time to gain certification.

USEF staff members have assisted Ms. Hough-Sabotini in understanding the certification process, and we have invited her to provide input. If and when this helmet gains certification and meets the standards set forth in the rule, riders will be able to wear this helmet in competition.

But on Dec. 1, all riders must comply with the rule by wearing ASTM/SEI-approved helmets that are currently available.

We Welcome More Research
Many years of work by experts and advocates prior to my involvement have helped me understand the need for this rule. We will never be able to prevent every injury or death. But at the present time, equestrian helmets meeting the ASTM/SEI standard are the best available.

The U.S. Pony Clubs have used this standard for 15 years, and eventing and junior hunter/jumper riders have had to comply with this standard for several years now. In that time, there have been no documented incidents of the retention harness killing anyone.

As time goes on and we compile ever more accident data, we may see a need for change, either with another standard or improvement of the current standard. The Safety Committee’s job is to monitor this situation and seek input from many sources for review.

The critics of this rule and the research leading to it should provide factual, truthful and documented evidence to validate their claims. We will investigate all claims of injury, and no letter that we’ve received has gone unanswered.

Dr. Reilly is correct that education is the key. Forums have been scheduled at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association meeting in Miami next month and at the USEF convention in Cincinnati in January. Dr. Green is welcomed to properly provide his input, along with anyone else.

I encourage Dr. Reilly to do her own research, as she states she wishes. And I encourage Dr. Reilly, Ms. Hough-Sabotini and Dr. Green to design a better, safer helmet.

Rusty Lowe is an emergency medical technician from Birmingham, Ala. He’s a member of the USEF Safety Committee, the USEA Safety Committee and the American Medical Equestrian Association/Safe Riders Foundation. The opinions expressed here are his own.