Courtney King Dye Getting Ready to Ride

Earlier this year, I blogged about Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye, who took a spill from a horse that put her in a comma for several weeks and left friends and family wondering if she would ever walk, much less ride again. But according to her personal blog and an article on Horse Channel.com her recovery is continuing and she is cautiously setting a goal to ride at the Grand Prix level next summer. The article reports that she has acknowledged the importance of being a role model and the use of helmets.

I know many people still believe that it's solely their decision whether or not they wear a helmet because its' 'their head'. But as I wrote in my article Top Reasons Not to Wear a Riding Helmet that really isn't the case. As I'm sure Courtney King Dye will tell you, the impact of a head injury (or any injury) isn't just felt by the person it happens to.

And I know that there are people who will say, I don't want to be a role model. But the fact is, you are. When you sit on your horse there are people who look up to you--children and beginners.

This is something I tell my son as he rides his trials bike around the neighborhood, jumping off of picnic tables, riding down stairs and spanning ditches and roads. Since he is older, there are many younger children who try to emulate him. How would you feel, I ask him, if one of those kids were hurt because they were trying to copy everything you were doing, including riding a bicycle without a helmet?

Please, whatever your ride, wear a helmet.

More About Helmet Use

• Wear Your Riding Helmet With a Costume in Parades and Horse Shows
• Tell Your Helmet Story - Readers' Talk About Riding Helmets