The rule, which went into effect during the last week of competition at last year’s FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), requires that anyone on horseback on the PBIEC property wear a helmet at all times. This includes anyone showing, schooling, or riding horses on and off of the show grounds, including grooms. This is a facility-wide rule.
ESP will be enforcing the rule with the backing of the USEF. There will be a zero tolerance policy. Anyone on a horse without a helmet will be asked to dismount immediately. Any insubordination will be penalized and the individuals will be fined and expelled from the property. This is something that ESP is taking very seriously for the safety of everyone involved.
ESP would like to stress the importance that all trainers think ahead for their grooms that will be riding horses in from off-site, flatting horses in the morning or even riding to awards presentations. Helmets must be worn at all times, so please plan accordingly. Equestrian Sport Productions thanks everyone in advance for their help in complying with this rule.
The USEF rule GR801 reads: “It is compulsory for riders all persons at Federation licensed hunter, jumper or hunter/jumper competitions in all Hunter, Jumper and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, when mounted anywhere on the competition grounds, to wear properly fastened protective headgear which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. It must be properly fitted with harness secured.”
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.