Lexington, KY - The inaugural Riders4Helmets Safety Incentive held in conjunction with the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover (SEMM) September 15-17 in Fort Worth, TX was a huge success. The SEEM, organized by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, is the richest wild horse competition in history and offered a wonderful platform on which to exemplify the example of being a "positive role model". The competition involves approximately 180 wild horses that competitors have had only 120 days to gentle and train prior to competing for a share of $200,000 in prize money. Competitors from each of three divisions stepped up to the challenge and "Strapped One On". While there were a number of English riders competing in helmets at the event, there were also many Western riders that participated in the incentive.

The Riders4Helmets Safety Incentive rewarded the highest scoring competitor (Prelim scores) in each division that wore a certified helmet with $500 cash. An additional $500 (cash and vouchers) was awarded in a random drawing of the remaining competitors that had worn helmets, with the winning name being drawn out of a certified helmet! Sponsors of the Riders4Helmets Safety Incentive included: Riders4Helmets, Charles Owen, Tipperary, Triple Crown Horse Feeds, Mrs. Lorraine Ferrell, Equestrian Collections and Equestrian Aid Foundation.

Mary Miller Jordan, representing Riders4Helmets, gave a speech at the trainers meeting prior to the competition, explaining that she felt all of the Extreme Mustang Makeover competitors were role models and would be watched and emulated by many. "Safety is not something that should be discipline specific and it is as equally important for Western riders to wear a helmet as it is for English riders to do so. It is also important to wear a helmet when working a horse in hand, so the "Stars" (In-Hand) Division was included in the incentive as well," said Miller Jordan. "The goal of this unique incentive was not only to get individual competitors wearing an SEI certified helmet at the competition, but also to spark some ideas in the minds of others to create similar incentives back home. When it comes to encouraging Western riders to make this huge transition to wearing a helmet, we must think outside of the box!"

Mary encouraged Competitors to expand the Helmet Safety Incentive on a National level. "Throw $50 at you local Little Britches Western class. Offer a random drawing to win the cash, for all riders in that class who wear a helmet,” said Miller Jordan. “Become inventive. Take the innovative concept of this incentive home with you and remember that Riders4Helmets and the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover started it all." Individuals interested in partnering with Riders4Helmets to run Helmet Safety Incentives at their shows/events may contact [email protected].

“Riders4Helmets would like to extend huge congratulations to the Riders4Helmets Safety Incentive winners of each division: Legends - Ruth Livingston; Idols - Angie Robertson; Stars - Pat Frederiksen, and, the random drawing winner Cindy Branham,” said Lyndsey White, co-founder Riders4Helmets. “Also, a tremendous THANK YOU to all of the competitors that stepped up and "Strapped One On" on, even in Western tack!”. White continued, “We hope to make this an annual incentive at the Supreme Mustang Makeover with the number of competitors wearing certified helmets increasing year on year. I want to thank all of the Helmet Incentive sponsors and especially Mary Miller Jordan for making this incentive happen."

For more information on the Riders4Helmets campaign, visit www.riders4helmets.com. You can also follow the campaign at www.facebook.com/riders4helmets and http://twitter.com/riders4helmets.

Riders4Helmets was founded in early 2010 after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye was seriously injured in a riding accident. King Dye, who remained in a coma for a month following her accident, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Jeri Bryant donated her helmet campaign t-shirts (featuring the slogan “Strap One On–Everyone’s Doing it”) to an eBay store set up to raise funds for King Dye, and a partnership was formed, resulting in the Riders4Helmets campaign.