The popular Helmet Awareness Campaign Riders4Helmets, has partnered with the Mustang Heritage Foundation to encourage helmet usage at the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover to be held September 15-17 in Fort Worth, TX. The Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover (SEMM) is a National event organized by the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), a non-profit organization founded with the purpose of saving America’s wild Mustangs.
The SEMM is the richest wild horse competition in history paying $200,000 to winners in 2012, $50,000 of that amount going to the first place Legends winner. Approximately 185 trainers have had 120 days to take a wild, untouched 5 year old Mustang and gentle him or her to cultivate a partnership that they will show off in Texas at the SEMM finals.
These mustangs will perform flying lead changes, sliding stops, spins, half passes, jump fences and much more. There are over 40,000 unwanted wild mustangs in holding facilities right now. Non-profits like the MHF are crucial to the future of our American Mustangs. Competitions like the SEMM show the world how talented and trainable these mustangs are, even at 5 years old and wild.
The Riders4Helmets Helmet Incentive will award a total of $2000 to competitors that sport properly fitting and secured ASTM/SEI certified helmets during the SEMM. There are three divisions at the SEMM. Stars, which is all ground work and in hand; Idols, which is under saddle and designed for trainers who have not been in the top ten of a Makeover before, and Legends, which is the toughest division of all.
The Riders4Helmets Helmet Incentive will award $500 to the highest scoring competitor wearing a properly fitting and secured ASTM/SEI certified helmet in each of the three divisions. A further $500 will be awarded through a random drawing of the remaining competitors wearing ASTM/SEI certified helmets. The goal of the incentive is not only to get helmets on competitors’ heads but also to use the platform of the SEMM to initiate similar helmet safety incentives at other events nationwide.
“We are extremely grateful to the sponsors of the Riders4Helmets Helmet Incentive for participating in what we understand is the first incentive of its kind at a major Western event,” said Lyndsey White, co-founder Riders4Helmets. “The support of Riders4Helmets, Tipperary, Charles Owen, Triple Crown Horse Feeds, Lorraine Ferrell, Equestrian Collections, High Cotton Horse Farm and the Equestrian Aid Foundation made this incentive possible. I hope it will achieve its desired goal of encouraging more riders to wear an approved helmet,” White continued.
The Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover draws quite the following as fans watch the amazing progression of “Wild to Willing”. Trainers from all facets of the horse industry are represented in the competition ranging from Cutting Horse Trainers, to Reiners, real working ranch-hand Cowboys, Dressage riders, Barrel Racers, 4H leaders, Equestrian team instructors and more.
It really does not matter why someone chooses to wear a helmet. What DOES matter is that they “Strap One On”. We are ALL Role models. The more top level competitors that choose to wear a helmet in any and every saddle, be it English or Western, the more our youth and upcoming horsemen will be inspired to wear one as well.
Shows or organizations wishing to hold their own helmet incentives can email admin@riders4helmets.com for support and assistance with organizing the incentive. For further information on the Riders4Helmets campaign please visit http://www.riders4helmets.com.
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, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.