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Articles: Press Release
GPA Helmets Purchased in Europe May Not Meet
Required USEF Safety Standards
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2006
(Lexington, KY) - A number of exhibitors using the GPA brand of helmets
while competing in USEF licensed events may be unaware that they are not
wearing an ASTM/SEI certified model as required by USEF rules. Helmets
purchased in Europe, from online stores in Europe, or possibly from
EBay, if the helmets originally came from Europe, may not meet the
ASTM/SEI standard as required by USEF GR318.2-GR318.7. Riders should
check the buckles of their GPA helmets to see if there is an SEI logo on
it and they should also check the inside of the helmet which should
carry the SEI certification tag in it. If it does not appear there, then
the helmet should not be used in USEF licensed competitions.
All riders are required to wear a certified helmet while competing in
Hunter, Jumpers and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, and in Paso Fino
classes, both open and breed restricted including Hunter Hack, where
jumping is required and when jumping 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 a harness secured.
Except as mandated by local law, Juniors in the above classes, and all
sub-juniors riding in the Paso Fino division, must wear certified
helmets while riding anywhere on the competition grounds. As stated in
GR318.6, "It is the responsibility of the rider, or the parent or
guardian or trainer of the junior exhibitor to see to it that the
headgear worn complies with appropriate safety standards for protective
headgear intended for equestrian use, and is properly fitted and in good
condition, and the Federation, the Show Committee, and Licensed
Officials are not responsible for checking headgear worn for such
compliance."
The USEF strongly encourages all riders, while riding anywhere on
competition grounds, to wear ASTM/SEI certified headgear.
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