“Improving rider safety is an integral part of our work and we are tremendously pleased that the scheme – effectively a hat amnesty – will help to drive home the message that hats should always be replaced when they have been involved in an incident,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams.
The BETA Helmet Bounty Scheme caters for riders diagnosed with concussion by an event’s medical officer during the cross-country phase of competition. To be included, riders must first agree to their hat being returned to BETA and BE passing on details of their injury.
In return, riders will receive a voucher worth £100 that can be put towards the cost of a replacement jockey skull when bought from a participating BETA retailer.
Chris Farr, British Eventing’s Sports Operations Manager, added: “We are delighted to be working with BETA on this extremely important initiative, which will not only help riders to replace their hats, but those collected will be used by the trade association to conduct further research into improving riding hat standards.”
The BETA Helmet Bounty Scheme will be introduced in time for the start of the 2016 eventing season, when further details will be made available. BETA also plans to work in conjunction with the British Horseracing Authority to enhance a similar scheme it operates for jockeys.
