An impressive line-up of American organizations have come on board to help sponsor EquiMania at the coming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky that have been running for 16 days.
Equine Guelph’s travelling youth education display has been invited by the Equestrian Games to be the anchor tenant in the Kids Zone at the 16-day international event this fall, marking the first time the 5,500 pound exhibit will cross international borders.
EquiMania will debut a helmet fitting demonstration, “Use Your Head – Wear a Helmet”, featured in the safety area of the exhibit.
Not only will kids go on a scavenger hunt to find dangers on a mock horse farm, but they will learn about the importance of wearing a helmet when riding and how to properly fit one. Sponsors of the initiative include: UK HealthCare-Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids (Fayette County) and SaddleUP SAFELY (a coalition of 30 plus medical and horse-related organizations led by University of Kentucky HealthCare and UK College of Agriculture Equine Initiative), Pegasus Helmets and Canadian-based SSG Gloves.
“Nearly a third of horse riding and handling injuries admitted to UK HealthCare’s Trauma Center involve an injury to the head. Wearing an approved, well-fitting helmet is the best preventive action equestrians can take to reduce the likelihood of a serious brain injury,” said Bill Gombeski, SaddleUP SAFELY program coordinator. “We’re thrilled to be part of this international partnership that leverages an opportunity at the Games to teach kids how to ‘use their heads’ ”
Other companies supporting EquiMania at the Games are Triple Crown Nutrition (sponsoring the nutrition display) and Alltech Canada (sponsoring the parasite display).
“We just can’t believe the reception EquiMania is receiving from organizations in the States,” said Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph.
“It just shows that when it comes to educating youth in our industry, it doesn’t matter where we’re from. We just care about kids and horses.”
