FIRST ANNUAL EQUESTRIAN ROLE MODEL AWARD TO BE PRESENTED AT MILLBROOK HORSE TRIALS AUGUST 3RD!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     July 16, 2014               
CONTACT:  Mariann Caprino (917) 242-1087

DRESSAGE CHAMPION COURTNEY KING DYE TO BE HONORED AT MILLBROOK HORSE TRIALS BENEFIT LUNCHEON

Equestrian Silva Martin To Present First Annual Charles Owen Award

MILLBROOK, N.Y. (July 15) – Olympic dressage rider Courtney King Dye will be honored for her contributions to equestrian sports at a benefit luncheon at the Millbrook Horse Trials on Sunday, Aug. 3.

King Dye will accept the first annual $5,000 Charles Owen Equestrian Role Model Award on behalf of Riders4Helmets, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating equestrians about safety and the importance of wearing helmets. Grand Prix dressage rider Silva Martin will present the award to King Dye at the luncheon, which is held during the upper level show jumping competition.

“I am honored to receive this award,” King Dye said. “Getting recognition for the good that’s come out of my accident makes it feel worthwhile.”

Charles Owen has been a leading British manufacturer of quality helmets for over 100 years and has partnered with Riders4Helmets in promoting rider safety worldwide. Most recently, Charles Owen and Riders4Helmets worked together to support International Helmet Awareness Day on Jul 12.

Both King Dye and Martin suffered head injuries while riding. King Dye suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after a 2010 fall that occurred when a horse she was schooling tripped and fell. She was not wearing a helmet. King Dye, who represented the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was in a coma for nearly a month and has undergone years of rehabilitation, beginning with learning how to walk and talk again.

Since the accident, King Dye, a resident of New Milford, CT, has thrown her support behind Riders4Helmets and has worked tirelessly to encourage riders in all equestrian disciplines to wear helmets every time they ride. Because of King Dye’s accident, professional dressage riders who traditionally have worn elegant top hats have begun competing in helmets.

Silva Martin suffered a head injury earlier this year after a horse tripped and fell on her. Although she was wearing a helmet, Martin was knocked unconscious and suffered a seizure. The wife of Olympic eventer and longtime MHT competitor Boyd Martin, Silva Martin has made a more rapid recovery, conscious and speaking two days after the accident. She credits her helmet for saving her life.

King Dye, who continues to recover, had her first child earlier this year.

Tickets for the benefit luncheon are available at www.millbrookhorsetrials.com. In addition to the Charles Owen award presentation, the luncheon offers preferred viewing of the Advanced division show jumping competition and a course walk with expert commentary from equestrian Marcia Kulak. Purchasers of ringside seats also may join a course walk with Olympians Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton.

The Millbrook Horse Trials take place July 31 through Aug. 3 at Coole Park Farm on Bangall-Amenia Road in Millbrook, N.Y.

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