When they were introduced more than two decades ago, shockabsorbing helmets for equestrians were praised by safety experts who saw their potential for reducing skull and brain injuries associated with falls. Riders, too, recognized the benefits, yet many found the bulky headgear awkward to wear and decidedly unattractive. For all the good they could do, the earliest models only vaguely resembled the headgear that riders were accustomed to wearing. "They started out almost like a pot on your head—safe but with no styling," says Frank Plastino, president of International Riding Helmets. But in the ensuing years—especially in the last decade—helmets for riders have come a long way in their evolution and popularity. "They've gotten smaller, lighter and more attractive," Plastino continues. "Andwe're constantlylook-ing for ways to improve on that."
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