January 18, 2012–International Dressage rider and Pan Am Gold Medalist Lauren Sammis is well known for wearing her helmet in the Grand Prix ring, and thanks to that important life decision Sammis put on her ?role model? hat recently and took part in the Riders4Helmets Safety Symposium in Wellington. Sammis, who competes Sagacious HF, a KWPN gelding owned by Al Guden and Hyperion Farm, sat on a panel at the Riders4Helmets Symposium entitled ?We Are All Role Models.?
In addition to being a role model for wearing her helmet while riding and competing, Sammis is also a role model for young dressage riders aspiring to have a successful dressage career. On the same weekend that Sammis appeared on the Riders4Helmet panel, she also took part in the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program.
?It was a very busy weekend but I had a great time,? Sammis said. ?Both programs were very important and it was an honor to be asked to participate. I am in Wellington for the winter dressage season competing Sagacious in the Grand Prix?s, but anytime I can do something that puts me in a position where I am helping other riders, I am glad to do it.”
Sammis was pleased to take part in the Riders4Helmets Symposium, as she is a strong proponent of wearing helmets. ?I never ride without a helmet and I don’t take off my helmet before going into the show ring,? she said. ?If I’m going to be considered a role model, I certainly want to be a role model for wearing helmets. It is so important and I encourage everyone to wear their helmets each time they get on a horse.? The Riders4Helmet Symposium was sponsored by Samshield, GPA, Charles Owen, Tipperary, Point Two, Ovation, One K, Equestrian Collections, Equine Risk Management Group and the goal of the program is to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitted and secured, certified helmet.
Sammis also took part in the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program, a program designed to help the young rider graduate into the professional world of international competition, teaching, training and equine business management. ?I had a great time talking with the young riders and feel it’s very important to support them. They are the future members of our United States Teams and we need to teach these younger riders how to succeed,? Sammis said.
Sammis added that one of the highlights of the Young Rider Graduate Program was being able to explain her value system to the group. ?I think it’s important to instill the proper values in our young riders which includes being humble and grateful for where they are in their riding careers,? she said. ?They need to be thankful that they have the opportunity to do this for a living, I know I am, and they also need to know that it’s a process and hard work.?
Sammis said she is looking forward to competing Sagacious, a jet black gelding with his own Facebook page and a large fan following, in Wellington during the winter circuit. Sammis has taken Sagacious from Training Level to the Grand Prix Level and she is hoping to earn a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team.
To learn more about Lauren Sammis, visit her website at www.sammissales.com. For more information on Sagacious, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SagaciousHF. To learn more about Hyperion Farm, visit www.hyperionfarm.com.
