Tom O'Mara, Joe Dotoli & Dr. Barry Miller by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services

Piper and Traci Brooks speak with US Equestrian President Tom O'Mara, USHJA Board Member and Safety Committee Chair Joe Dotoli and Dr. Barry Miller of Virginia Tech about helmet safety and the recently released helmet ratings. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.

• Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse and Traci Brooks
• Guest: Tom O’Mara is the President of US Equestrian. Prior to his role as President, Tom was a member of the Board of Directors for four years, and served as Secretary/Treasurer for two years. Tom has been an active part of the hunter/jumper community for many years, where his wife, Liz, daughters Meg, Casey, and Abby, and son T.J., are active competitors. With a professional background as a financial services manager and consultant, Tom brought his business acumen to his role on the US Equestrian Board of Directors. Tom took on the task of heading the Drugs and Medications/Lab Review Task Force, which ultimately led to the transfer of the USEF testing lab to the University of Kentucky. Tom has also been active in elevating varsity equestrian as an intercollegiate sport. 
• Guest: Joe Dotoli has been part of the horse industry for nearly 50 years as a professional rider, trainer, judge, horse show manager and was the recipient of the 2017 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award. Joe’s record in the show ring as a rider and trainer is remarkable with championship wins at nearly every major hunter/jumper show. An even greater legacy is Joe's work with younger equestrians who also have gone on to achieve much success- among them, Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde. Joe dedicated nearly three years of his life to the passage of the “Safety Helmet Rule.” This made it mandatory for hunter/jumper competitors to wear American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) helmets. Joe won the 2001 USEF Distinguished Service Award for contributions to equestrian sport and is currently a USHJA Board Member and Safety Committee Chair. 
• Guest: Dr. Barry Miller holds a PhD in Sport Biomechanics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and also an MBA from the University of Delaware. Dr. Miller has over 25 years in higher education in various administrative and academic roles. Dr. Miller joined the Virginia Helmet Lab about 5 years ago and serves as the Director of Outreach and Business Development.
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• Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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• Sponsors: Purina Animal Nutrition, Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association, America Cryo, LAURACEA, American Stalls, BoneKare, Show Strides Book Series, Online Equestrian College Courses, With Purpose: The Balmoral Standard, and American Equestrian School