I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4552 
To encourage and ensure the use of safe equestrian helmets, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2014 
Mr. HIMES (for himself, Mr. CARNEY, Ms. ESTY, and Mr. LARSON of Con-
necticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To encourage and ensure the use of safe equestrian helmets, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Christen O’Donnell 
Equestrian Helmet Safety Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Head injuries are the number one reason 
for hospital admissions of horseback riders and the 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:41 May 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4552.IH
H4552
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
leading cause of death following a horseback riding 
injury. 
(2) Over 100 deaths per year are estimated to 
result from equestrian related activities, with head 
injuries accounting for 3 of every 5 of these deaths. 
(3) Nearly 68,000 people visited the emergency 
room in 2012 as a result of horseback riding related 
injuries, with head injuries accounting for 22 per-
cent and concussions accounting for 7 percent of 
these visits. 
(4) Horseback riding causes 11.7 percent of 
sports-related traumatic brain injuries, which is the 
largest percentage of any recreational sport. 
(5) Between 2001 and 2009, children under 19 
made 3,638 emergency room visits per year for trau-
matic brain injuries resulting from horseback riding 
accidents. 
(6) Between 75 and 80 percent of head injuries 
occur while physically mounted on a horse—when a 
rider would normally be wearing his or her helmet. 
(7) Racing organizations require helmets, and 
as a result jockeys now sustain fewer head injuries 
than pleasure riders. 
(8) The U.S. Pony Clubs lowered head injury 
rates by 29 percent through mandatory helmet use. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:41 May 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4552.IH
H4552
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(9) Properly fitted ASTM/SEI certified helmets 
can reduce head injury-related deaths by 70 to 80 
percent. 
SEC. 3. STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Every equestrian helmet manu-
factured on or after the date that is 9 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act shall meet— 
(1) the interim standard specified in subsection 
(b), pending the establishment of a final standard 
pursuant to subsection (c); and 
(2) the final standard, once that standard has 
been established under subsection (c). 
(b) INTERIM STANDARD.—The interim standard for 
equestrian helmets is the American Society for Testing 
and Materials (ASTM) standard designated as F1163. 
(c) FINAL STANDARD.— 
(1) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission shall begin a pro-
ceeding under section 553 of title 5, United States 
Code, to— 
(A) establish a final standard for eques-
trian helmets that incorporates all the require-
ments of the interim standard specified in sub-
section (b); 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:41 May 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4552.IH
H4552
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) provide in the final standard a man-
date that all approved equestrian helmets be 
certified to the requirements promulgated under 
the final standard by an organization that is ac-
credited to certify personal protection equip-
ment in accordance with ISO Guide 65; and 
(C) include in the final standard any addi-
tional provisions that the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
(2) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAWS.—Sec-
tions 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act 
(15 U.S.C. 2056 and 2058) shall not apply to the 
proceeding under this subsection, and section 11 of 
such Act (15 U.S.C. 2060) shall not apply with re-
spect to any standard issued under such proceeding. 
(3) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The final standard 
shall take effect not later than 1 year after the date 
it is issued. 
(d) FAILURE TO MEET STANDARDS.— 
(1) FAILURE TO MEET INTERIM STANDARD.— 
Until the final standard takes effect, an equestrian 
helmet that does not meet the interim standard, re-
quired under subsection (a)(1), shall be considered 
in violation of a consumer product safety standard 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:41 May 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4552.IH
H4552
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tended to be worn while participating in an eques-
trian event or activity. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:41 May 02, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4552.IH
H4552
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS