As it's International Helmet Awareness Day today, we thought we'd post this lovely picture of one of our 'Dressage Superstars', Charlotte Dujardin. 

Charlotte is one of a growing number of top riders who choose to wear a proper safety helmet instead of a top hat. At first, it looked rather strange - the combination of ultra elegant dressage tailcoat with a modern hard hat. But as more riders opt to stay safe, it's fast becoming the norm. 

Things seem to be changing on the headwear front in other equestrian sports too. In the past, most top showjumpers rode in peaked velvet hats, often without so much as a chinstrap to hold them in place. But when Peter Charles had a bad fall in 2006, he vowed to start wearing a proper hard hat whenever he was schooling or hacking - and many riders followed suit. 

And the current trend of safety over fashion is a very good thing. Accidents can and do happen, which is something the founders of International Helmet Awareness Day know only too well.

The Riders4Helmets campaign began in 2010 after Olympic dressage rider Courtney King-Dye was seriously injured in a riding accident.

King-Dye, who remained in a coma for a month following her accident, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and continues to undergo rehabilitation.

The goal of the Riders4Helmets Campaign is to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing a properly fitted and secured, certified helmet. 

So today, please consider your own hat choices - if you've had a fall recently, do you need to think about replacing your hat? Do you wear one at all times when mounted?

Look after your head - it's the only one you'll have.