Dressage riders strapped on helmets at last week's Palm Beach Derby in Florida, a move which appeared to be prompted by Courtney King-Dye's serious accident on Wednesday.
King-Dye, 32, remains in a coma following a fall during a training session at her farm in Loxahatchee, Florida.
Her skull was fractured when the client's horse she was schooling fell on her. Witnesses say it appeared one of the horse's hind feet stepped on the other, and he sat down and tipped over sideways.
King-Dye was not wearing a helmet at the time.
The increase in riders wearing helmets was noted by dressage rider Robert Dover.
"I was amazed by the number of helmets I saw being worn at the Derby the last two days," Dover said. "God works in mysterious ways and I do not believe that Courtney is at all finished with her journey in doing amazing things on this earth."
As of 3am yesterday (local time) King remains on a ventilator and some mild sedation. "The sedation has been decreased because they have started the weaning process to get Courtney off the ventilator," Dover said.
"Sedation needs to be decreased so the patient will be able to breath on her own. They have turned the breath rate on the ventilator to 8 and Courtney is breathing on her own over the vent rate.
"The bolt that measures the intracranial pressure remains in place, along with a ventricular drain. The ventricular drain has been clamped. They have not had to open it to relieve any brain pressure. Concerns are that the sedation has been decreased and there has not been more activity on Courtney's behalf. The brain needs a long time to heal."
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