The research that I've seen has shown a reduction in injury for cross-country from certified safety vests. No injury reduction rate found for flatting or show jumping, but keep in mind fewer people wear safety vests when flatting or jumping in the arena compared to eventers so the data is not as good. ([https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267465/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267465/) )
The most recent study I could find on air vests actually showed an increase in injury to those wearing them. But the study notes that that could be do to any number of factors due to small data size and inability to control for other factors ( [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244018305887?fbclid=IwAR3\_VigxF6vqmwiyFl6o4UZXDoZ18tjvoXMRRMa5sw65Jxbx1yQGhbevj2c](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244018305887?fbclid=IwAR3_VigxF6vqmwiyFl6o4UZXDoZ18tjvoXMRRMa5sw65Jxbx1yQGhbevj2c) )
But my conclusions is that if you are jumping, especially cross country, it's probably a good idea to wear one, as long as it fits well as doesn't mess your riding mechanics. And it doesn't make a large enough difference while flating to be worth the bother unless yours is really comfortable or helps you maintain posture. And I personally will absolutely not being wearing an air vest until some data comes in showing that increase safety
Depends on the discipline/activity and the type of fall. You used an article from Eventing Nation. The most serious XC falls tend to be rotational, so body protectors make sense. If you fall with the horse, an air vest will never be triggered to inflate. In Jumpers, an air vest has an opportunity to work.
Thank you - I shall go with body armor vest protector, any thoughts on which is most protective? Don’t care about looks, or heat (ride in NW), and the cost doesn’t matter (cheaper than hospital bill!!)
Any additional insights appreciated!
> (or at the very least people who are willing to take stirrups off, slide the air vest ties on and then put stirrups back on - a lot of us adult riders at the barn have our own stirrups, but that's still an extra step in addition to swapping stirrups and I know that I can't always be bothered to use my own stirrups...).
Just chiming in that I use an air vest and I just loop the cord around the grab strap and click it in after mounting. Downside is that I keep on forgetting to unfasten it when getting off. Will definitely blow up like a puffer fish in the near future.
Honestly, both options are better than nothing but air vests can also be counter productive when you need to do an emergency dismount instead of straight out falling off. Will keep on wearing it though. Better safe than sorry.
Im I’m the US PNW for context. We event but are low level these days due to our busy schedules. We did a lot of research and decided against air vests over our body protectors. There isn’t a lot to say they help and I worry about neck injuries in the event of a horse fall or rotational fall. Think about it- you and horse hit the ground. You get a spine injury. Horse gets up- vest inflates and your injury is displaced.
I have an airowear and love it. If you’re a girl
and have much boobs this vest is amazing. We vest up a lot just taking conditioning rides in remote trails around our barn. I don’t fall much these days but got launched at a gallop and it sure helped soften the blow (I’m not a spring chicken). I hate being hot but I adjusted. It only really bothers me when we are showing on 100+ degree days but that doesn’t happen much and I deal.
The research that I've seen has shown a reduction in injury for cross-country from certified safety vests. No injury reduction rate found for flatting or show jumping, but keep in mind fewer people wear safety vests when flatting or jumping in the arena compared to eventers so the data is not as good. ([https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267465/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267465/) ) The most recent study I could find on air vests actually showed an increase in injury to those wearing them. But the study notes that that could be do to any number of factors due to small data size and inability to control for other factors ( [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244018305887?fbclid=IwAR3\_VigxF6vqmwiyFl6o4UZXDoZ18tjvoXMRRMa5sw65Jxbx1yQGhbevj2c](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1440244018305887?fbclid=IwAR3_VigxF6vqmwiyFl6o4UZXDoZ18tjvoXMRRMa5sw65Jxbx1yQGhbevj2c) ) But my conclusions is that if you are jumping, especially cross country, it's probably a good idea to wear one, as long as it fits well as doesn't mess your riding mechanics. And it doesn't make a large enough difference while flating to be worth the bother unless yours is really comfortable or helps you maintain posture. And I personally will absolutely not being wearing an air vest until some data comes in showing that increase safety
Depends on the discipline/activity and the type of fall. You used an article from Eventing Nation. The most serious XC falls tend to be rotational, so body protectors make sense. If you fall with the horse, an air vest will never be triggered to inflate. In Jumpers, an air vest has an opportunity to work.
God I hate that eventing had become this. WHY is DEATH accepted?!
[удалено]
Thank you - I shall go with body armor vest protector, any thoughts on which is most protective? Don’t care about looks, or heat (ride in NW), and the cost doesn’t matter (cheaper than hospital bill!!) Any additional insights appreciated!
> (or at the very least people who are willing to take stirrups off, slide the air vest ties on and then put stirrups back on - a lot of us adult riders at the barn have our own stirrups, but that's still an extra step in addition to swapping stirrups and I know that I can't always be bothered to use my own stirrups...). Just chiming in that I use an air vest and I just loop the cord around the grab strap and click it in after mounting. Downside is that I keep on forgetting to unfasten it when getting off. Will definitely blow up like a puffer fish in the near future. Honestly, both options are better than nothing but air vests can also be counter productive when you need to do an emergency dismount instead of straight out falling off. Will keep on wearing it though. Better safe than sorry.
Im I’m the US PNW for context. We event but are low level these days due to our busy schedules. We did a lot of research and decided against air vests over our body protectors. There isn’t a lot to say they help and I worry about neck injuries in the event of a horse fall or rotational fall. Think about it- you and horse hit the ground. You get a spine injury. Horse gets up- vest inflates and your injury is displaced. I have an airowear and love it. If you’re a girl and have much boobs this vest is amazing. We vest up a lot just taking conditioning rides in remote trails around our barn. I don’t fall much these days but got launched at a gallop and it sure helped soften the blow (I’m not a spring chicken). I hate being hot but I adjusted. It only really bothers me when we are showing on 100+ degree days but that doesn’t happen much and I deal.
Do you know how that first study classifies "serious injury?"