Air jackets and ponies

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Bojingles

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Does anyone ride with an air jacket on a pony (say up to 14.2)? And if so, have you ever fallen off whilst wearing it? When I first got my air jacket I accidentally dismounted without detaching it and was really surprised that it didn't go off. I spoke to the company who sold it to me, who suggested tying a knot in the lanyard. I wasn't overly happy as this doesn't sound very technical! But I'm also unwilling to do a stunt fall to put it to the test - bit too long in the tooth for that! So has anyone put it to the test on a pony?
 
I have a 14.2 and use a Hit Air. When I bought a new lanyard once, the shop asked me the size of my horse as they had long and short ones. However, the only time I've come off with it on (so far) I found myself standing next to his neck still attached as he'd spooked while we were trotting. I've also dismounted with it attached and it hasn't gone off as I was still standing close to him. However, I'm sure if I went flying it would go off. TBH I'm glad it didn't go off with the two instances above as it would have been costly!
 
I got off my big horse without unplugging and mine didn't go off - lanyard just about stretched from me to the saddle. A couple of weeks later I jumped off my small horse without unplugging and set the thing off. The difference was the force on the lanyard. Apparently you shouldn't be able to pull the lanyard out - it requires a forceful jerk (like from a fall) so maybe that was the issue for you?
 
FFAQ said:
I got off my big horse without unplugging and mine didn't go off - lanyard just about stretched from me to the saddle. A couple of weeks later I jumped off my small horse without unplugging and set the thing off. The difference was the force on the lanyard. Apparently you shouldn't be able to pull the lanyard out - it requires a forceful jerk (like from a fall) so maybe that was the issue for you?
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Same for me have dismounted of my 16.1 on more than one occasion without unclipping and have never set it off but it did go off when I fell off.
 
I have set mine off on a 16hh deliberately and found I had to crouch on the floor after swinging my leg over her neck to set it off. Horse unperturbed - in fact didn't even move. But rest of yard starting box walking. Many times have dismounted onto mounting block and its stretched but not gone off thank goodness.
 
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Echo that - they often don't go off if you just dismount. The lanyard stretches and the pressure is much lower. They will go off if you fall. If you are worried about it you can always have the vest serviced. My daughter as worn pro2 for years and more recently helite. Ponies have ranged from 11.2 to the "tallest" at 15.1. She has dismounted all manner of ways without remembering to unclip (including one memorable time out hunting last season where she forgot and swung her leg forward over the horse's neck ending up with the lanyard wrapped around her thigh...) and not blown it. But it has never failed to go off in a fall.
 
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