Air Vest on its own or very flexible body protector

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007Equestrian

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Hello, seeking all wisdom! I’ve recently learned you’re not meant to wear the XC style airvests on their own due to their power and the risk of landing on the canister.

I’m a dressage rider riding at a high level but also very conscious of safety. My girl is a saint but every horse can trip! I was going to invest in an air jacket as I can’t do the tempi changes in my racesafe as it doesn’t give me enough ability to twist my upper body. Lots of other ones I’ve tried have caught on the saddle too in sitting trot, even if I wear a short back version.

Would the showjumping style e.g. helite be a good option? Or do they need a body protector too? The thin ‘back protectors’ wouldn’t protect against the canister on the front?

All advice appreciated!
 
I wear an air jacket on its own. Never landed on a canister either. Once inflated, you'll be landing on the air bag , not the canister anyway.
For max protection you'd wear it over a BP, but they're fine to wear without. I wear mine every time I ride, without a BP. You've been given duff info there.
 
007Equestrian said:
Hello, seeking all wisdom! I’ve recently learned you’re not meant to wear the XC style airvests on their own due to their power and the risk of landing on the canister.
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Unless a "XC style airvest" is different to a regular air vest, this is not true at all - lots of us wear them without a body protector; personally I've had a crashing fall in mine (bucked off onto stubble at a gallop) and it saved my ribs, collar bones, neck and back. I walked away with bruising and concussion. The risk of "falling on the canister" is not really a thing because the canister goes outwards as the jacket inflates - it doesn't squash up against your body (although the inflation mechanism is slightly different for different brands).

BPs and air jackets protect against different types of injury / force, which is why you really need both to go XC, which carries the risk of many and varied exciting injuries.
 
007Equestrian said:
Hello, seeking all wisdom! I’ve recently learned you’re not meant to wear the XC style airvests on their own due to their power and the risk of landing on the canister.

I’m a dressage rider riding at a high level but also very conscious of safety. My girl is a saint but every horse can trip! I was going to invest in an air jacket as I can’t do the tempi changes in my racesafe as it doesn’t give me enough ability to twist my upper body. Lots of other ones I’ve tried have caught on the saddle too in sitting trot, even if I wear a short back version.

Would the showjumping style e.g. helite be a good option? Or do they need a body protector too? The thin ‘back protectors’ wouldn’t protect against the canister on the front?

All advice appreciated!
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Absolutely untrue, I've worn one on its own since they were available. The cannister has a protective backing and in any case it's got air behind it once it's inflated.
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The only reason the XC rules say you have to have a body protector underneath is because when they were new technology,( Hit Air marketed them for motorbike use in 1985, so they are not new tech now!) the ultra cautious BE was concerned they might not inflate in every situation. Therefore, having a traditional BP underneath meant there was always some protection. It also meant you were protected if your vest had gone off and you remounted (obviously not allowed in coompetition now anyway).
 
I've been wearing a point two air jacket on it's own since I got it and the canister has never caused any issues when inflating (Been about 3 or 4 times now lol).
Point Two do one called the Hunter Jumper which is smarter looking for competition.
 
Nasicus said:
I've been wearing a point two air jacket on it's own since I got it and the canister has never caused any issues when inflating (Been about 3 or 4 times now lol).
Point Two do one called the Hunter Jumper which is smarter looking for competition.
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Yes I have the Hunter one, looks fine over a show jacket
 
You need both for certain levels of eventing and XC I think but most people I know with them only wear the air vests! They are fab, much more comfortable than a body protector x
 
007Equestrian said:
Oh this is interesting! I wonder if it was someone just trying to sell me both 😂
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No. An air vest is liable to mechanical failure and may fail to inflate if the horse falls with its rider. So it is normal to wear one over a bp.

I have cross posted with the above but that risk of faiure is why eventers are required to wear a bp as well. My OH wore an air vest over his bp.
I have ridden in a bp, a properly fitted airowear, for over 20 years, so yes I ride with just a bp. and I wouldnt ride without one.

If the bp is catching the back of the saddle, it is too long.
 
Sossigpoker said:
Probably . I wouldn't buy anything from them since they seem to know very little.

Also - if your BP is catching, it's not the right size/shape for you. Sold by the same person ?
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No thankfully 😅 my current is very old and in need of a replacement but every one I’ve tried on in a shop has caught on the back when I sat in a dressage saddle and tried to rotate. I do have a short torso so maybe that’s it?
 
I have the point two hunter version and i prefer it. I hate BOs with a passion and have had sorer falls in them than without. I hate the fact that I have to wear a BP rather than my air jacket XC as I feel my air jacket has much better protection for my spinal injury than a BP does.

However forking out £500 each for two different air jackets when I’ll be lucky to go XC 4/5 times a year isn’t going to happen so I’ll just have to hope I don’t come off.
 
007Equestrian said:
No thankfully 😅 my current is very old and in need of a replacement but every one I’ve tried on in a shop has caught on the back when I sat in a dressage saddle and tried to rotate. I do have a short torso so maybe that’s it?
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If you're worried about injuries, the BP won't actually prevent these. It's meant to help protect against bruising. So you might as well just wear an air jacket.
 
Roasted Chestnuts said:
I have the point two hunter version and i prefer it. I hate BOs with a passion and have had sorer falls in them than without. I hate the fact that I have to wear a BP rather than my air jacket XC as I feel my air jacket has much better protection for my spinal injury than a BP does.

However forking out £500 each for two different air jackets when I’ll be lucky to go XC 4/5 times a year isn’t going to happen so I’ll just have to hope I don’t come off.
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Sorry being daft here but why would you need different air jackets?
 
Sossigpoker said:
Sorry being daft here but why would you need different air jackets?
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You cannot wear the hunter point two over a BP according to Point two it’s designed to be worn on its own but with current BE/BRC rules it isn’t XC legal despite it covering the same as a BP does.

This is mine it looks like a BP but isn’t
IMG_7449.jpegIMG_7458.jpeg
 
007Equestrian said:
No thankfully 😅 my current is very old and in need of a replacement but every one I’ve tried on in a shop has caught on the back when I sat in a dressage saddle and tried to rotate. I do have a short torso so maybe that’s it?
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I also wear a P2 airvest on its own, but have also replaced my old racesafe BP for their new HX3 and am quite impressed. They do various size options including short back length.
 
Roasted Chestnuts said:
You cannot wear the hunter point two over a BP according to Point two it’s designed to be worn on its own but with current BE/BRC rules it isn’t XC legal despite it covering the same as a BP does.

This is mine it looks like a BP but isn’t
View attachment 160697View attachment 160698
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Thanks I've just got a HitAir and wear it on its own although I could wear a BP underneath if it was required.
 
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