Airvest save or not?

[Pinokioputhzy]

I was searching for information about the savety of airvests, since I want to buy one.
I came across several papers and blogs, which are saying different things. Some of them are saying that airvests are save to wear, also without a bodyprotector, some do say you always have to wear a normal bodyprotector under it.
What about your opinion? Do you wear an Airvest without a bodyprotector?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If you compete xc in the UK then a BP is mandatory, often for xc training many venues insist on a BP too.
For the above, some choose to wear an air vest over the top, this isn't mandatory.

 

[nutjob]

Yes, wear mine all the time on my young horse and I tested it recently in a jumping lesson. It used to be a rule in competitions that you had to wear a bp under it but that's changed now. It never made any sense as they allowed people to sj and dressage without either so an air vest is better than nothing and more comfortable than both. As mentioned for xc you need a bp for most venues and air vest optional.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I have come off both with one and without one, and the difference is huge, they really do cushion your fall. I would reaaaaaly recommend everyone wearing them, they're so light that there really is no downside other than aesthetics.
Not sure about wearing with BP as I don't jump Dex yet.

 

[teddy_]

I have been thinking about getting an air vest as the little madam is becoming a bit spicy in her fifth year.

Are they still effective without a body protector? I do have a body protector, but I'd rather not wear it day to day.

 

[webble]

I have come off both with one and without one, and the difference is huge, they really do cushion your fall. I would reaaaaaly recommend everyone wearing them, they're so light that there really is no downside other than aesthetics.
Not sure about wearing with BP as I don't jump Dex yet.

Agree with this, I've had a few falls in mine and it really made a difference. Whilst on the subject of safety a mips hat is also a good investment

 

[Cragrat]

I have been thinking about getting an air vest as the little madam is becoming a bit spicy in her fifth year.

Are they still effective without a body protector? I do have a body protector, but I'd rather not wear it day to day.

They are effective without a body protector. My daugter rides her ROR in one ALL the time.

I believe the reason that you can't compete / hire an XC without a BP underneath is because with anything mechanical, there is a chance, however small, that the mechanism fails ( which could be due to an error replacing the canister). A BP has no moving parts, so although, in my opinion, it is less effective, it can never fail to be there.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I first started wearing one 10 years ago and wear it every time I ride, to me it’s as important as a hat. It definitely makes a difference and I’m more confident due to wearing it.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I wear my Point Two all the time. It's so light & it has saved my bacon once so far when Dave tripped in canter & we both fell. I didn't have even a tiny bruise. I wear it without a BP underneath.

 

[IrishMilo]

I've had one for years but haven't always been diligent about wearing it. I've only puffed it up once but it was like landing on a firm pillow as opposed to rock hard earth. With all the tragic deaths lately I made a decision about a week ago to always ride it in from now on - if a pro can die in a warm up I don't fancy my chances! I only wear it on it's own, for me that's kind of the selling point - that it's airy and light. Would probably stick my BP on under it for XC too though.

 

[Meredith]

I have 2 air jackets both bought second hand and a MIPS hat. I bought them after my mare put me into orbit. I had concussion for a month which not AJ related obviously and bruises. The huge confidence loss, bruises and my advancing years made the decision easy.
I also bought an up to date body protector in case I ever get on a mini course where they are mandatory. It has been used once.
I rotate the use of my AJ's so always have one when the other is serviced.
I have 'exploded ' 3 times since last October. The first when my pony slipped on a steep bank, the second when he tripped on very rough ground and the third when he shot me skywards because unbeknownst to me his saddle flocking had settled and his saddle pinched.
The worst result of the 3 was that the bridge of my nose was grazed and bruised by my glasses, oh and the mud I landed full length in.
I wouldn't dream of riding without one now.

 

[ycbm]

I have 'exploded ' 3 times since last October.

Wow, I'll bet that looked impressive
.

 

[Meredith]

Wow, I'll bet that looked impressive
.

I thought about the phrasing and quotation marks and decided I would leave it just for fun.

 

[YoLaTango]

I ve been wearing a bp out hacking recently. I much prefer the airvest. What do you do if airvest pops out hacking? Do you carry a cannister with you ? If so, how? Thats my fear - airvest pops, horse is then completely on toes (he absolutely hates when I fall off) and I have to make it home feeling sore, scared and vulnerable (no airvest).

Have to say - myself and himself have only parted company three time since I bought him unbroken three years ago, so its not like this is happening often. But I get the sense that he genuinely hates me falling off him. Im not deluded enough to think its because he fears for my safety, more that he feels frightened and insecure because it rarely happens and Im (obviously) unhappy/distressed when it happens. So he is then really nervous and tense afterwards, which doesn't contribute to my sense of relaxation.

 

[ycbm]

I ve been wearing a bp out hacking recently. I much prefer the airvest. What do you do if airvest pops out hacking? Do you carry a cannister with you ? If so, how? Thats my fear - airvest pops, horse is then completely on toes (he absolutely hates when I fall off) and I have to make it home feeling sore, scared and vulnerable (no airvest).

I sewed a pocket to my saddle cloth. I'm sure everyone out hunting thought I had the most peculiar shape hip flask ever


ETA I haven't ridden without an air jacket for 10 years.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

After two silly falls in walk - accidents are just that…. I wear mine all the time and so do my daughters. It’s second nature to us now.

We have found BPs tricky as have big busts - So air jackets are a game changer. I insist everyone who rides my horses wears one (they use ours).

 

[Skib]

An air vest is liable to mechanical failure and should always be worn over a bp.
My OH (who no longer rides) wore an air vest but always over a bp.

I wear a bp. I dont use his air vest because our yard does not allow one to use anything that attaches the rider to the horse.

 

[ycbm]

An air vest is liable to mechanical failure and should always be worn over a bp.
My OH (who no longer rides) wore an air vest but always over a bp.

I wear a bp. I dont use his air vest because our yard does not allow one to use anything that attaches the rider to the horse.

Nobody except the governing body of a sport can say it should be worn over a body protector. Yes that's the gold standard but there are thousands of us who've benefitted from wearing an air jacket alone, they are very protective and very, very rarely fail if properly set up. I've never seen, heard of or experienced a failure except where a chap alternative gas cannister was used.

Your yard doesn't understand air jackets, there is no way that it can hold the rider attached to the horse even if it's wrongly set up. It would just pull the ball out of the socket.
.

 

[JackFrost]

I've always worn a bp, but I find that though they dampen a fall, the landing is still a wallop.

Do the current air vests all still go off with a bang?? Does anyone know of anything available or being developed that is quiet or doesn't attach horse and rider?

This is my worry - as I hack young horses on terrain where getting on and off the horse is normal, I know that sooner or later I will forget to dis-attach myself.

 

[ycbm]

I've always worn a bp, but I find that though they dampen a fall, the landing is still a wallop.

Do the current air vests all still go off with a bang?? Does anyone know of anything available or being developed that is quiet or doesn't attach horse and rider?

This is my worry - as I hack young horses on terrain where getting on and off the horse is normal, I know that sooner or later I will forget to dis-attach myself.

Yes it's a loud pop. No, you have to be attached or they would go off when you're unbalanced but haven't actually come off the horse. They have gone off over really big sit-back! drops on xc courses, I think some top riders have an extended lanyard. Lanyard free jackets do exist for bikes, they won't work on horses. Yes you'll forget one day but unless you're very short compared to your horse you'll be fine unless the horse moves away from you. And £20 is a great incentive to remember!
.

 

[JackFrost]

Thank you! That's very helpful. I might do an experiment to find my distance from horse when I jump off, because I do just swing off by the shoulder. Extended lanyard might work.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

One reason for wearing bp and air vest is in case the horse falls so the rider is still on the horse and the air vest hasn’t gone off.

 

[Pinokioputhzy]

Yes, I did read a story from a Dutch woman who fell, and horse on top of her, she did wear an airjacket, but was attached during the fall, she broke her back. And when the horse stood up, the Airvest exploded and crushed her spine extra

 

[ycbm]

Yes, I did read a story from a Dutch woman who fell, and horse on top of her, she did wear an airjacket, but was attached during the fall, she broke her back. And when the horse stood up, the Airvest exploded and crushed her spine extra

That's a very unfortunate accident but having experienced many airbag inflations, I don't understand how it can have increased her spinal injuries, it would seem more likely to me that it would stabilise her back.

I hope she recovered.

 

[ycbm]

One reason for wearing bp and air vest is in case the horse falls so the rider is still on the horse and the air vest hasn’t gone off.

The more common one is that airbags don't stop penetrative injuries from anything a bit pointed or sharp.
.

 

[ycbm]

Thank you! That's very helpful. I might do an experiment to find my distance from horse when I jump off, because I do just swing off by the shoulder. Extended lanyard might work.

Be very careful about an extended lanyard, it has to trigger in time to inflate before you hit the floor!
.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I love my air vest. It give me peace of mind. Tbh I am annoyed at the whole BP as well as for XC being mandatory as I feel my air vest protects me more than the BP does.

 

[asommerville]

Hello, mine has saved me from a few bad ones - don’t extend your lanyard though please! They need to have room to go off!

 

[Widgeon]

I sewed a pocket to my saddle cloth. I'm sure everyone out hunting thought I had the most peculiar shape hip flask ever

I'm sorry, I can't help myself, but is that a gas cannister in your pocket or.....

 

[Widgeon]

Thank you! That's very helpful. I might do an experiment to find my distance from horse when I jump off, because I do just swing off by the shoulder. Extended lanyard might work.

I can say from experience that you do need a decent yank on the lanyard to set it off, so if one was really silly and started dismounting without unclipping, one could slowly unclip mid-dismount

Don't extend the lanyard though, if you do get decked you need it to go pop well before you hit the ground, so that 5cm might make the difference. HitAir sell special short lanyards for pony riders for that reason and I would imagine the other companies do too.