Hit Air Jackets ... anyone use them hacking?

[Bedford Joy]

Does anyone here wear a Hit Air jacket for hacking? I have ben given one for my birthday and wondered if it were too over the top for hacking?

 

[ihatework]

I don't think any piece of safety equipment could be classed as over the top. If you would prefer to wear it hacking then you should!

I have a hit air jacket, I don't wear it hacking on current horse, but wouldn't hesitate to wear it if I was riding something less predictable!

 

[Bedford Joy]

Thanks for your reply. Is it correct that you need to wear a back protector underneath due to the canister potentially hurting you if you land on it ?

 

[ihatework]

Thanks for your reply. Is it correct that you need to wear a back protector underneath due to the canister potentially hurting you if you land on it ?

For full protection you should wear a BP under an air jacket, and this is obligatory for competing XC/ODE.

However you can wear just the air jacket on it's own, I've done that for hunting. It's a personal choice to use the product on it's own.

I haven't heard the argument of the canister hurting you if you come off, and realistically the canister sits on the outside of the jacket. If you come off the jacket inflates so I doubt you'd feel the canister.

 

[Violet]

I hack my youngster with a P2-RS as I want to protect myself as much as possible.
Forgot to "disconnect" it once when encountering yet another farmgate on long ride. Horse didn't react at all to the bang. It even took me a split second to realise I was being inflated.

 

[rhino]

You can't compete in just an air jacket, and obviously you would have better protection with a standard bp underneath, but it is entirely your decision; one of the women at my yard hacks out in just a hitair. I was with her when she had a fall in it actually, and although it would have been unlikely she would have been injured anyway (more a graceful dismount than anything) I was impressed at how quiet the 'explosion' was

There is a risk of the canister causing injury, but you need to weigh up all the risks and decide what suits you.

 

[BombayMix]

This post shows one being used hacking (scroll a little way down!)

 

[WetandMuddy]

I always wear my Point2 air jacket when hacking (I have a Sec. D - which explains it).

 

[Syrah]

I wear my P2 out hacking. Sometimes over my Kan, sometimes on it's own. It's not really because my horse is unpredictable or likely to do anything nasty, more because you just never know.

 

[trakehnersrock!]

In a word - yes! It's a long way down from a 17.2hh, especially if you're only five foot nothing like me. She bucked me off once and they do work very well lol

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Yes, I do, I use in place of my normal back protector which would get a bit sweaty in the summer so hence I bought the Hit Air, very lightweight and I actually wear it everytime I ride now.
Would never hack out without protection after seeing a friend have a nasty fall out on the road.