Point Two ProAir Jacket

S

Stoxx

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 July 2007
Messages
3,027
Location
Essex
Visit site
So... what are your thoughts on the above?

Link for those that haven't seen them.

My dad is dead set on me going to have a fitting next wknd, however I'm just not sure. They are supposed to be worn over a body protector and to be honest I don't really wear mine much anymore. (Whether I should or not is not the point here.) I do wear it in the winter if I'm hacking and I think the boy is going to be fresh, but not everyday for schooling - especially in the summer!

So - your views?
 
We saw them at Olympia at Christmas and had the demonstration, thought they were very good but a little worried that you would have to wear them over your normal bodyprotector and very very expensive. I know some of the top eventers are using them this season to try them out, not sure what the insurance companies would say if you only has this on and not the body protector that is unless they can get them passed by the saftey bods.
 
In principle I think they are brilliant.

A couple of areas of concern
1) How long should the cord be? ie how far you have to be from the horse before the jacket is activated. It would have to be shoter than the distance from the ground to the saddle fix point less the distance from riders shoulder to cord attachement point (must activate before body hits ground) plus a bit shorter for activation time.
So for me on a 16hh (64") less 20" for shoulder to attachment less another 9" say for activation time gives a cord length of 36". I have seen riders clinging on to horses that were more than 36" from the saddle. Imagine the reaction of the horse if it went off whilst you were clinging round its ears
shocked.gif


2) How long do you think it would be before someone dismounted in lorry park with cord still attached. I believe they make a very loud noise on activation. Imagine the reaction of all those horse left tied up to lorries unattended.
wink.gif
 
Agree with Juno- seems good in theory,but I can forsee an awful lot of problems in practise. EG - your horse falls with you? - will the jacket activate? As for forgetting it & dismounting with cord att - don't even go there!!
 
Ah now Juno, you have raised the same points that I have made to my dad.

Should I forget to unharness myself then horse and I really could have an accident. Also I had a very near miss a few weeks ago and I would worry that should the jacket inflate in a situation like that I would definitely be hitting the floor rather than it being what it was - a near miss.

As it is, I have managed today to persuade him that I should wait and see how the public receives them.
 
Dear all,

You might be interested to know that we've recently done a test feature for H&H where three riders rode in an Exo bodycage, a Point Two air jacket and a Racesafe RS2000 and gave their opinions on all these body protectors.

The feature is out next Thursday, 26th March, which is our eventing special.

Best wishes,

Pippa Roome
H&H eventing editor
 
I know I would forget to unhitch when dismounting.

Plus what if something is wrong & you need to dismount asap. I know my first instinct would be to get off rather than un hook?

Do like the idea of them but we will see?

Knowing my luck horse would come down with me & I would land on the cannister & hurt myself on that!
 
i was involved in a trial of something v v similar to this about 4 years ago. i wore one and the cord was pulled (standing on feet, no horses nearby!) and it was very loud, major problem imho. they were demo'd and discussed at BE Eastern Regional meeting, and one event organiser said "what happens if someone wearing one falls off in warm-up with 50 other horses around them? very valid point.
i wonder if BE has considered the ramifications of someone falling off, another person's horse being startled by the noise and bolting, and then suing if the horse or rider is injured?
when detonated, they instantly really compress hard - i wore one without normal back protector under though. i could barely breathe until it went down again. the neck protection is very good but i'd be happy with just that, attached to an Exo, for example. that would be perfect - and perhaps quieter because a much smaller gas canister would be needed?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top