Fellow 50+ riders, why not wear a safety vest? Why wait till you break?

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=cherham;7992497]
Well…50 is the new 80 don’t you know. To assume that riders over 50 should not be jumping is absolutely ludicrous. Ian Millar are you hearing this…wait he is wayyyyy over 50, in fact over 60. I can only assume that comment was made in jest. Yes the vest can be hot, it can be somewhat restrictive if not fitted properly but the only time I find that is actually restricts my position is when I am sitting in a deep seat for dressage. I have German blood in me too…believe me when you hit an unmovable object at speed bones WILL break…I only wish I had just hit the dirt. And I do firmly believe had I been wearing a safety vest the injury I sustained would have been minimized…certainly the bruising for sure if not the broken bones. But each to their own…[/QUOTE]

See #6 below: http://www.horsecollaborative.com/10-different-types-horse-owners/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=owner-types

Time to seriously consider a switch to “warm water aerobics” in the shallow end of the pool. :rolleyes:

[Superminion]

I wear one most all the time, especially when I get on young or unfamiliar horses. It’s just what I do. I ride a lot of green horses, and it makes me feel a little bit better. I’m 25, so I still have some “bounce”, but I’d rather do what I could to prevent what I can.

We also wear vests and helmets when collecting stallions.

[cherham]

But yellowbritches…just imagine what you would have felt like if you DID not have that vest on. And the more extensive damages you would have sustained. But glad you are OK now.

[yellowbritches]

Having taken some terrific falls with and without a vest on, I’m not sure it made a difference. I probably “walked” away about as bad as I would have been withOut. Maybe not. Maybe I would have had all sorts of broken ribs and what not. But, when you’ve fallen as much as I have, you can kinda know what type of fall will cause what kind of pain. That one was nasty, but not crushing.

I find vests uncomfortable and cumbersome. I also fee like they affect my position to a degree. On xc, it didn’t matter so much, as it was subtle. But now that I would like to show jump, a subtle change in my position equals rails (I actually stopped show jumping in my vests at one day events because of that and it did make a difference).

This is my personal opinion for my body. I might change my mind in 20 years!

[NoSuchPerson]

I’ve now had my laugh for the day.

Although the word “recidivism” is defined as “a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior,” it is most commonly used to describe “a relapse into criminal behavior.” In fact, I’m pretty sure that the only context I’ve ever seen it used in is in reference to criminal behavior.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I found an article on horseback riding injuries that, in the abstract, reported a “47% recidivism rate” among riders. Me --> I read the article and found that the authors were using the term recidivism to describe the rate of riders who went back to riding after being injured while riding.

Well, it made me laugh, anyway.

Interestingly, the article, which focused on major injuries, reported that chest injuries were most common, even though most of the riders were not wearing helmets. (Head injuries were a close second.)

I was looking for scientific articles on the effectiveness of protective vests. I found very few articles that considered vest use* and on top of that, it looks to me like even when vest use is considered, the number of people using them is so low that a meaningful statistical analysis is impossible.

*There seem to be a greater number looking at rodeo and racing use, but I don’t think those are particularly relevant to our concerns.

[Calvincrowe]

Are vests made for bull riding and race riding the same essential vest–materials, construction, design–as those designed for eventing/riding? If injuries are reduced in those sports, why wouldn’t they be in E/H/J/D? I am not looking for absence of injury (though that would be nice!), I’m looking for a layer of protection to reduce severity. I think of heavy contact sports (FB, motocross) and see their safety gear–shouldn’t riders have options to increase our personal safety?

Still, wearing safety gear is a personal choice, and we know folks who do not choose to wear helmets on horseback (or on motorcycles, skateboards, skiing…). I do not expect anyone to wear a vest unless mandated by the “powers that be”. But, please do not poo-poo those of us who do, and who have reduced our injuries while doing so.

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;7992732]
Are vests made for bull riding and race riding the same essential vest–materials, construction, design–as those designed for eventing/riding? If injuries are reduced in those sports, why wouldn’t they be in E/H/J/D? I am not looking for absence of injury (though that would be nice!), I’m looking for a layer of protection to reduce severity. I think of heavy contact sports (FB, motocross) and see their safety gear–shouldn’t riders have options to increase our personal safety?

Still, wearing safety gear is a personal choice, and we know folks who do not choose to wear helmets on horseback (or on motorcycles, skateboards, skiing…). I do not expect anyone to wear a vest unless mandated by the “powers that be”. But, please do not poo-poo those of us who do, and who have reduced our injuries while doing so.[/QUOTE]

Not sure if all (or any) of that was addressed to me, but I can answer the first question: No. Vests for bull riding and racing are not the same as those made for recreational riding. The design is different and the certification levels and testing requirements are different for racing and recreational riding vests.

As far as the poo-pooing goes, as I already posted, I wear a Beta 3 compliant vest. I have no idea how much protection it actually provides and I don’t care if protectiveness has been proven or not. Wearing one is not onerous (for me), so I’m perfectly happy to wear it based purely on the possibility that it might help. And, like I said, it makes my Mom happy.

[Cindyg]

It’s a very real concern to me. After my last fall, I thought I might never ride again. It required a complete change of horse. From an Andalusian to a fat, yellow pony.

I own a vest, and I don’t wear it. Why?

#1 reason, when I dismount, it catches on the front of the saddle, and I don’t ride western. Anything snagging worries me.

#2 reason, I am in Texas and don’t have an indoor arena. It literally could cause me to pass out. Now that doesn’t explain why I don’t wear it in the winter That goes back to Reason #1.

#3 reason, having changed to my fat yellow pony, I feel I have reduced the risk of falling by 95%. Not by 100%!! Certainly not by 100%! That remaining 5% still haunts me.

I would ride so much better if I could erase that last 5%.

[billiebob]

I wear my Tipperary vest almost every time I ride. Sometimes I forget and leave it in my trunk, but this is maybe twice a year and I ride 6-7x/week. It was a gift from a bunch of boarders and lesson kids at my old barn, where vest wearing wasn’t mandatory but highly encouraged especially when jumping. I got used to wearing it as an example and now it feels kind of strange to go without.

I can’t say whether it’s kept me from serious injury or not, but it makes me feel better to wear one. Most of my rides are solo and the only others on the ranch are my elderly grandparents. So it’s vest, helmet, and cell phone with plenty of battery life every ride. I’m only 34, btw.

[AndNirina]

I’m not 50 yet, but I’m on my way. It’s funny, I seem to have no problem falling off and bouncing back, but I can’t stand to watch my own kids fall off (maybe I’ve been doing this too long and know too much?!?). Both kids ride in a Point2 vest and I’ve watched it deploy enough times with them to know that it’s the right decision to have them wear one.

I seem to fall and break things in my lower extremities, where a vest will do nothing to protect me. I got spun off of a horse last year and landed politely sitting in the arena without a speck of dirt on me. My legs were even folded underneath me like I was sitting there having a picnic, but actually I had fractured my pelvis. I’m leaning towards getting myself a vest eventually, but I’m not sure it’ll do me any good!

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=Cindyg;7993142]
#1 reason, when I dismount, it catches on the front of the saddle, and I don’t ride western. Anything snagging worries me.[/QUOTE]

I have the same problem. In order to prevent it, I have to push off the side of the horse as I swing over and jump down. The down side is that both of my equines are fairly tall and I’m pretty short, which makes it a long damn way down when I leap off like that.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with leaning way forward, wrapping my arms around the horse’s neck, and sort of rolling off sideways, with my left side sliding down the horse’s shoulder. I’m a real picture of grace and balance. :lol:

I’ve contemplated moving over to the arena fence and climbing down that way, but it seems like that’s unsafe enough to negate any advantage riding in the vest gives me.

[Mtn_trails]

I wish I had been wearing a vest 3 weeks ago when my very green 3 year old bucked my off. I hit the arena wall and now have a compressed fracture of the T -8 vertebrae. You can bet I’ll be wearing one the next time. Oh and I’m on the other side of 55.

[Sarabeth]

After two freak riding accidents last year, the spouse told me I’d have to quit if I hurt myself again. I got a Point Two air vest and wear it every ride, except for in the show ring. It’s surprisingly comfortable, even in hot weather.

I’ve only dismounted without unhooking it and caused it to accidentally deploy once

[Janet]

[QUOTE=Mtn trails;7994406]
I wish I had been wearing a vest 3 weeks ago when my very green 3 year old bucked my off. I hit the arena wall and now have a compressed fracture of the T -8 vertebrae. You can bet I’ll be wearing one the next time. Oh and I’m on the other side of 55.[/QUOTE]

It s not clear to me how a safety vest (conventional or air) would protect you from a COMPRESSION fracture.

[Cindyg]

[QUOTE=Sarabeth;7994550]
After two freak riding accidents last year, the spouse told me I’d have to quit if I hurt myself again. I got a Point Two air vest and wear it every ride, except for in the show ring. It’s surprisingly comfortable, even in hot weather.

I’ve only dismounted without unhooking it and caused it to accidentally deploy once :D[/QUOTE]

What happened when you deployed it accidentally? How terrifying was it to the horse?

I really, really want one of these, but I am dissuaded by the cost and by the poo-poos here on this board about their value in protecting me. And I want a Solo Shot more, unless I fall off. Then I want the vest more.

[dogbluehorse]

[QUOTE=Cindyg;7994995]
What happened when you deployed it accidentally? How terrifying was it to the horse?

I really, really want one of these, but I am dissuaded by the cost and by the poo-poos here on this board about their value in protecting me. And I want a Solo Shot more, unless I fall off. Then I want the vest more.[/QUOTE]

It’s not that big of a deal when you deploy it accidentally. It blows up, makes a bit of a funny noise. Re the cost, funnily enough the child’s size medium actually fit me better than the adult, and jolly good deal, child’s size is about half the cost of an adult size. So depending on how big you are, that could be a possible option… (I am 5’3" and about 120lbs). I have fallen off with it a few times, one time definitely was thrown “into” the jump (sideways), and didn’t feel a bleeping thing. So no I don’t think it will protect you from everything, but it does protect you from some things.

[GraceLikeRain]

I think it is a lot like helmets.

A few decades ago only “chickens” wore helmets because “real riders” were not worried about falling off. Over time, we as a society realized that real riders have accidents and being safe is a part of being a good horseman/woman.

Perhaps in a decade or two we will all feel the same way about vests? I am less than half the target age of this conversation but I have no good reason not to wear one. I would probably worry less actually. Ultimately, I don’t out of vanity. I don’t want to be perceived as timid or novice.

Maybe seeing more top riders take the step to wear a safety vest on a regular basis will change the norm and help dummies like me get on board.

[RiderWriter]

I am very pleased this thread came because I, just on the other side of 50, am planning to buy a vest before mounting up again. I am sidelined at the moment by two compression fractures of vertebrae (L1 and L2) sustained in a fall. Now, do I think a vest would have prevented them? Nope. Do I think a vest will make me, my mother, my kids and my friends feel better about me riding again? Yup. My biggest concern is finding one that fits properly as I have no nearby tack shop where I can try them on. I’m not flat-chested, like many riding apparel manufacturers seem to think equestrians should be, so I hope there’s a vest company that has accommodated. I’d love a Point 2 but as I don’t have my own horse I can’t justify the expense. At any rate, I’ll be sporting one along with a replaced helmet!

[doublesstable]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;7995080]
I think it is a lot like helmets.

A few decades ago only “chickens” wore helmets because “real riders” were not worried about falling off. Over time, we as a society realized that real riders have accidents and being safe is a part of being a good horseman/woman.

Perhaps in a decade or two we will all feel the same way about vests? I am less than half the target age of this conversation but I have no good reason not to wear one. I would probably worry less actually. Ultimately, I don’t out of vanity. I don’t want to be perceived as timid or novice.

Maybe seeing more top riders take the step to wear a safety vest on a regular basis will change the norm and help dummies like me get on board.[/QUOTE]

I didn’t want to continue to read this thread because that’s when ---- happens. (it’s not going to happen to me - syndrome)

I do agree with the above quote… I also remember riders that rode with saddle with knee rolls were only the beginners.

I know it shouldn’t matter and we should all just do what is right. I probably haven’t ventured the vest route because not sure if the restriction would bother me and outweigh the protection it offers.

For sure if I was Eventing a vest would be a part of the routine. I don’t Event because the jumps don’t come down. I loved Eventing when I was younger.

Just as another poster said; if your older can you say the same thing about should you be jumping. Personal choices.

I wear my helmet, I wear my seat belt. I try to get on my horse when I feel safe but accidents happen. And every time I get on my horse I kiss him on the nose and say “Take care of me as you always do.” And pray!!

[Risuena]

I just got a vest - primary motivation is that I’m hoping to event (for the first time in over 20 years! Eeek!) later this year. Then I figured, I have it, I should use it. I actually wore it consistently for several rides since the first couple were uncomfortable, and I wanted it to feel “normal” before I ventured out cross-country. Once that was achieved (within a few rides – I truly do forget about it now once I get going), I got lazy - it’s just not habit yet. I feel naked without my helmet, but not without my vest.

I noticed thread earlier and it prompted me to wear it while riding tonight. I have a green OTTB, and young kids, so while I’m not 50+, I’m a bit more aware of getting hurt than I might otherwise be.

I also have issues dismounting - I also do the push-off maneuver to avoid the vest catching on the saddle, but it makes me wonder if the decreased risk while falling off is offset by the increased risk of a sprained ankle while dismounting! I need to work on this - perhaps I’ll improve with practice, but I do not like how I’m currently doing it. Anyone have any better ideas?

I have to admit, that while the “possibly minimizing serious injury” aspect most definitely appeals, the biggest anxiety that the vest alleviates for me is those dang CACTUS and ROCKS that are everywhere out here.

RiderWriter, I read good reviews about how the Airowear Outlyne fits those of us that are not flat-chested, and ended up getting one. Haven’t had it long, but no complaints so far, it’s quite comfortable though I wonder if it will be hot in the summer.