Hey everyone! Hope you’re all doing well. So a conversation topic came at my barn about vests. I was talking to a woman who recently broke her rib on a fall hacking out. Her husband is making her buy a vest now, and she’s going to get a Tipperary. My family thinks I should get one too, so opinions on if you think one is worth getting? I’ve recently started jumping and I do w/t/c, but I plan on riding in college too.
I like their Eventer vest! I rode in one last year when I was doing a decent amount of jumping, especially on horses I didn’t know well and the vest didn’t feel too restrictive. Honestly I know people that wear them all the time, even on the ground around the barn, just to be safe!
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I have had 3 Tipperary ‘Eventer’ vests over the years. My teenage Granddaughter also has one.
I used one for low level eventing many years ago when they first came out. That model is no longer approved for eventing, but is still great for ‘regular’ riding.
More and more we see jumpers wearing them in the show ring, as well as youth in hunter classes.
They can be a bit hot in the summer… but keep your body warm in winter!
I’m now 69 and getting a 4 year old started under saddle. Even though he’s a pretty calm guy, I wear my vest every single ride.
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They became required equipment at racetracks decades ago. That’s when I got my first one. They have probably improved some since then. I have a Tiperary, it’s old. It was not comfortable when I first got it, but I got used to it, because it was necessary to wear it when on the track. Then I started using it at home too, riding greenies. Just because, it seemed to be the intelligent thing to do. I still do that… use it on greenies. I don’t like jumping in it, it’s a bit bulky. But as I say, there are probably some that are better these days.
I had a friend who was a jockey, went down in a race. The vest saved his life, no doubt, though things were “touch and go” for a while. And I, personally, can vouch for the fact that when I have hit the dirt while wearing the vest, it just often doesn’t “hurt” like you think it is going to “hurt” as you are flying through the air but before you hit the ground. More often, you can just get up, dust yourself off, re-assess the problem, and get back on to fix things without hurting while you are doing that.
So yes, you should probably go and try on a few vests, and see what you think of them. They do make a difference, and allow you to avoid some of the more serious injuries that can occur with riding horses.
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Strongly seconding the advice to try some on if at all possible–even if it’s just borrowing various barnmates to try on. They all fit a bit differently, even those that look similar.
I’ve had two Tipperarys, but when I came time to replace this past year for riding my new youngster, after trying several on, I ended up switching to a Champion Titanium ones. They look quite like the Tipperary but fit just a little differently. I’ve been very happy with it, and think it feels a little cooler than my old Tips.
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I really like the RaceSafe ProVent 3.0. Before that I had a Charles Owen that probably saved me from some cracked ribs, but it was stiff, bulky and hot. When it came time to start my current horse, I looked at everything that was out there and sprang for the RaceSafe. Glad I did as I rode my mare in it for about a year and it is pretty comfortable and the mesh makes it cooler than some other vests. I’ll probably wear it when I start taking her to shows/clinics as well. I’m able to ride more confidently when I know I have that extra protective shell on.
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I have a Supra-Flex Vest as I wanted something on the cheaper end yet still certified to BETA level 3. I picked it because I was just starting in eventing and didn’t want to spend a ton of money if I ended up disliking the sport. It’s a solid vest but a bit too warm at times. I don’t find it interferes with my riding ability or gets in the way of my tack.
Overall, I do find myself riding in my vest more often than not. It’s just an added level of safety that will hopefully help me walk away from an accident should one occur.
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Another vote for the RaceSafe Provent. I rode in the Tipperary prior to it and the RaceSafe is far superior!
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Aren’t vests like helmets and “expire” after a period of time?
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This makes me think of when we visited my husband’s ranch friend who has the most wonderful horses (got remuda of the year) and he had broken five ribs and still had to ride to complete round up. I asked if they had thought about inflatable vests. They of course don’t wear helmets, but thought I would ask. They had never heard of them! They do Reined Ranch Horse competitions and I thought for sure there would be a Point Two or other vest vendor, but when they saw the video on my phone they were all in, like, so much cheaper than going to the hospital. Do the vest companies just not go to western stuff?
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