I’m just starting to dip my toe into the cross country world. We did our first hunter pace a few weeks ago and are planning to do more as well as fox hunting. I feel the need to wear a vest and protect myself as much as I can. I have NO idea how vests should fit and/or what I should look for. My trainer sent me a Tipperary event vest that is a great deal, but I’ve read mixed reviews on it’s safety rating. Is this a good vest or not? What should I look for in a vest? How should it fit? How low on my tail back should it come? The one she sent me would come right to the bottom of my tailbone. Is that too long? I won’t be doing hard core eventing. Just hunter paces, fox hunting, some cross country schooling. Then again, that could all change if I find that I really enjoy it. My horse very clearly enjoys it. Also, can you wear a vest under a hunt coat or is it always over clothing? There are attire rules in the hunt I’m riding with. Thank you!!
Hi there,
I’m not an expert by any means but have fit several body protectors. Tipperary’s do have the lowest safety rating, but they are the most slim fitting. I personally prefer the Charles Owen’s or the USG vests, they are more bulky but also more protective.
Having the vest come to the bottom of your tail bone may be a hair too long. You don’t want it hitting your saddle. My vest comes right to the top of my buttocks, so that if I sit down in the saddle it doesn’t interfere.
As for wearing under your hunt coat, go for it if it fits. Katie Cox (Texas) shows all the jumpers up through Grand Prix in a vest under her coat!
Have fun!
[QUOTE=FirstChance;8270588]
I’m just starting to dip my toe into the cross country world. We did our first hunter pace a few weeks ago and are planning to do more as well as fox hunting. I feel the need to wear a vest and protect myself as much as I can.[/QUOTE]
The BETA Level 3 standard, which is the standard that many vests meet, only promises this much: “Level 3 (purple label) is considered appropriate for general riding, competitions including eventing and working with horses. Level 3 body protectors should prevent minor bruising that would have produced stiffness and pain, reduce soft tissue injuries and prevent a limited number of rib fractures.” There’s some scientific evidence that adding optional shoulder protection pieces can mitigate collar bone injuries. That’s definitely better than nothing, and I do think I’ve healed faster when I fell in a vest v. not wearing a vest. But it’s also not a massive, OMG-level of protection.
Tipperary doesn’t qualify for BETA Level 3 because as a highly theoretical matter, a sharp object could still poke you through the fabric between the foam cells. A lot of people still wear the Tipp Eventer and are very satisfied with it.
That said, I find the real advantage of a vest is “artificial courage.” When I wear a vest that fits me well, I sometimes feel more bold. And when you ride with confidence, your horse responds to it. If the vest doesn’t fit you well, or you feel uncomfortable in it, you may ride less effectively. And nothing’s worse for your safety than crappy riding in trappy conditions over solid obstacles.
All of this leaves aside the controversy about air vests, which are their own separate beast.
I have NO idea how vests should fit and/or what I should look for. My trainer sent me a Tipperary event vest that is a great deal, but I’ve read mixed reviews on it’s safety rating. Is this a good vest or not? What should I look for in a vest? How should it fit? How low on my tail back should it come? The one she sent me would come right to the bottom of my tailbone. Is that too long?
Google is your friend. Although the short version is “It should fit snugly without making you feel like you can’t breathe. If in doubt, wear it around for a few minutes and let the foam warm up to your body. It should go as far down on your back as it can go without interfering with the cantle of your saddle, including on drop fences where you need to lean back.”
http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/article/fit-a-cross-country-safety-vest
Your best bet, if possible, is to borrow some of your friends’ vests. You’ll get a feel, very quickly, of which vest designs “do it for ya” and which aren’t quite right for your body. Plenty of people around here own Tipps. I’ve also seen a few Charles Owens, a lot of Flex Riders, etc. I have a very short torso and big boobs, so I own an Airowear Outlyne. If I were buying these days, I’d probably consider a KAN by Kan Teq as well.
Used vests are a judgment call. In theory, the foam degrades over time or with extensive exposure to UV rays and heat. The number I’ve heard thrown around is “exchange your vest every 7 years or so,” but I forget where I heard that number. In practice, many eventers keep their vests for 10+ years.
Also, can you wear a vest under a hunt coat or is it always over clothing? There are attire rules in the hunt I’m riding with. Thank you!!
Up to you. Usually when I see people wearing vests with hunt coats, they choose a hunt/show ring friendly color (like black) and wear that over their hunt coat. If in doubt, ask the hunt master for advice.
I was just talking to a friend who foxhunts about vests. She says at her hunt, they’re becoming much more common. Some people wear them under their coats, some over.
I believe there’s a Pony Club video on YouTube about how to properly fit a XC vest, and I think one of the manufacturers has instructions on their website because one of my lesson kids arrived at the barn full of information the other day 
My foxhunting friend decided to buy a vest that met the Beta standards because she figured at some point in the near future, there might be a requirement for eventing that vests have to be approved and she didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on something she’d have to replace. I don’t know where USEA stands on that, but it’s a reasonable thought and a vest can be a big investment. There is one brand - Intek/FlexRider - that’s Beta tested and around $100, which seems like a very reasonable price point and a good choice for someone starting out.
I have a tipperary and I love it… however I know they aren’t at the top of the list when it comes to protection. Im partial to it because its more flexible then a lot of vests out there, and I also wear a PointTwo air vest over it. When looking for a vest, comfort of the fit is almost just important as to the particular vests protection levels. If you feel you cant move in your vest, your riding will be compromised. For fit - you dont want the vest hitting the saddle when you set, and you dont want the vest to go higher than your ears if someone was to pull the vest upwards. Tack shops should be able to help with fit. Good luck in your search!
Thanks for the info and the link! Judging by that link it should actually fit perfectly! I’m on the fence about the Tirpperary still though…
I had a flex rider beta3 approved vest, and then last year got a Tipperary on sale. The difference in comfort is remarkable. The Tipp is much more flexible and breathable, but you do make the sacrifice of “safety.” having said that, the likelihood of me being impaled by a stick is exceedingly small.
Tipperary does make an approved vest that is ASTM approved (the american version of the BETA safety standard) that is more expensive https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/tipperary-eventer-pro-11174
I find this chart helpful: https://www.smartpakequine.com/images/charts/ProtectiveVests_Comparison1.jpg
I bought the Lami Cell quite by accident (won an ebay auction for a pittance), I was all set on a Charles Owen, but I gotta tell you I LOVE it. It is passed around my barn at events as not everyone owns one and it’s a favorite. Good price and level 3 protection.
I also have the Lami Cell linked above and for $100 I am in love with it! I’ve owned 2 Tipps and a CO and like this one a lot, especially at that price point!
Having just upgraded from a Tipperary to a BETA 3 vest (Airowear Outlyne) there’s much more difference in protection besides just the risk of a stick poking through. The rib protection is significantly improved and the padding overall is thicker/more rigid. I did the good old fashioned punch test (“hit me. hit me again. hit me really hard.” Super scientific, I know.) and there was a big difference. What felt like quite a blow in the Tipp was barely a tap in the Airowear. It is less comfortable and not as light, for sure, but I don’t find the difference to be super noticeable. It really depends on what your needs are and what makes you feel mentally comfortable/safer/happier.
[QUOTE=HiJumpGrrl;8270730]
Tipperary does make an approved vest that is ASTM approved (the american version of the BETA safety standard) that is more expensive [/QUOTE]And weighs twice as much as the popular Tipperary.
I wear my Tipp because a vest is required. All the vests that people claim conform to you and you forget you have it on–I tried every one that Dover had in the store, wore them for several minutes and they did NOT get any more comfortable with time. I’ve never fallen off while wearing my vest, nor do I plan to. When my horse is being goofy schooling XC I occasionally do wear it without being forced to.
[QUOTE=OTTBs;8271596]
I’ve never fallen off while wearing my vest, nor do I plan to. [/QUOTE]
As opposed to the rest of us poor saps who “plan” to fall off while wearing our vests?
OP, lots of good advice here. In the end although any vest will feel restrictive if you are not used to wearing one, it should provide as much coverage as possible without riding up or impeding your ability to sit in the saddle (while I don’t do lots of flatwork in my vest there are certainly times my butt is completely in the saddle – hello ditchy horse – and my vest doesn’t get in the way), and be snug without making you feel like you can’t breathe.
I have found that once you start wearing it you won’t find it particularly intrusive. It’s like a seatbelt that way.
Don’t forget your tailbone. While you don’t want the vest interfering with you sitting in the saddle, you also don’t want it too short either. Tailbones hurt if you fall on them.
I have the Airowear Outlyne and love it. I just came off on Sunday and don’t have a bruise or scratch on me.
I had a BETA3 vest and I traded down to a tipperary this year because I just got so tired of feeling like I couldn’t breathe. I put it on at an event with temps in the high 80s and barely survived. I bought a tipperary and felt so much better a week later in similar temps. It’s nowhere near as stifling.
It doesn’t help that I am quite short so adult sized vests are too long. I need to wear kids vests which means I have to wear them very tight as kids don’t have breasts. The tipperary youth XL fits much better.
The 3015 (ASTM version) is still so much more flexible than the airowear I was wearing and weighs much less. Price was stupid high, but now that rodney powell doesn’t do custom vests any more, I have basically no choices that are appropriately sized.
Other factor - how chesty are you? I found the Aeroware fit me without gaps whereas other vests don’t seem to have the “tailoring” that accounts for boobage. And yes, there is a measurable difference in weight, but honestly… I don’t feel it.
I am a larger rider and fairly chesty. I’m going to go try some vests on at a local store tomorrow and see how it feels. I’m leaning towards picking up the Tipperary. It’s only $75 and I won’t be using it a lot, probably 6-8 times a year max. According to the measurements on their site it should fit well. I will definitely upgrade if I decide to get into it further. Thanks for all the great advice!
[QUOTE=FirstChance;8272670]
I am a larger rider and fairly chesty. I’m going to go try some vests on at a local store tomorrow and see how it feels. I’m leaning towards picking up the Tipperary. It’s only $75 and I won’t be using it a lot, probably 6-8 times a year max. According to the measurements on their site it should fit well. I will definitely upgrade if I decide to get into it further. Thanks for all the great advice![/QUOTE]
I have a Kanteq vest…and it really is very good. Heavier than a tip but once I’ve had it on, it really does get very comfortable. And fits women the best.
Might be out of your price point but it is considered one of the safest vests out there. [URL=“http://www.kanteq.com/”]
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8272794]
I have a Kanteq vest…and it really is very good. Heavier than a tip but once I’ve had it on, it really does get very comfortable. And fits women the best.
Might be out of your price point but it is considered one of the safest vests out there. [URL=“http://www.kanteq.com/”]
http://www.kanteq.com/[/QUOTE]
for those of us who don’t get to party at Rolex every year, where the heck do you buy these? Unless you live in England?
[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8273174]
for those of us who don’t get to party at Rolex every year, where the heck do you buy these? Unless you live in England?[/QUOTE]
Bit of Britain sells them. Really they are custom. So BoB takes your measurements and they are ordered. I got mine through them (Not been to Rolex yet…but did go to WEG in 2010).
Very good vests. Probably overkill for OP but I can recommend then. I adapted to it pretty quick coming from a Tipp. Definitely a large step up in protection.
That looks like an amazing vest! If I get into this heavily I could see investing in something like that, but at this point it’s overkill for sure. I did save it for future reference though. Cool to see they’re at rolex. I plan to go next year. It’s only a couple hours away!
