What Jive said - there is a GP jumper rider in Ontario who routinely shows with a vest. Not always, but very often. And she is generally near the top of the standings… so it’s not some wannabe doing it.
A large population of my barn wears safety vests at all times when riding (which is probably overkill at 2’6", but hey, I can understand). Some of the girls show with them under their coats. Last week I know of at least one girl from my barn who did. It is not immediately apparent because you can’t see it under the coat.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but one of the ladies at our local tack store mentioned the primary purpose of a vest is to protect against the horse stepping on you in the event of a fall. She said the sectioned vests (Tipperary ones) aren’t Beta approved because the sections are big enough to allow a stud to puncture it. Makes sense to me, because I too have come off … um, lots, and have NEVER (knock on wood) hurt my ribs.
[QUOTE=Alterrain;4869054]
Too hot here in Cali, and the cons (bulky, hot, range of motion reduced, unflattering) outweigh the pros (in certain types of fall they may reduce certain types of injury).
I’m sure many will disagree, but for me these are the reasons.[/QUOTE]
Many girls at my barn in Houston wear them. They’re not that bulky, that hot, and I have no concern about reducing the range of motion in my back and not found that range of motion in the shoulders or neck to be influenced at all.
No there’s not flattering.
And if you’d even fallen on a jump cup and needed 10+ stitches you’d like yours after that too.
[QUOTE=Across Sicily;4870117]
What Jive said - there is a GP jumper rider in Ontario who routinely shows with a vest. Not always, but very often. And she is generally near the top of the standings… so it’s not some wannabe doing it.
A large population of my barn wears safety vests at all times when riding (which is probably overkill at 2’6", but hey, I can understand). Some of the girls show with them under their coats. Last week I know of at least one girl from my barn who did. It is not immediately apparent because you can’t see it under the coat.[/QUOTE]
A friend of mine (a young rider, ranked junior jumper rider, etc) wears one all the time. She shows in one too except in the eq. She rides GP’s, showed at young riders the last two years, everything in hers. She says she doesn’t feel safe without it.
FIRST I HAV TO GO A BIT OFF TOPIC, BUT… POLTROON IS JUST ABOUT ONE OF THE BEST PONIES ON THE PLANET!
Sorry, had to say it. A few years ago you did noy see many (any) “skunk” hats. Now everyone has to have one.
In the jumpers, the fences are more likely to fall, with the horse and rider getting free of the jump. In the jumpers for many classes you could wear a polo with a vest. For a classic you may want to wear vest under jacket. If you are comfortable and this added safety device could help you feel more relaxed.
In the hunters the word is “traditional” A judges call/
All USEF show require hats with harness secured. You could find your self in trouble with the steward. An accident can happen at any time you are mounted, many happen to and from the barn, or just hacking. Good Luck:yes:
[QUOTE=poltroon;4869182]
I’m both those things and have a comfortable off-the-rack vest. I’d daresay most eventers are.[/QUOTE]
What brand do you recommend? I am very short-waisted and can’t bear to wear the Air-O-Wear I picked up at Dover years ago as it catches on the saddle pommel.
I think that it is because most jumper riders don’t think they need one since it is less likely that a horse will fall or step on you when you crash as in eventing. As to helmets, I don’t know if it is an Equine Canada rule or not, but the places I show insist that you wear an approved helmut at all times while mounted. Unless there is an FEI class - those riders do not have to wear helmets under FEI rules. So you often see the top riders not wearing helmets when they are exercising their horses in the dedicated FEI ring.
The fact Smartpak was showing a vest while I was reading this thread is sheer coincidence. I do not wear a vest since I do not jump. My daughter who does ONLY Dressage at age 7 however does. Even when she is on the pony I make her wear a vest. However she has now outgrown said vest and I am trying to find one she and I both like to replace it. It may or not help her in a fall but to me the extra protection from bruised ribs is nice.
I’ve seen a few littler ones (<10) in the jumper ring wearing them. Other than that, there are very few.
I’ve personally never worn one because I’ve never felt the need. Over my 19 years of riding (and crashing) I can only think of possibly a few instances where it would have helped. It possibly would have saved me from a broken collarbone, but not the fractured neck that came with it.
I think it boils down to the fact that you’re less likely to fall into something solid or have a horse fall on you in the arena. Sure it happens, but it’s not as common as on cross country.
How many event riders where vests in the Stadium phase? Just curious? is it done a lot? dressage? since in most cases they are wearing jackets and are not wearing them over the jackets just wondered?
Not many event riders wear the vest in SJ, but I have seen a few wearing them over their jackets.
As an eventer, I was shocked to see a GP rider warming up his horse over fences without a helmet!!! Not a USEF sanctioned event, but I thought it was nuts!
The only time I’ve ever worn a vest (15-ish years ago, cross-country), I had a fall magnified because I couldn’t roll properly.
I know technology has come a long way since then, but I still don’t see the need when I’m falling into h/j-type fences - I tend to hit the parts of my body a vest won’t protect, anyway.
[QUOTE=Moesha;4875724]
How many event riders where vests in the Stadium phase? Just curious? is it done a lot? dressage? since in most cases they are wearing jackets and are not wearing them over the jackets just wondered?[/QUOTE]
Some events run your stadium round right before your xc round, so the riders show up to stadium in their xc gear, which means their vests. Otherwise, I don’t see many vests in stadium or dressage.
I purchased the air point two vest and I am 5’4" and OVER 120 lbs. Fits great. Why? Diana Babington said that if Kevin had been wearing a vest, maybe it would have made a difference. Quentin Judge and Martin Fuchs wear them. If international show jumpers can wear them, why not me? I wear a safety helmet (to save my brain), my car has air bags and seat belts (to save my body), I can’t think of any reason why one would NOT wear one. If you love your spouse, your child or your friend, encourage them to get a air vest. A spine is a terrible thing to waste!
Pretty much the same thing around here for one-days, although the order is often (usually?) the traditional lineup with SJ last. Either come off of XC and get your SJ time from the finish timing crew or just wander over to the SJ ring and get on the steward’s list. Any way you slice it there’s no time to change clothes.
I actually see more vests at the lower levels; several barns around here have either a recommendation or a rule that jumping requires it, and the kids are all used to it.
I always wear a vest while jumping, and many days anytime I’m on a horse. A couple of years ago I wasn’t, and probably would have been saved from a cracked sacrum if I had been. (In the past I’ve also been somewhat impaled on a stadium jump cup going in right next to my spine, although that was long enough ago that vests weren’t a thing and whether anyone should wear a helmet at all was the subject of spirited debate.) When I started with the vest it was an overwarm pain in the ass, but I don’t even notice it anymore.
As for wearing them in the H/J world, I know a couple of people that do and get their jackets sized to fit over them. It can be pretty subtle!
A girl competing at tryon this weekend was life flighted after suffering a horrific fall in the adult/child jumper division. Her horse heartbreakingly didn’t make it.
However, I have to wonder if she had been wearing a vest if that perhaps she would have been protected more. I do not know the outcome of her condition. However, I was nearby when the accident happen and heard rumors that she may be paralyzed.
this sport can truly be so dangerous. We often forget that.
Air vests are not meant to be worn alone, especially in something so high risk as jumping. You need to wear a rigid vest underneath. I have only ever seen dressage and trail riders wearing them alone. Eventing requires a solid vest underneath your air vest.
There isn’t a lot of research behind their effectiveness either alone or in combination.
I started wearing a vest the same as you - for hubby’s peace of mind as I was flipping auction horses, and after falling off in it a few times I decided to just wear it always. I do find it makes a difference in any fall, sand arenas are still solid ground and jump standards are hard. As I am already wearing a black or navy helmet I don’t think it makes much difference heat wise. I can do a proper martial arts tuck and roll in mine - different brands do fit different body types better. I have the tipperary eventer pro (certified) and I can wear it under my show coat without it showing other than a touch above the first jacket button. I have worn mine in h/j, eventing (all phases), western dressage, working equitation and endurance. I see a lot of endurance riders wearing them locally - it can be a long walk out if you part company from your horse and the less injuries you have the pleasanter that is! A few people have asked about it and often buy one after they see one used in the real world. No one has ever been negative, just curious, even the hard core cowboy types.
Saying that, I always ride in a helmet. The only times I’ve worn a vest was when I dabbled in eventing nearly 10 years ago.
Thinking back on all of my falls over the last 20+ years I can’t think of any where a vest would have made a difference.
I’ve had injuries to shoulders, ankles, my right knee, a sore butt, etc. But nothing to the core.
If I owned a dirty stopper who liked to dump me into the jump then maybe I’d consider it?
Or I’d give that horse a new career.
One of the kids at the barn always wears a vest. She’s a very nervous rider and it gives her some confidence.
Babington’s injury was to his neck, and there’s not really any good evidence to suggest that any vest helps with that kind of injury. People do a lot of speculation - he was okay because he wore that vest - if only she had worn a different vest - but the data we have is limited. It’s probably not the case that a vest can protect you from most spinal injuries. There are some concerns about the possibility an air vest could inflate after you are injured, a situation that is more likely in eventing than in show jumping.
That said, I think the foam vests are helpful, certainly at least for softening the impact if you land on a jump, and I’m a bit more skeptical of the air vests, particularly because they are harder to use. In eventing, air vests are always worn over (or as part of) a foam vest.
It’s jumpers: you’re not scored on attire. Wear what makes you safe, comfortable, and happy. Start your own trend.
