Why so few people wearing protective vests in the jumpers?

[Hoofbeat_Heartbeat]

@Sing Mia Song

I am old enough to remember that when I moved from the lesson mill mill barn to the show barn, I got told to ditch the harness helmet for a hunt cap. Then, in 1984, we all had to wear harness helmets again. Looking back, those helmet were laughable.

The better-protecting helmets showed up in the 90s, but pretty much no one on the circuit (other than Addison Phillips, who won plenty with it) wore one. Then one of Joe Dotoli’s students was killed in an accident and he did the hard work to challenge the helmet manufacturers to come up with helmets that fit different heads, were comfortable and looked good. We’ve been wearing then for what, 15-20 years now?

What we need is the same challenge to vest manufacturers. The motorcycle people have this down, with shirts you can zip on and off and that fit under your ballistic gear. They are much more subtle than our vests and are made with vented fabric. My husband has both the undervest and a spine protector, and I’m envious of his gear. It’s a huge deal in motorcycles for obvious reasons, but why can’t someone translate that technology?

https://helite.com/zip-in2-airbag-vest-2-in-1-helite

This one looks interesting; made by a company that appeared to have started with motorcycle vests, and is now expanding into equestrian safety.

[Willesdon]

Because only those crazy eventers ever fall off a horse; because no one famous wears one; because judges wouldn’t like them; because my trainer doesn’t tell me to; because they are different and would make the judge think the horse was difficult to ride; because my trainer won’t allow me to; because they are ugly; because they are too hot to wear; because they are expensive; because they are uncomfortable; because my friends don’t; because my horse is so well trained I’m safe; because my horse is prepped so I’m safe; because they aren’t fashionable; because they are not traditional; because we still stuff our hair up into our helmets so that our compulsory safety helmets don’t fit correctly; because only those crazy eventers ever fall off a horse…

[RAyers]

@adultammylife

Glad to know the canisters are not as expensive to replace. I’m interested in the safety of a vest but what appeals to me about the air vest specifically is their ability to inflate and potentially reduce whip lash/trauma to the neck and spinal cord. Most traditional vests that I’ve seen do not have that capability. While yes, they would probably be helpful if I fell on something or were stepped on, they would not be helpful in the event of a neck injury which to me is the biggest reason to get a vest in the first place.

Sorry, but there are numerous cases where riders wearing air vests broke necks, spines etc. P2 had serious advertising issues in Europe and haD to withdraw from the market because they made claims that the vests prevented spine injuries.

As one who conducts studies on spine biomechanics, the air vest causes the body to go rigid on inflation causing the implant forces to act along the spine resulting in burst fractures.

[adultammylife]

@RAyers

Sorry, but there are numerous cases where riders wearing air vests broke necks, spines etc. P2 had serious advertising issues in Europe and haD to withdraw from the market because they made claims that the vests prevented spine injuries.

As one who conducts studies on spine biomechanics, the air vest causes the body to go rigid on inflation causing the implant forces to act along the spine resulting in burst fractures.

Thank you! I didn’t know this - clearly I need to do more research and I appreciate you sharing this info with me.

[Xanthoria]

@Sing Mia Song

I am old enough to remember that when I moved from the lesson mill mill barn to the show barn, I got told to ditch the harness helmet for a hunt cap. Then, in 1984, we all had to wear harness helmets again. Looking back, those helmet were laughable.

The better-protecting helmets showed up in the 90s, but pretty much no one on the circuit (other than Addison Phillips, who won plenty with it) wore one. Then one of Joe Dotoli’s students was killed in an accident and he did the hard work to challenge the helmet manufacturers to come up with helmets that fit different heads, were comfortable and looked good. We’ve been wearing then for what, 15-20 years now?

What we need is the same challenge to vest manufacturers. The motorcycle people have this down, with shirts you can zip on and off and that fit under your ballistic gear. They are much more subtle than our vests and are made with vented fabric. My husband has both the undervest and a spine protector, and I’m envious of his gear. It’s a huge deal in motorcycles for obvious reasons, but why can’t someone translate that technology?

Motorbike crashes tend to throw the rider down to slide at great speed across asphalt, removing layers of skin and muscle easily by scraping. So moto gear us designed to prevent that (leather jackets etc). Horse riding falls don’t often involved skidding in rough surfaces. More if a lawn dart scenario. Different falls. Different gear.

[Pennywell_Bay]

@Willesdon

Because only those crazy eventers ever fall off a horse; because no one famous wears one; because judges wouldn’t like them; because my trainer doesn’t tell me to; because they are different and would make the judge think the horse was difficult to ride; because my trainer won’t allow me to; because they are ugly; because they are too hot to wear; because they are expensive; because they are uncomfortable; because my friends don’t; because my horse is so well trained I’m safe; because my horse is prepped so I’m safe; because they aren’t fashionable; because they are not traditional; because we still stuff our hair up into our helmets so that our compulsory safety helmets don’t fit correctly; because only those crazy eventers ever fall off a horse…

Condescend much? Not even all eventers where it in SJ.

It is because generally it is deemed safer falling in to sticks Than solid jumps.

Sandy Ferrel rides in a vest all the time (hunters) and does just fine.

I’m Wearing one at WEC this week. My trainer- a GP rider- doesn’t care. I’ve had nothing but positive feedback - and I’m not even wearing a fancy one.

(your comments on them are laughable- but I really chuckled at “they are expensive”. Clearly you aren’t showing hunters if you think laying down 300 for a vest is “too expensive”- that wasn’t even the fees before I walked in to the ring last week)

[Sing_Mia_Song]

@Xanthoria

Motorbike crashes tend to throw the rider down to slide at great speed across asphalt, removing layers of skin and muscle easily by scraping. So moto gear us designed to prevent that (leather jackets etc). Horse riding falls don’t often involved skidding in rough surfaces. More if a lawn dart scenario. Different falls. Different gear.

Agreed - that is why responsible motorcyclists wear the ballistic gear (like Aerostitch) I mentioned in my previous post. But the industry for motorcycle riding has also come up with different options for underpads, in-gear pads, spinal braces - that vent!! - that the equestrian industry just hasn’t offered. I’m not saying the two industries are interchangeable, I’m saying one has invested in more options than the other.

Then again, I still see idiots on motorcycles wearing those stupid half-shell helmets or riding in sneakers and t-shirts. Which is why we call them organ donors.

[Xanthoria]

Well yeah - correct on all points! There is Dianese who make quality leathers for moto riding and equine body protectors too, but I don’t know how good they are.

[Gamma]

If anyone still believes there’s nothing to land on in the ring, I had bruised or fractured ribs (“we can’t tell and there’s no treatment in either case anyway”) from landing on my own elbow. It was extremely unpleasant, six weeks of breathing hurts.

I was somewhat comforted when I went to Landsafe and they were explaining that elbow to ribs is a pretty common injury, so at least it’s not just me. But even after learning how to make my arms into a roll cage, there’s still a pretty good chance that I don’t implement it correctly in the space between horse and ground. Vests are better.

[catchcan]

@Sing Mia Song

Agreed - that is why responsible motorcyclists wear the ballistic gear (like Aerostitch) I mentioned in my previous post. But the industry for motorcycle riding has also come up with different options for underpads, in-gear pads, spinal braces - that vent!! - that the equestrian industry just hasn’t offered. I’m not saying the two industries are interchangeable, I’m saying one has invested in more options than the other.

Then again, I still see idiots on motorcycles wearing those stupid half-shell helmets or riding in sneakers and t-shirts. Which is why we call them organ donors.

At least one motorcycle rider likes and uses the Racesafe vest. https://www.mcgearhub.com/motorcycle…ody-protector/
They review lots of motorcycle gear and say a lot of nice things about the Racesafe ProVent 3.0, even suggesting that it is better than a lot of the gear designed for motorcycle riders.

[catchcan]

@Xanthoria

Well yeah - correct on all points! There is Dianese who make quality leathers for moto riding and equine body protectors too, but I don’t know how good they are.

I found lots of positive reviews about the Dianese body protector in European forums (mostly not in English). I really wanted to order one but the sizing is kind of strange so I was between sizes.

[anon510129]

@ponyjumper4

The biggest reason is because the types of falls and things to fall on or crash into are different. I could see one of the new air vests being more of an idea for the jumpers just because it blows up once you leave the saddle. With eventing, and the cross country phase being the only phase where a vest is required (and this is pretty much at all levels now) is because you need impact protection from solid fences that won’t collapse on impact like in the ring. I’ve crashed through my fair share of fences in the ring over the years and don’t typically find my ribs/chest/or back being sore–it’s usually other body parts.

I think it wise to wear a vest on the youngsters, I plan to when I start breaking my two young horses as the likelihood of me coming off and or crashing into something is simply greater enough for me to warrant that and I don’t have a fully enclosed ring either.

This. I fell off in the show ring yesterday and broke my upper arm & my knee is pretty banged up. A vest wouldn’t have helped me yesterday, but I do like the idea of a vest and would definitely wear one. Thank goodness my helmet took the side blow/impact as well. Definitely thankful for well regulated and well made helmets!