So I discovered that my current Tipperary vest is not pro drop fences and sitting back really well when I schooled XC this last week on my green horse. So now the search is on for something that fits better. I am 5’2 1/2 (yes that 1/2 inch counts lmao) and while not in horrible shape I am not the skinny girl I use to be. Though on the way to it! If it helps I wear a size 32 breeches. So any suggestions for a short torso that probably won’t be able to fit into a kids vest?
Some brands you can customize - that may be a good option. My kan teq can be cut down with a knife so you can self-customize. I think you are going to want to try on some brands - maybe hit up a vendor at a local horse trials?
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Both the Tipperary Competitor II and the Ride-Lite have shorter backs than the standard Eventer. I have the RL since I don’t anticipate ever going above BN, but the Competitor II is ASTM (not Beta 3) certified if that matters to you.
The Tipperary was too long for me so I ended up with an Airowear Outlyne. Mine is regular but they also have a short option. I love it!
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I am the same height as you, short torso, and had the same problem with my vest. I undid the stitching, cut the foam, and restitched it. It was easy and the vest fit much better after that!
And the short is quite short. I love mine, too.
I have the Ride Lite Tipperary and like it; I’m also 5’2 and 1/2 
I’m 5’3 1/2 (and heck yeah, that half counts, ha!!), not as skinny as I once was, and have an Airowear Outlyne that fits me very well. They have lots of sizing options.
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I actually got the Tipperary XL youth for that reason and I am not a skinny Minnie. I am 5’3 and wear 32/34 breeches.
The bottom piece on my RaceSafe is made such that it flips up if you sit back (especially down a drop or something). You can ride with it flipped up all the time, or the feature can just be there in case you need it (or I guess you could cut it off if you wanted, I haven’t really looked into that).
I’m 5’3" and an 1/8 (yes, that counts!) and am a lightweight. I have an Airowear Outlyne and love it.
If you aren’t looking for a safety certified vest, the Tipperary Ride Lite in a kid’s size may fit. I ordered a Large, and it may be a bit large on me (I am 5’1" and wear about a 10P in street clothes, 32 in most breeches, 34D bra.) So I have a Medium coming… Hard to believe; I am short but not small!
I’m 5’2 and wear one of the youth sizes of the Airowear Outlyne. I also gallop tb’s and wear a Vipa vest and actually wear the small-long. Its the most comfortable vest I’ve ever worn, super lightweight and it offers a higher level of protection then most gallop vests: https://www.jockeytack.com/shop/vests/safety-rated-vests/vipa-vest/ I may check the rules and see if its okay to event in actually, I like it better then the airowear.
5’2 on the nose here and another vote for Aerowear!! Love it and the short fits well!
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! I will be looking at all the different ones and maybe seeing if there is a place not to horribly far I can try them on at
I’m 5’ 3" inches and about 115 pounds. I’m an adult. By a lot. I wear the Tipperary with the laces in a youth large. The back is shorter than the adult version with the same chest circumference. There’s also a youth extra large.
I’m almost exactly the same size as you described and I wear the racesafe 3.0 in a medium short. I love it, so lightweight!
KANTEQ will customize for you - I was very pleasantly surprised that even without any trimming I can sit in a saddle in a dressage seat (not in a dressage saddle, but really sitting with upright posture) and the tail of the vest did not hit the sddle.
That is one of the more annoying things about vests, sitting down and having them up around your ears.
I’ve been very pleased with the Airoware Outlyne. It’s comfortable, and the fact that it comes in multiple sizes makes it fit extremely well.
I ordered mine from a British shop, and with the strong dollar it came out to be much cheaper than what is available in the U.S. Also, the British shop had the full range of sizes which no U.S. shop that I looked at did.
This is the shop I ordered from. It came within two weeks of ordering:
https://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/Ladies-Body-Protectors.html
I agree wit posting trot - ordered my Outlyne from Amira - it was at least 100$ less than here in the US, and I got a long, which was going to have to be special ordered. Love it - hated the Kanteq
