To vest, or not to vest, that is the question.
The Plaid Horse recently published an article entitled, "Protective Riding Vests, Perceived or Actual Protection." If you’re considering a vest, the article may persuade you. If you already have a vest, you may feel better about wearing it.
There’s a line in the article about how the vest won’t make you a better rider or improve your ability to jump higher (did someone think that it would?). However, wearing extra protection may decrease anxiety and make you feel more confident in the saddle. And who doesn’t want that?
Traditional padded vests primarily protect the rib cage, back, and torso when hitting the ground from a fall. The hard shell may take some getting used to. It’s a bit bulky. While it doesn’t offer neck protection it does provide coverage for the hip bone area. Dover Saddlery has a wide price range ($199 to $400) and no shortage of brands to select from.
Air vests are light and non-bulky. They deploy on impact and provide protection for the cervical, back, lumbar, sacrum, pelvis and thorax. It’s a good idea to keep a replacement cartridge on hand. Free Jump demonstrates how to swap out the cartridges. Depending on the brand, an air vest is between $750 and $850.
Don’t be put off by what you might hear about horses spooking at the single pop sound the vest makes when it deploys. In my experience horses stop, look and dismiss.
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