The Importance of Wearing Equestrian Safety Vests

Wearing Equestrian Safety Vests

The Importance of Wearing Equestrian Safety Vests

Equestrian safety is the number one priority for all riders.

If you have been going back and forth on prioritizing your personal safety – or the safety of your loved ones, you have an opportunity to double down on protecting those you love.

Today, we enjoy the best safety technology that horse riders have ever had the opportunity to wear. From protective helmets to boots and equestrian protective vests, this protective gear has saved lives and reduced injury.

Today, inflatable protective safety vests are a part of this advanced technology. To be sure, equestrian protective vests (hard rigid protective vests) have been used for decades.

Equestrian Inflatable Safety Vests Aims to Reduce Injury

Much like other protective equestrian gear, there is significant variability in protective equipment worn by horse riders.

Let’s discuss protective safety vests. Over the last several decades, horse riders have become accustomed to rigid or hard safety vests. This safety vest construction gives some protection from sharp objects. But there was always a limitation to their ability to protect the body’s vulnerable parts, including the lower back, spine, and neck.

The introduction of inflatable airbag safety vests has changed the prospects for more excellent protection when horse riders need it most during an accidental fall.

Like the Helite Safety Vests Zip N’2, inflatable safety vests offer more excellent protection to vulnerable areas like the thorax, lower back, pelvis, spine, and neck.

Inflatable Vests and Protective Vests

Equestrian riders can wear both inflatable protective vests and protective rigid vests to get the most benefit from wearing available protective gear. The two-pronged approach may provide additional support mitigating or reducing the level of injury sustained during an unlikely event.

Currently, only a rigid or hard safety vest is a requirement for particular disciplines. Such rules may change, but the only vest required is the hard safety vest.

The ability of inflatable airbag safety vests to reduce injury may impact the rules in various equestrian disciplines in the future, so I would like to focus on these vests in this post.

Inflatable safety vests have been used for years in the motorcycle industry. Since motorcyclists started using inflatable vests, they have proven to reduce injury or lessen the impact on the body’s parts covered by the vest.

Helite Airbag Safety Vests for Horse Riders

Helite, the manufacture of motorcycle safety vests, adapted this technology for the equestrian market. They have since come up with two generations of the equestrian airbag safety vest.

In essence, the safety vest quickly inflates when an attached lanyard disconnects. This provides a strong cushion around the torso. The design of the inflatable vest also allows for a buffer. It creates the ability to protect the spine, lower back, hips, neck, and collar bone.

In contrast, the traditional non-inflatable protector vests for horse riders do not inflate. They serve to ensure that nothing sharps goes through the vest.

A combination of both vests worn together can make all the difference in case of an unfortunate fall.

Certainly, whether a horse rider prefers to wear an inflatable vest or a non-inflatable vest, as consumers, we want our protective gear to be of high quality. We are confident that the Helite equestrian safety vests we sell are high-quality products. When worn correctly, they can make a positive impact on reducing injury. Our customers have noted the wide range of motion, maneuverability, and comfort with the Helite safety vests, which encourages use among horse riders.

Explore our Helite Airbag Safety Vests here.