The safety of body protectors and air jackets is being assessed by the international body for equestrian sport — the FEI — following a huge increase in use by riders, for hacking as well as horse sport.
The working party is made up of medics, biomechanics specialists and sporting bodies, and includes Claire Williams of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).
Claire said: “Whilst we have a pool of anecdotal data of the role body protection in all its forms plays in reducing the severity of injuries, there is surprisingly little formal research conducted in this area.
“The FEI work on this will not only identify gaps in data and attempt to fill them but also facilitate the input of manufacturers to that knowledge pool.
“Through sharing knowledge, we will be able to improve performance and design of garments in the future.”
Chest and spinal injuries
The working group will first look at current knowledge around chest and spinal injuries in equestrian sport, with a focus on understanding how and when these injuries occur, and whether safety vests play a significant role in reducing the severity of injuries.
“While there is growing support for the use of body protectors and air vests in both sport and recreational riding, there is still minimal data to fully understand their effectiveness,” Dr Mark Hart, chair of the FEI Medical Committee, explained.
“We lack critical data on how and what specific injuries occur during falls and how protective equipment performs under real-world conditions.
“Athletes and others in the community are asking important, constructive questions relating to how air vests perform in real-world settings, how they affect the athlete’s movement, and whether their use might influence the horse’s behaviour.
“These insights are essential and are helping to drive the discussion toward more effective and evidence-based safety solutions,” continued Dr Hart.
“This is why the FEI has tasked the Working Group with undertaking a comprehensive review of current safety standards and will include developing improved testing protocols that more accurately reflect the realities athletes face in both training and competition environments.”
Sometimes it’s hard to know what safety equipment is advisable to wear when riding your horse. Claire Williams explains the differences and benefits of wearing a body protector and an air vest here.
Main image © Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media Ltd
