2 The Air Vest’s Impact on Equestrians Sports

Introduction

The Air Vest has had a significant impact on the safety of the equestrian sport, allowing riders to continue participating in the sport that they love while preventing life threatening injuries.  The safety vest fills with air in order to protect the rider’s ribs, spine, and internal organs from the impact of the fall. Horse riding is an exhilarating sport that comes with inherent risks. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, safety should always be a top priority. While safety is an important attribute, fashion and functionality are always on the rider’s mind. Further creating a connection between how the study of science and technology is truly influencing society in a positive way.

Connection to STS

Throughout history we can see society’s dedication to make the human experience better through the study of science and the use of technology. We can see the air vests connection to science by the way that it protects people’s bodies and can give them confidence to do more dangerous activities. One connection between technology and the air vets is the use of an app to know when the rider’s safety may be in jeopardy.  Lastly, we can see the relationship between society and this invention through the influence of fashion within the sport. In the equestrian sport it is clear how STS has influenced the evolution of the air vest, and it is clearly seen in the use of safety equipment today.

Science

Historically, safety gear such as riding hats were purely for aesthetic purposes and provided no additional safety. The classic hunt hats did not even have straps to hold themselves onto the rider’s head. This way of thinking led to riders valuing and promoting their physical safety more which eventually helped to create the vest we have today. When the air vest deploys, it was scientifically designed to protect many major organs, the rider’s ribs and back. (Potter,2020) Furthermore, there are many psychological benefits to wearing a helmet along with other safety gear. From my own experience and discussing this topic for many years with riders from all levels, I found it can boost a rider’s confidence knowing that they are protected. I believe that this peace of mind can enhance performance and enjoyment. Moreover, this allows them to reach for new heights and challenge limitations in the sport. Experienced riders and trainers can positively influence others by consistently wearing safety gear. Testimonials from professional equestrians who advocate for safety can be powerful motivators. If people think that it is the new cool thing to wear, riders are more likely to invest in safety equipment and get in the habit of riding with it.

Technology

The existence of technology, especially phones, tends to persuade and encourage riders to wear the vest. The app that alerts someone that you fell which is activated by a sensor in the vest that registers when the vest inflates. The vest then sends a location to a loved one’s phone so that the rider is able to get medical attention. (Magnusson, 2017) Also, on social media, tragic events such as the injury or death of a rider will be shared on many platforms, and this may encourage people to wear their helmets and now more recently their air vests.

(Figure 1: Equestrian wearing an air vest on a bay horse, AI image created by copilot)     

While the technology in the vest has come a long way there are still some flaws that people can improve on. During an interview with Jennifer Bauersachs, a prominent hunter rider in the U.S., she had a lot to say about the structure and necessity of a safety vest after a bad fall. The interviewer reported,  “Because Bauersachs and the horse both went down, the vest didn’t blow up until the horse got up, and Bauersachs didn’t. Bauersachs sustained 8 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken collarbone, and a concussion. The position of the canister in the vest, and the fact that the vest inflated after she had fallen, may have contributed to her injuries.” (Winter, 2021) This should not deter riders away from wearing safety gear, rather, this should encourage the designers of the product to improve the vest. When people ask us if the safest thing to wear is a body protector or an air vest, we always say: ‘wear both’. A body protector is highly effective at absorbing shock, especially pinpoint impacts such as falling on a fence, getting stepped on, or getting kicked. While an air vest is great for softening impacts, it’s of no value if it doesn’t deploy,” (Winter, 2021). This article was published by a company that sells safety vests, so it appears to be an open and honest conversation within the community.

Society

Fashion is an integral part of getting equestrians to wear safety gear, especially in a largely women-dominated sport. Different styles of vests are designed specifically with the showman in mind. Popular vests are usually a dark navy to match the show coat color and blend in. Furthermore, they have a flattering silhouette that helps to show the position of the rider which is a main judging point in most show rings. This soft breathable fabric is a new design feature as the original safety vest available was extremely stiff and square. A close-fit air vest has safety benefits such as being designed to not get caught on the saddle when jumping and hindering the athlete’s range of motion. Lastly, the mesh panels found on most air vests provide airflow to the equestrian which makes them able to ride better for a longer time. All of these attributes were designed with a specific purpose. Make safety equipment that is comfortable, functional, and fashionable so equestrians will be safe in the saddle. (Hammond, 2024)

Traditional vests were made of foam or gel and a great thing about these vests, also referred to as body protectors, is that it provides consistent protection. Which can be important if the horse rolls on top of the rider. This is referred to as a rotational fall and can be especially dangerous as a new air vest would not inflate due to the fact that the rider doesn’t usually detach from the saddle fast enough. A problem with the original design was that many female riders noticed that it was hard to get a comfortable fit as well as look good, due to the vest being so hard and square shaped. I personally found it was very restricting to ride in. The air vest has come a long way from its original design, however, there are still many improvements that could be made. The equestrian community has really come together to fix some of the problems of this relatively new technology. They inflate upon being detached from the saddle to provide additional cushioning upon landing. They are lightweight and offer enhanced protection as well as quality material and ventilation. While safety gear can be expensive, the cost of medical bills and long-term rehabilitation far outweighs the initial investment. Many brands offer affordable options without compromising safety.

Conclusion

Wearing an air vest while riding has many benefits as well as some downsides. However, this invention has allowed riders to be competitive in their sport while protecting their life. Riders should make a commitment to always wear safety gear. By doing so, they protect themselves and set a positive example for others in the equestrian community. This can be shown through many different social media platforms. In order to win you have to look good, ride effectively, and safely. Which is where the styling and fashion side of the air vest comes in. I can really see how this relates to science, technology, and society through the subject of fashion. Which involves people’s style preferences. Creating a culture of safety within the riding community encourages everyone to prioritize their well-being. Sharing success stories and positive experiences can reinforce the importance of safety gear.

References

Giusti Gestri, L. (2019). Safety vests for jockeys: A case study of primary and dependent-secondary users affecting the evolution of vest design in the Australian horse-racing industry (Doctoral dissertation, Swinburne).

Hammond, G. (2024, August 20). How to Wear an Air Vest with a Show Coat. R.J. Classics. https://rjclassics.com/blogs/blog/how-to-wear-an-air-vest-with-a-show-coat

Magnusson, M. (2017), Detection of equestrian falls using smartphone sensors, Masters Thesis, Lund University (Faculty of Engineering LTH Department of Biomedical Engineering)

Meyer, C., Gabriel, F., Schrum, K., Hollis, M., Short, M., & Gould, S. (2024). Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports: Is Use Associated with Harm? Annals of Biomedical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-024-03507-y

Potter Leslie, (2020). Equestrian air vests: What you need to know. (n.d.-c). US Equestrian. https://www.usef.org/media/equestrian-weekly/equestrian-air-vests-what-you-need-to-know

Winter, C. (2021b, January 15). Getting the word out about equestrian air vests – what they can & can’t do. Ride EquiSafe. https://www.rideequisafe.com/blogs/news/getting-the-word-out-about-equestrian-air-vests-what-they-can-cant-do#:~:text=A%20horseback%20riding%20air%20vest%20only%20deploys%20when,collapsed%20lung%2C%20a%20broken%20collarbone%2C%20and%20a%20concussion.

AI Acknowledgement

Microsoft Copilot(2024), https://copilot.microsoft.com

I acknowledge the use of copilot (https://copilot.microsoft.com) for the creation of figure 1. To create the picture, I entered the following prompt on December 8, 2024:

• Prompt: Create an image of an equestrian wearing an air vest.