Equestrian Safety First : Why It Matters?

There has recently been a spat of random accidents of horse riding. Fortunately, most of these incidents have been trivial.

The sport of horse riding (show jumping in particular) has become faster with better horses and better riding ability in general. The bar is being raised constantly. Add to that, the complexity of the variations in the footing. The courses are becoming more and more technical. All these changes add variables that may alter the possibility of accidents.

Lately, there have been some tragic accidents in the sport. While it is hard to say specifically what caused these accidents, what is clear is the critical need for safety equipment. Other active motion sports such as motor cycling and car racing have had safety implements in place for decades now. The stricter safety standards adopted by the regulatory bodies governing these sports have played a positive role in increasing safety overall. There has been a drastic reduction in injuries and the severity of the injuries. You do not see a car racing driver without proper safety gear and equipment. Same goes for football players, motorcyclists etc.

Why should it be any different for horse riding? If no safety options are available, there is nothing to argue. However, we have been selling Safety Stirrups, Safety Helmets for years. Starting earlier this year, we have introduced Airbag Safety Vests that offer body protection from injuries.

The time, cost and energy associated with injuries can be debilitating. It does not have to be. With proper safety equipment, we can all contribute to making the equestrian sport a bit safer.

Safety Stirrups

The top rated safety stirrups were introduced by us to the Americas back in 2013. Since then, Freejump has become synonymous with “safety stirrups”. The branch release system invented by Freejump was revolutionary. Since 2013, lots of other brands have attempted to launch safety stirrups. However, Freejump has been the clear winner. When it comes to foot positioning, balance, shock absorption, the Soft Up Pro Plus and Soft Up Classic

Helmets

With such a large range of helmets, we have difficulty listing even a few. In no way, is this list all-inclusive. WE have listed some of our top safety helmets.

Safety Vests

If you are interested in reading about the details of how these airbag safety vests work, here are a few links:

• Freejump vs Helite Comparison
• Frequently Asked Questions about Airbag Safety Vests

First, let us clarify what these vests do. They are not meant/designed to protect you from every possible accident. What they do offer is protection for your full spinal column (top of the neck to your tailbone) in the event you are launched off your horse. The airbag safety vests work off a simple principle based on body weight and tension. The lanyard that attaches to your saddle, when extended away and outward with enough body force (exceeding 78 lbs), will deploy the airbag.

Over the last year or so, we have had immense positive customer feedback about these airbag safety vests. While some people were initially hesitant about these vests, most have grown very accustomed to this vest as part of their must-have equipment. Several of our clients have said they now would not ride without these airbag safety vests. Simply, the ability to walk away from an injury is invaluable.

Conclusion

We hope with this post, we have convinced you to at least start thinking about safety. There is equipment that has proven to reduce injuries and downtime. Why not use it ? As always, it is your turn now. Let us know your thoughts, whether related to general safety vs specific concerns about a certain type of equipment. Do you own any of these products? What do you think? Write below in the comments.