Are you feeling more secure in the saddle because you’re wearing a safety vest?
Many top riders, including Olympic show jumping medalist Laura Kraut and Jimmy Torano, are visible symbols of air vests’ growing popularity beyond the cross-country phase of eventing. More casual riders also are wearing them in a quest to be protected.
Germany’s Sophie Hinners wore a black air vest while competing in Ocala at the Longines League of Nations. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
But exactly how effective are these pieces of equipment?
The FEI (international equestrian federation) has initiated an Equestrian Safety Vest Working Group, aimed at improving safety through scientific research and innovation in protective equipment.
Use of safety vests, including both body protectors and air vests, is gaining traction in a variety of disciplines. But there is concern about the lack of independent data to support their effectiveness in reducing injury.
Led by the USA’s Dr Mark Hart, chair of the FEI Medical Committee, the Working Group will examine the current state of knowledge around thoracic 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,” according to Mark.
“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 behavior. These insights are essential and are helping to drive the discussion toward more effective and evidence-based safety solutions.
“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.”
The Working Group will operate through two international panels to ensure both scientific rigor and stakeholder engagement. The Scientific Panel brings together a carefully balanced group of international experts from a range of fields, including biomechanical engineering, injury modelling, medicine, safety vest manufacturing, and international standards bodies. There is also diverse expertise in areas of the body most at risk during a fall, such as the head, neck, spine, ribs, and chest. Attention has also been given to ensuring representation across regions and sexes.
The National Federation Advisory Panel is made up of members nominated by their National Federations and approved by the FEI. This group will play a key role in engaging with stakeholders by supporting open communication with the wider equestrian community in their regions. They will also help coordinate additional fundraising for potential research projects, working with National Federations, research foundations, government agencies, and private donors, in accordance with FEI guidelines on external funding.
Part of its mission will involve collaborating with athletes, manufacturers, international standards organizations and other sports with similar injury risks, such as horse racing and motocross.
Eventually, the group will propose modifications or new testing protocols to promote safer vest design and encourage broader adoption of best practices. The Working Group will also make recommendations to the FEI and its member National Federations on how to improve data collection and reporting around instances of injury to better correlate fall mechanisms with injury outcomes.