You’d be hard pressed to find the EN team taking life seriously on most days, and Kentucky week is no exception. What’s life without a little humor, anyway?
If you’re heading to Kentucky this week, we’ve got a big reason for you to stop by and visit the Ecogold booth each day.
(But we also think Chinch may have some protesting to do when he sees his itinerary for the week…)
Please join us and the Ecogold team all week at LRK3DE for a Chinch Toss prize game. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. EST at the Ecogold booth (#167 on Custom Made Road in the Indoor Trade Fair), the Chinch Toss will open, challenging even the most athletic Bags champions of the world to a top-flight endeavor (Chinch asked us to write it that way).
Take your turn and give Chinch a good chuck, and if you hit a target on our board you could win prizes like EN stickers, Ecogold merch, Soap for Dirty Equestrians, or even an all-new #goeventing Secure XC Pad from Ecogold!
You could win an all-new EN #goeventing Secure XC Pad from Ecogold — if your Chinch Toss skills are up to speed!
We can’t wait to see you in Kentucky, and we along with Chinch will see you at the Ecogold booth very soon!
Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.
Jean Morel first presented the dates for all equestrian competitions as well as Modern Pentathlon. He went on to share details on the Course Designers for Cross-Country (Pierre Le Goupil) and Jumping (Santiago Varela and Gregory Bodo) as well as the full schedule for both Olympic and Paralympic Games, from 26 July to 7 September. In the case of Para Dressage the final timings could change depending on the definite entries and their nations.
Morel went on to present maps of the venue (stables, field of play, warm-up arenas and Cross-Country start and finish lines) for the 11 days of competitions and ensured that all plans are made with welfare of the horses in mind.
Stables will be organised by discipline, with different stables for Eventing (first to arrive and leave the venue), Dressage and Jumping. The Veterinary clinic, treatment boxes, farriers and wash areas are located close the stables. Three warm-up areas will be available, with the possibility to split each of them in two in order to create six warm-up areas.
He then explained the details around the Cross Country course:
5.3km distance
Optimum Timing of 9min 18sec
25 obstacles
3 Water Jumps
2 Pontoons
All the horse inspections for all disciplines will be held in a dedicated area.
Next topic on the agenda was Horse Transportation. Horse arrivals were detailed (Eventing on 24 July, Dressage on 26 July, Jumping on 30 July and Para Dressage on 31 August). The first security point will the Mortemets Parking and a second one by the Grooms accommodation. Then, horses will go to the stables area. Eventing Horses and Jumping horses will not be in the venue at the same time, since Jumping horses will arrive the day after the Eventing horses leave. All horse arrivals will be scheduled in specific time slots to avoid congestion.
Anne Murac presented the Grooms Accommodation and the Huttopia concept. The distance between Grooms and Veterinary Centre will be 2,5km, approximately 7 minutes and the Grooms accommodation will be 700 metres away from the stables.
The allocation process for groom’s accommodation will have several steps and is outlined in the presentation in the FEI Documents Library below.
Morel confirmed different testing activities, including the Cross Country operational test which will be held on August 22 & 23 2023. It will include a Cross Country course walk through Versailles Park on Day 1 and a Paris 2024 equestrian presentation (main organisational, logistical, technical and sport principles of the competitions) on Day 2, for all National Federations, NOCs, NPCs, etc.
Robert explained that the test event for Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage and Eventing (Jumping and Dressage) will be held from 22 to 28 April 2024 in Le Printemps Des Sports Equestres in Fontainebleau, with the competition format to be defined.
The general objectives of the test events will be:
Team coordination and integration
Stables and protocols
Arena footing
Results, Scoring and Timing
Technical Officials integration
Volunteers training
Veterinary services
Before opening the floor to questions, Anne Murac talked about the last topic, the NOC/NF visits and next steps ahead of the Olympic Games:
13 to 19 June 2023: NOC Chef de Mission seminar OLY
23 to 23 August 2023: Operational test – Cross country – Versailles
24 to 30 August 2023: NPC Chef de Mission seminar PARA
April 2024: Testing opportunity – Printemps des sports équestres at Fontainebleau
May/June 2024: Operational test – Equestrian – Versailles
The latest information on the venue, competition schedule, qualification systems, regulations, and rankings is available here.
The session replay will be made available here.
It’s all kicking off at Kentucky Horse Park! Could we BE more excited?!
The horses have arrived, the grooms are busy braiding, the riders are getting up close and personal with the corgi, and we’re gearing up for the #BestWeekendAllYear.
Kentucky rookie, and youngest competitor this year, Germany’s Alina Dibowski and her World Championships horse Barbados 26 – ‘Baba’ to his friends – have been scoping out the park ahead of the action and Baba’s keen to report that the grass tastes great Stateside.
It all begins today (Wednesday) with the fashion show, um horse inspection. Who will knock our socks off with ‘fits more runway than jog strip? Which horses will be feeling ALL of the atmosphere? Will Woods be wearing his cowboy boots? All – and more, for sure – will be revealed at 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 7pm BST.
The center line will play its part tomorrow (Thursday). The 4* dressage will get us going at 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST, with the 5* following shortly afterwards – 1pm EDT / 10am PDT / 6pm BST. It continues on Friday in the same way with the 4* scheduling the same and the 5* expected to start at 12:30pm EDT / 9:30am PDT / 5:30pm BST.
Saturday is officially ‘Corgi Day’ and we’ll finally get to see what horses think about jumping a dog. The cross country action kicks off at 9am EDT / 6am PDT / 2pm BST on Saturday with 4*; the 5* will get going at 12:50 pm EDT / 9:50am PDT / 5:50pm BST. You can check out the corgi – I mean, cross country course – on CrossCountry App.
It’s the riders’ second chance to impress us with their taste and style at the horse inspection on Sunday at 7:30am EDT / 4:30am PDT / 12:30pm BST, and then the horses will be entering the main arena to, hopefully, show jump their way to Kentucky completion at 11am EDT / 8am PDT / 4pm BST for the 4* and 2:30pm EDT / 11:30am PDT / 7:30pm BST for the 5*. The prize giving for each class will happen directly after the respective show jumping.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Lexington, make sure you’ve downloaded the Scavenger Hunt app to be in with a chance of winning a 2024 4-Star Trailers two-horse trailer. That’s right, a brand spanking new trailer is up for grabs, which must motivate some serious scavenging. Happy hunting!
And if you just can’t wait ‘til Saturday to get a glimpse of the – now totally famous – corgi, join EN and Ride iQ for a FREE cross country preview on Friday at 4:30pm. Register here.
If you’re not able to make it to the Bluegrass State, you don’t have to miss out – you can watch all of the action from the comfort of your sofa. Find out how, here.
Will this be the event when I finally beat my non-horsey husband at Eventing Manager? The stats suggest it’s unlikely, but I’ll be ponying up nonetheless. Download the app, pick your team, spend $10,000,000 – simple. And if you want some insider info to help you make your selections, we’ve got your back. Check out the EN Form Guide here.
And whilst your head’s in predictions mode, it’s time to enter EN’s LRK3DE Pick ‘Em and Win competition. Entries close tomorrow (Thursday at 12:45pm EST / 9:45am PDT) so don’t delay. There’s just one question – Who’s going to win the 5*? There’s a cool prize from Achieve Equine for the US-based winner. Put your prediction in here.
Phew! It’s all happening for Kentucky! EN are on the ground and will be bringing you all the fun and frolics from the event. Will Chinch make friends with the corgi? (Did I mention the corgi?) You’ll find out first here!
Keep up with EVERYTHING by following @goeventing and checking out EN’s coverage of the #BestWeekendAllYear.
Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.
Kentucky bound Doug Payne talks about the Best Weekend All Year. Doug discusses his memories of Kentucky, what he’s been up to in the run up to the big event and how he’s going to manage being triple-handed this year – with rides in the 5*, the 4* AND the CSI3* Grand Prix! [Doug Payne’s a Busy Guy at Kentucky]
COTH’s Kyle Carter captures the subtleties of a partnership with a horse, with a little help from Jimmy Wofford. I must admit to tearing up reading this, for multiple reasons at multiple points. I’m sure my heart grew as I was reading. If you’re looking for something to get you in the mood for a wonderful weekend watching the eventing from Kentucky, this is the read for you. [A Place Where Time Stands Still]
Did you know that Phillip Dutton has had a horse in the Kentucky 5* every year since 1998? He comes forward this time with 2019 USEA Horse of the Year ‘Z’, who knows his way round the Park having contested the 5* twice before. But what will he think of the corgi? [An Archive Dive of Phillip’s Kentucky Rides]
We can all agree that event volunteers are a super special bunch. Equiratings’ Nicole Brown gets the low down on volunteering at the Best Weekend All Year from Laura Voll, the Volunteer Coordinator, and Sandy Suffoletta, a member of the Organizing Committee. [Inside Kentucky]
On the subject of social license to operate – which affects us all, regardless of discipline – this is a thoughtful response to the troubles horse racing has been facing in the UK over the last couple of weeks. Journalist and presenter Lydia Hislop discusses the propensity for fake facts to take hold, the need to proactively deliver the factual facts, empowering presenters with the knowledge to contextualize and challenge misinformation during interviews, the future of OTTBs, and much more. [A Palpable Sense of Jeopardy]
And finally, a fun look at picking your cross country colors with the help of a fashion editor. For someone who can’t keep a hair color for more than a few weeks, the thought of picking and sticking with one set of cross country colors brings me out in a sweat. As competing is not something that’s currently on the cards for me, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about which colors to go with. I haven’t mastered the less-is-more theory (I once had a baby blue hairnet to match my hat silk), and my indecisiveness inhibits me from ever narrowing it down to one, or even two colors (my hair is currently tri-color). I’ll let you know if I ever pin my look down. [My Favorite Color is Cross Country]
Video Break
It’s National Help a Horse Day today, the perfect day to talk about the official charity of Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023 – Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
If you’re at the event, make sure you stop by their booth at spot 28 where you’ll be able to check in all of your shopping bags – so you can do even more shopping.
This cinematic little video shows the impact of their research on ordinary horse folk like you and me. A gentle warning, it’s a bit emotional in the middle, but there’s a happy ending.
Before we (gleefully) bombard your feed with everything #LRK3DE the rest of this week, let’s take a look at something a little different for this afternoon’s video. Go fetch yourself a napkin, because you’re about to drool over this gallop track.
Nestled in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne, Australia is Cranbourne, home to the Cranbourne Racecourse and Cranbourne Training Complex. The Training Complex is the largest Thoroughbred training facility in the southern hemisphere, boasting numerous courses and tracks, a swimming pool and treadmills, and perhaps the most enviable thing of all: the sand hill gallop track. This gallop track is no ordinary gallop track. It winds through the Australian vegetation, up and down a hill, offering equine athletes (and riders alike, I’m sure) a welcome respite from galloping ’round in circles.
Now if you’re wondering why we don’t have anything like this in America (that this author knows of, at least!), let me explain why by way of a little natural history tangent. The Cranbourne Training Complex has the geology of Melbourne area to thank for this gem. The sand hills that characterize the region are a product of millions-year-old dune fields which existed around the same time as the last great Ice Age. The sand around Cranbourne (aptly named Cranbourne sand) was well sought after in the 1800s and mined for use in urbanizing the Melbourne area as as surface soil for lawns, playing fields, and golf courses. In fact the site of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, which borders the Cranbourne Training Complex directly to the south, was previously a sand mine until 1970. Cranbourne sand and the layers of other sands and soils underneath create a fantastically well-draining footing.
But I digress! Natural history not your thing? Just enjoy ride aboard “Ironpot” along with Max Keenan, exercise ride for Price Kent Racing, in all its scenic glory.
We’re all anxiously awaiting the start of the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event in just a few days. But while our attention has been on the 5* entry list, we’re also seeing an exciting roster for the jumpers in the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Competition will begin with a 1.45m Speed Class, scheduled to take place on Friday, April 28th after the completion of dressage for the 5* eventing competition, as well as the 1.60m Invitational Grand Prix on Saturday, April 29th.
Photo by FEI.
The jumpers are coming out in full force, with an impressive list coming to compete. Ten countries will be represented, with top riders, including numerous Olympians, vying for the top spot in Kentucky. 2022 Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix winner Conor Swail will be returning for a repeat, and we see Doug Payne wearing two hats this weekend, as he’s entered both in the 5*/4* event with Quantum Leap (Camarillo in the 4*) and the CSI3* with Quintessence.
You can view the whole entry list here, but some entries include:
– McLain Ward and Vins VD Tojopehoeve Z
– Rodrigo Pessoa and Quick Step
– Lauren Hough and Tamuin LS
– Will Simpson and Chacco P
– Aaron Vale and Obi Wan
– Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz
– Conor Swail and Casturano
– Karl Cook and Caillou 24
– Margie Goldstein-Engle and Dicas
– Mark Bluman and Ubiluc
– Daniel Bluman and Gemma W
– Doug Payne and Quintessence
If you’re still looking to purchase tickets, you still have the opportunity! Take a look at ticket options here, including for the Saturday Grand Prix here. If you’re unable to make it to Kentucky this year, check out live stream options available online.
It’s high time to check in on our favorite 4* and 5* combinations as they make their respective ways to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for a wee little horse show. Let’s dive right in to some social posts from arrivals at LRK3DE!
HSH Connor drops into the final water with Caroline Martin. Photo by Shelby Allen.
The young horse pathway has been one that Caroline Martin has followed to the letter with her up-and-coming horses, and it paid off this weekend as she won the CCI3*-L at the Ocala Festival of Eventing aboard the 7-year-old HSH Connor.
“I’m a huge fan of the young horse program. It’s great to have mile markers every year: As a 4-year-old your mile marker is to get to the 4-year-old Championship, the 5-year-old year getting him to that Championship. And then as a 6-year-old six year old, our goal was to get him to Le Lion, so our whole season is just around that one goal,” Caroline said, and that’s exactly how “Connor’s” career has progressed: He won the 2020 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast 4-Year-Old Championship, reserve champion as a 5-year-old the following year, and finally finished second place in the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding 6-year-old Championship last autumn.
“So this year, I’m trying to follow the same plan — do an early, long, given him a break, and then hopefully get him ready for Le Lion again in the fall,” she said.
Caroline’s business partner, Kelly Hutchinson talent spotted the Irish Sport Horse (Connor 48 — Galway Bay Merstona, by Mermus R) from the breeder, Justin Burke, before he made it over to Caroline in 2020. From the start Caroline says that Connor has been sharp with a mean spook, but he’s come out his 7-year-old year with those energies focused on the job.
“He would spin me off every day, stop at every single jump, spook at everything, but he’s always been incredibly talented. And so that still translates to him — even as a 7-year-old, but he’s definitely grown up a lot this year,” Caroline said. “Last year, when I’ve gotten back into work, he’d stop every time at any type of grid. This year, he’s jumping through grids on the first try. He’s jumping in and out of water. The horse is just so intelligent that you can’t you have to carefully explain stuff to him because he overthinks, but he’s been great this week, and everything felt super, super easy for him.”
HSH Connor and Luann McElduff share a cuddle at Ocala.
Connor won his class wire-to-wire, with his only fault being one second in the show jumping, to finish on a final score of 23.3, cheered throughout the weekend by his faithful supporters, but no one cheered louder than Luann McElduff who shares ownership of Connor with her daughter, Maddie, the rider and Sherrie Martin.
Jon Holling was second with Constance Holling and Team Rebecca’s Juczt My Style S. “Polo,” a 9-year-old KWPN (Ahorn — Sakura Hill Czola, by Alla’czar) who was bred in the U.S. by Sakira Hill Farm, finished on his dressage score of 27.1.
Leslie Law and Countess Cooley. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Also finishing on their dressage result (27.4) was third-placed Leslie Law aboard Countess Cooley, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Remiro B — Regular Eaton) owned by Craig McCallum.
Sharon White and Claus 63 tackle the tricky water complex on the 4*-S course. Photo by Shelby Allen.
While this event has run upper level competition since 2006, this year for the first time they hosted a CCI4*-S, which was topped by Sharon White and her own Claus 63.
Sharon has been thoughtfully bringing along the 11-year-old Holsteiner (Catoo x Tina II) after taking over the reins from Dirk Schrade several years ago, and their success this weekend is a well deserved feather in their cap as Sharon eyes even bigger future goals.
“There were some really good questions. And in the warmup, people were like, ‘Oh, they’re not reading the first water and do the option.’ But I’m gearing up towards bigger and better things, so I wanted to challenge him a bit. And he said, ‘No problem,’” Sharon told the U.S. Eventing Association.
Just three weeks out from the Tryon CCI4*-L next month, this event was perfectly scheduled as a final preparatory event, and Sharon was among many of the riders who applauded Organizer Emily Holmes and her team for putting it on.
“I really appreciate the organizers making the effort,” She said. “We’re just really grateful that they were willing to do it. I think anyone who wants to run an event deserves all the recognition. It’s a lot of work—whether you’re an organizer, an official, a competitor, or volunteer, I think we should all band together and give each other a high-five because we’re all in this together.”
Leslie Law and “the twins” Fernhill Lottery and Must Be Cooley. Photo via Lesley Grant-Law.
Leslie Law won first and second in the CCI2*-L with Fernhill Lottery and Must Be Cooley, respectively.
Jamie McAllister and Army Ranger. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Jamie McAllister piloted her own Army Ranger to win the Advanced division. The 11-year-old Thoroughbred stepped up to the Advanced level this spring, and delivered for Jamie this weekend, cruising around a technical cross country designed by Jay Hambly with 17.2 time penalties.
Well done to all for a great weekend at Ocala. Go eventing.
Want to feel deeply tired? Read about a day in the life of Laura Collett, who’s on the first of 15 or so horses by 6.45 a.m., and you’ll definitely be ready for a nap. It’s fascinating stuff, though, particularly the way her side job riding racehorses has made her a better eventer. [It’s all go go go]
The FEI Sports Forum is about to begin in Lausanne, Switzerland, and there’s plenty on the agenda. Paris 2024 prep, safety tech, and much more will be part of the meeting and forums, and you can watch along from home, too. [Here’s the info you need]
Whether they’re riding for the win in Kentucky or gaining valuable experience, communication with their horses is key. In his latest column for COTH, Kyle Carter reflects on the partnership required for success — and the need to be able to whisper. [It’s a good’un]
Tuning in from afar this week? Make sure you know when — and where — to watch, with our comprehensive live stream guide!
Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.
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We may be into Kentucky week already, but a CCI5* event has already happened in 2023!
This is unusual, as Kentucky usually marks the official start of the 5* season. However, due to schedule changes, it was decided that the sole Southern Hemisphere 5*, Adelaide International at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival, would run in April instead of its typical late-year date. This marked the first time the Australian 5* has been run since 2019; the event missed three consecutive runnings due to ongoing complications from the Covid-19 pandemic.
So it was a triumphant return to the city parklands of Adelaide — one of the most unique venues to be seen in the eventing community!
Taking the Freejump X’AIR SAFE for a spin. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
As a nurse who works in an Emergency Department, safety is my number one priority when shopping for any horse-related gear.
Equestrian sports, and eventing more specifically, comes with its share of inherent risk that rivals some of this country’s riskier leisure activities. That comes out to more “accidents per hour of sport compared with motorcycle riding, skiing and football” (Gates & Lin, 2020).
As an amateur rider, and even more importantly, an amateur rider who frequently finds myself at an array of distances from a fence (despite the heroic efforts of my talented horses), proper personal protection equipment (PPE) is key. The current research on equestrian sports shows that amateurs are far more likely to experience injury than our more experienced professional counterparts. One study said, “when injury rates were adjusted by hours spent in the saddle, experienced equestrians were injured less commonly than amateurs” (Gates & Lin, 2020).
While head trauma trumps as the most frequently occurring equestrian injury, studies have found that in high intensity riding, like racing and jumping, trauma to the chest or trunk is frequent, with one study citing rib fracture occurring in half of severely injured riders (Carmiachael, et al., 2014). And that’s where a vest can quite literally be a lifesaver. Rib fracture not only opens you up to collapsed lungs (hemo/pneumothorax) but also makes you a more likely candidate for pneumonia. Having seen my share of patients come through the ER with chest trauma, I don’t skimp when it comes to my own body protector.
Staying comfortable and breezy even on a sweltering day in Ocala, Florida. Photo by Ashley Greene.
After taking a few involuntary dismounts from my up-and-coming thoroughbred last year, a friend pushed me toward using an air vest. She shared that from her personal experience, the aches and pains associated with falls were reduced when she was wearing an air vest. In August of 2022, the French company FreeJump launched their first two-in-one protective vest and airbag, and after vetting it for several weeks I’m sold.
A combination vest, as opposed to a body protector + separate air bag, gives precise protection every time you zip it up. When I’ve used separate pieces, I found myself wondering if I had secured the airbag properly. Would it stay in place correctly? Did I fasten it tight enough for protection, but also loose enough so that I can breathe after it deploys? Though these are mostly unjustified ramblings of an anxiety-prone rider, I find I prefer the reliability and convenience of a combination vest.
In an independent test conducted by the French company CRITT Sport Loisirs (Regional Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer), the X’AIR SAFE had eight times better protection compared to a body protector alone, and four times better protection than a body protector with separate airbag on top when compared to other top brands.
A small size of the airbag deploys in 89 milliseconds, one of the fastest acting when compared to other top brands. In a sport where wins and accidents are decided in inches and seconds, that’s a safety net that’s irreplaceable to me.
As far as specs go, the X’AIR SAFE meets the EN 13 158: 2018 level 3 standard of the Eventing body protections for competition use, which makes it appropriate for USEF sanctioned competition, and the NF S72- 800-2022 standard for equestrian airbags. It’s of note that Freejump’s airbag technology in previous products was the first to be certified by the NF S72 800 2022 standard.
The airbags are integrated inside the body protector, padding around the spine and neck specifically, to give an ideal distribution of the airbag’s benefits. While there is still little research regarding airbags in equestrian sport, their use is growing, and in 2022 the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) for the first time ever recommended their use.
Testing out my range of motion in the X’AIR SAFE. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
While safety ratings and statistics are important, a cross country vest must also be functional because what use is a good vest if it doesn’t allow you to do your job as a rider? Freejump’s promise of a weight reduction of 20% was enticing, and in my opinion was delivered with this X’AIR SAFE. Historically, body protectors have been bulky and restricting in my experience, but I find the X’AIR SAFE to be very allowing. I am happily able to move my arms and torso without restriction.
The vest is constructed of laser cut pieces that include a dense outer foam layer and a more rubbery foam inner layer to provide shock distribution and absorption. That inner layer contains materials similar to what is seen in bulletproof vests. The first time I donned the X’AIR SAFE it was immediately obvious how light the vest was. It was a literal weight off my shoulders when I compared back and forth with my current body protector. This became even more obvious when I took it off and didn’t find my usual sports bra sauna — even when I tried it out on an 80 degree day in Ocala. The cordura-based military grade outer fabric is also a godsend for someone as accident prone and messy as I am. After bumbling several times in and out of my stall and trailer, the material still looks good as new.
Freejump has a pretty comprehensive size guide, so you’ll want to grab a friend to help you measure yourself. My measurements matched me with a size large. The body protector portion comes down right around my ribcage in the front aptly protecting my chest, ribs and all those visceral (lots of blood vessels!) organs like the liver and spleen, and the longer cut in the back reaches far enough to to cover into my lumbar spine. I also appreciate the elastic side adjustments. While my vest was a pretty perfect fit out of the box, it’s nice that you could make it a bit more snug if you preferred.
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
Another thing that won me over is FreeJump’s accountability to its products and its brand. Each and every airbag is produced at their own workshop in Bordeaux where every product individually undergoes its own inflation and triggering tests before being shipped to retailers. The results of these tests are filed away to match the vest’s specific serial number. This of course would be compared to batch testing. I find comfort in knowing that my specific vest underwent performance screening before it ever reached me.
The Freejump team really believes in its products which is evidenced by a warranty of up to four years from purchase date – much longer than the average for this industry.
After nearly two months of trial, the X’AIR SAFE has now become my go-to safety vest. The level of protection paired with its comfort and breathability exceeds my requirements to leave the startbox.
You can check out the X’AIR SAFE for yourself through one of Freejump’sretailers or learn more on their website.
References
Carmichael SP 2nd, Davenport DL, Kearney PA, Bernard AC. On and off the horse: mechanisms and patterns of injury in mounted and unmounted equestrians. Injury. 2014 Sep;45(9):1479-83. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2014.03.016. Epub 2014 Apr 1. PMID: 24767580; PMCID: PMC4125461.
Gates JK, Lin CY. Head and Spinal Injuries in Equestrian Sports: Update on Epidemiology, Clinical Outcomes, and Injury Prevention. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020 Jan;19(1):17-23. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000674. PMID: 31913919.
