For those not familiar with what Risk is talking about
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Oliver Townend takes a serious spill at the cross country jump known as The Hollow. He was air lifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital. He was knocked unconscious and suffers from fractured ribs and collar bone, sidelined from riding for 21 days, but credits his air vest from any further serious injury.
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Here's a look at several of these newest vest inventions:
Point-Two Air Jackets - The vest uses a gas canister to inflate in less than 0.2 seconds, hence the name. The vest inflates when a rip-cord attached to the saddle pulls free from the vest, presumably during a fall. However, the vest inflates inward very rapidly and tightly and can knock the breath out of you - similar to that of an airbag in your car. The cost for the Point-Two Air Jacket is around $750 and $22 for replacement gas canisters.
The Hit-Air Shock Buffering System is a vest that inflates outward when a rider takes a fall, thus protecting the neck, back, chest, sides and hips more efficiently. The deployment time for the air bag is .5 seconds. The cost for this system is half of the Point-Two Air Jacket.
Both systems utilize a rip cord attached to the saddle and, if not detached, can cause you to inflate while dismounting! Also, both are not certified for use alone and must be worn over the conventional safety vest.
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I've not yet seen anyone on the race track wearing one of these in the mornings - but wow, they would help, afternoon, too - won't fit under silks, though, if they go off would ruin the silks/hurt rider. They would definitely need a longer "trip" cord.
http://www.air-vest.com/
http://pointtwousa.com/