How do you know what's best for your child rider in terms of a body protector or air vest?
There are many factors that go into this decision, but the bottom line is that kids are just more resilient than adults are. One of the first considerations is the child's weight. They have to be heavy enough to activate the trigger of an air vest so that they don't get dragged. Of course, the vest also needs to fit appropriately. If a child is too small to fill out a vest then it's not the right thing for them.The third thing to consider is how tall the pony is that the rider is actually riding. They need to have enough room to fall, have the vest trigger, and fully inflate before they hit the ground.
You also want to think about the maturity of the child and the environment that they're gonna be riding in. Is there always going to be an adult there reminding them to unclip, or are they mature enough to remember that themselves? You also have to think about who is going to be present to reset the vest in the event of a fall. To me, a body protector is never a bad idea, but you definitely want to think about all of these considerations before making a final decision about if your child is ready for an air vest.
Need help making a decision for your child? Contact us for help.
