Measuring accurately for your safety equipment is critically important. Here are the measurements needed and the instructions for measurement for equestrian air vests, body protectors, and helmets.

Air Vests

Measurements needed for an equestrian air vest include:

• Height
• Weight
• Chest at the widest point
• Waist at narrowest point
• Hips just below the beltline
• Back - measure from the base of your C7 vertebra, which is the vertebra that sticks out at the base of your neck, down to your SI joint, which is the dimple above your butt crack (sorry, no elegant way to say that). This should estimate one hand-width between the bottom of the vest and the base of your saddle.

Body Protectors

Measurements needed for an equestrian body protector include:

• Height
• Chest at widest point
• Waist starting an inch or so below your last rib on the front
• Over the shoulder, measured from the point that you took your waist measurement, over your shoulder, to the same level on your back
• Back, measuring from the base of C7, which is the vertebra that sticks out at the base of your neck, down to your SI joint, which is the dimple above your rear crevice. With this measurement, we're trying to get to one hand width between the seat of your saddle and the base of the vest. If you can take the measurement while sitting in a saddle, that's ideal. If you take it while sitting in a chair, then you'll want to use 1 1/2 hand widths because your saddle slopes upwards from the cantle while your chair doesn't.

Helmets

How to measure for a horseback riding helmet