It’s easy to be fearless when you’re young; it feels like a right of passage to hit the dirt, dust yourself off, get back on the horse and try it again. Fast forward to your Adult Ammy years; now you have a job, a mortgage, and would probably rather spend your vacation time on a sandy beach than on your couch realizing just how much more the ground HURTS these days.
Wearing a helmet is common practice in a growing number of disciplines and barns, especially now that we have so many irrefutable studies about concussion/TBI, so why isn’t it common practice to wear a body protector as well? Whether you are schooling a jump course, hacking out/trail riding, putting the first rides on a young horse, or a myriad of the other potentially dangerous activities that we take for granted daily as Equestrians, why is it that fashion is so often lauded over safety?
This is a conversation that I have been having with different riders for a while now, and I decided it was time to start protecting my whole body, not just my melon. I often ride alone, and tend to be the one out schooling a green bean, so it just didn’t make sense that I wasn’t protecting myself to the best of my ability. Now for the fun part; shopping time. I am an obsessive researcher, but with so many different styles of vests on the market, I needed a little help. I started asking some Eventing friends what vest they wore, and what they loved about it. Through numerous conversations and trips around the internet, I decided to take the Ovation® Comfortflex Protector for a spin.
Why did I choose this particular vest? It ticked all of the boxes for me:
- Attractive
- Comfortable
- Adjustable for a perfect fit
- Safety Certified (SEI-ASTM , CE level 3 Certified and Beta Level 3)
- Eventer Approved
- Affordable: MSRP $165.00 (Don’t mistake this with cheap, it is a high-quality item with an economy price tag, making it a great choice for any level of rider.)
Whether you are an Eventer shopping for a new vest, an exercise rider, or a safety-conscious equestrian who would like a boost of confidence on your next ride, the Ovation® Comfortflex Protector should have a place high on your list.
