Let me welcome my newest
sponsor Air vest to the team
I am so excited to be
working with Air vest, ever since my horse riding accident exactly 3 yrs. ago
I’ve often wondered what the outcome would have been if I had been wearing an
air jacket that day?? I was wearing a Airowear body protector which I had
bought from new and had it fitted to me, so I was happy knowing I was wearing a
BETA safety standard jacket. I did
actually break 5 ribs as well as my back (vertrabra from T11-L2) but I am sure
if I hadn’t been wearing anything it could have been a lot worse having half a
tonne land on top of you!! I have also questioned if an air jacket would have
been activated in the case of my accident as I actually didn’t leave the
saddle. The Horse went up and over backwards and I stayed sat in the saddle and
had the full weight on top of me. Most air jackets are designed to activate
when the lanyard is pulled away from the saddle. As I didn’t leave mine I question
this too???
When I got back into the
saddle I got thinking about the importance of protecting the top half of my
body, as obviously I didn’t want to end up with another spinal injury higher up
if I was to fall off again. I went out straight away and bought an air jacket
for my daughter to wear, and I now feel it’s really important to wear even when
just hacking or riding at home. Accidents happen when we least expect it, and
my daughter Stella is been educated with first-hand experience to the
complications of such a horrific life changing injury. Stella wears her body
protector all the time when she rides.
I have been doing lots of
research and Internet stalking into watching Para riders and different designs
of air jackets. I have noticed when many
individuals ride/compete they don’t wear a body protector or air jacket. I have
heard people say “they are bulky and uncomfortable” and “feel’s quite
restricting”. When I hear people say stupid comments I often roll my eyes and
think, I wonder how they would feel if they ended up in hospital for 6-12 months
with a life changing injuries and was paralysed from the waist down, with no
ability to manage their bladder and bowel and ever walk again!!! No one ever
thinks these things are going to happen to them, well I know I didn’t.
So I go back to my work with
the leg up for talent program and decide that I only really want to work with
sponsors who are going to benefit me, help me and relate to what I am
interested in. I have worked with Dolphin Mobility who has supplied 2 hoists
one which is fitted to the back of the lorry and one by the arena. Neurokinex
are a specialist rehabilitation centre where I go once a week and the benefits
of going there are wonderful. The team at Neurokinex have been out to the yard
to watch me ride Flynn and in the gym we do exercises that work on strengthen
my core and balance specifically for when I’m in the saddle.
Beth Miller BHSII is my 3rd
sponsor and has been exceptionally supportive to me over the past 3 years. I
have known Beth for about 8 years when she uses to give my daughter lessons and
help us out with a youngster pony I bought! We have come a long way over this time
and developed a great friendship. Beth owns Super Flynn the Para pony, well he
isn’t really a para pony, but he is such a good boy and can turn his hooves to
anything. Flynn has helped me gain confidence and got me back in the saddle. I
waited till 18 months post injury and it’s been harder than I thought but none
of it would have been possible without Beth’s motivation and guidance for which
I am really appreciative.
I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing
people through SSIT (southern spinal injuries trust) The SSIT have been
supportive in helping fund the second lift for the rider hoist and more
recently a bespoke dressage saddle. They have donated me items which have been
life changing for me and they will never understand how much this has helped me
with my mental health needs and physical needs which have been life changing
for me. I hope they know how much this has helped me cope with my injury. I
can’t thank them enough. So I am privileged to be able to work with all these
individuals and companies. I see it that they are all part of a para team and
working towards my goal and on my journey with me.
Earlier I mentioned that I wanted to work with a company whose products are designed with safety in mind. With the spinal injuries trust being on board I would like all my sponsors to overlap. I would really like to work on awareness and prevention of injury. It would mean the world to me to work with great products that I potentially can advertise as preventing serious injury such as mine. If only a few individuals invest in a Helite air vest and it saves them in an accident scenario that would be amazing.
When I was a patient in the Salisbury spinal unit I met a lot of young lads who also had horrific spinal injuries from riding motor cross bikes. Motor cross is also classed as an extreme sport, high risk of injury just like riding; many of the young lads who had injuries were not wearing air jacket protection at the time and didn’t wear anything like an air vest. I am a firm believer that my newest sponsor Air vest/Helite can be instrumental in helping equestrian, motor cross sport and motor cycles riders remain safer. I can’t wait to start my weekly lifestyle posts advertising air vest products as I feel a real passion about helping prevent injury. My 25 year career in nursing also gives me an interest in prevention rather than cure as it’s always easier to stop something happening than deal with some horrific injuries with major complications.
The company supply protective
vests and Helite jackets for motor cycle commuters. As a commuter you will be
experiencing high volumes of unpredictable traffic on a daily basis. If you’re commuting In a 3 year period in the UK
you are 70% at risk of serious injury. Helite combines style and safety. Air
jacket technology works if you fall off the motor bike, the lanyard will pull
out the bearing from the trigger mechanism and release the CO2 from your
canister into the air vest to fully inflate in 0.094 seconds. The rapid inflation
of your vest will straighten your spine and significantly reduce your ability
to roll your helmet in a sideways and backwards direction. Your upper torso
will be held ridged; it’s during the initial few seconds that the most damage
is done. They also have a range of Jackets for touring bikes and motor bike
racing.
They have a great range of
air vests for the equestrian rider. This is why I love this product. The
original air vest is one of Helite’s most popular models due to its versatility.
The comfortable lightweight vest is available in a variety of colours including
high viz for the safety conscious rider. The vest is designed to slip on over
the top of your normal riding wear, and the easy adjustable fasting’s enable
you to alter the jacket quickly and ensure a great fit. This vest is CE certified
and has a removable back protector providing protection to the neck, spine,
pelvis and vital organs, this particular vest is a great all-rounder.
Another equestrian alternative
is the Air shell range, these also combine safety, comfort and style. The
fabric is windproof, showerproof and the stretch allows for outward expansion.
The top outer blouson is frequently used as a standalone show jacket, breaking
in youngsters, out hunting, and just generally a great option for everyday use.
The particular vest has been approved by British Dressage and British Show jumping
for use in the ring as well as British Eventing for use in the show jumping and
dressage phases in competitions. This also works well with inter changeable
gilet, for a spare or alternative colour. If you need a show jacket they have
these also, all able to zip on and off with the air shell range. This style is
my favourite as it can be worn when just schooling and everyday riding and
doesn’t even look like you’re wearing a bulky air jacket.
The latest one to be added
to the range is the Turtle Equestrian air vest, these new designs have been CE
certified and have the back protector placed on the outside of the airbag, and
a shock resistant outer material which acts like a turtle shell. It has similar
design to a helmet, hard layers on the outside and soft material on the inside.
This could come in handy if you were out on the x-country course and had a fall
onto any small sharp protruding objects a must for the most safety concise
rider.
I am generally so happy to
be supported by a company who wants to take safety prevention forward and campaign
for air vests to be compulsory in the equestrian competitive field. I am hoping
also to help support this company through my lifestyle posts on leg up for talent
program and publish awareness through my blog. Please support me by following my post and reading about my para journey.
