Equestrian Air Vests

ARRO Equestrian Air Vest - available late August 2026

Designed for riders seeking an additional layer of protection during equestrian activities.

The ARRO Equestrian Air Vest is an inflatable protective vest designed to rapidly inflate when sufficient separation occurs between the rider and the saddle during a fall.

Certified to NF S72-800:2022, the ARRO Air Vest is designed to help reduce the severity of certain mechanical impacts to the rider by providing rapid inflatable protection around covered areas of the upper body.

A mechanical lanyard connects the vest to the saddle. If a fall causes sufficient rider–saddle separation, the lanyard activates the trigger system, releasing the CO₂ cartridge and inflating the internal airbags in approximately 0.3 seconds.

Once inflated, the vest is designed to provide additional cushioning and protection around the neck, spine, torso and other covered areas.

The lightweight design allows freedom of movement while riding and is intended to be worn over normal close-fitting riding clothing.

After deployment, the CO₂ cartridge must be replaced and the activation system correctly reset before the vest can be used again.

Key Features

• Certified to NF S72-800:2022
• Mechanical lanyard activation system
• Designed to inflate in approximately 0.3 seconds
• Inflatable protection around covered areas of the neck, spine and torso
• Lightweight construction designed for riding comfort and freedom of movement
• Adjustable fit
• Reusable after deployment
• Replaceable ARRO CO₂ cartridge system
• Suitable for a wide range of equestrian activities*
• Designed for use with compatible ARRO riding jackets

Before You Buy – Important

Please check the following requirements before purchasing:

• Minimum rider weight: 40 kg / 88 lb
• Minimum horse height at the withers: 150 cm / 59 in / approximately 14.3 hands
• The rider must fall within the measurements specified for the selected vest size
• The vest must be connected to a correctly fitted ARRO saddle strap when riding
• The system is not suitable for bareback riding
• The vest will not activate in every type of fall
• Riders must read and follow the ARRO Equestrian Air Vest User Manual before use

Minimum Rider Weight

The rider must weigh at least 40 kg / 88 lb.

Do not use this air vest if the rider is below the stated minimum weight. The mechanical trigger requires sufficient force to activate and lighter riders may not generate sufficient force for reliable triggering.

Minimum Horse Height

The current ARRO Air Vest system is designed for use on horses measuring at least:

150 cm / 59 in / approximately 14.3 hands at the withers.

Do not use this model on horses or ponies below the stated minimum height.

Medium Size Guide

Measure while wearing a lightweight T-shirt or close-fitting riding top.

Medium size only (S & L sizes available late 2026)

Chest/Bust: 85–90 cm / 33.5–35.4 in

• Waist: 80–90 cm / 31.5–35.4 in
• Hips: 90–100 cm / 35.4–39.4 in
• Shoulder to Waist: 32 cm / 12.6 in
• Minimum Rider Weight: 40 kg / 88 lb
• CO₂ Cartridge: 60 cc / 45 g

Correct sizing and fit are essential for the vest to function as designed.

The vest should close easily over your normal riding clothing and must not be fitted so tightly that inflation could be restricted.

If you are unsure about sizing or fit, please contact ARRO before ordering.

How the Air Vest Works

The ARRO Air Vest uses a mechanical lanyard system.

An ARRO saddle strap is fitted securely around the saddle's stirrup bars. The rider's lanyard connects the air vest to the central attachment point on this saddle strap.

When the rider is separated sufficiently from the saddle during a fall, tension on the lanyard removes the trigger key-ball. This activates the firing mechanism, pierces the CO₂ cartridge and rapidly inflates the internal airbags.

The vest must be correctly connected to the saddle for the activation system to operate.

Do not attach the lanyard directly to saddle D-rings or other decorative or potentially weak attachment points.

Use only the ARRO saddle strap and lanyard supplied or approved for use with this air vest.

Important – The Vest Will Not Activate in Every Fall

The ARRO Air Vest requires sufficient separation between the rider and the saddle to activate the mechanical trigger.

The vest may therefore not deploy in every fall.

In some situations — including certain rotational falls, falls where the horse and rider fall together, slips, or situations where the rider remains close to or entangled with the horse or saddle — sufficient separation may not occur before impact and the vest may not activate or may not fully inflate before impact.

If the rider is not connected to the saddle, the vest cannot activate.

Protection is provided only when the vest correctly activates and the airbags inflate.

Use With Equestrian Riding Jackets

The ARRO Air Vest expands rapidly when activated and is normally designed to be worn on the outside of your normal riding clothing.

Do not wear a standard, fitted or restrictive jacket over the air vest.

A conventional outer jacket may restrict the air vest from fully inflating, which could reduce the protection provided by the vest and may also damage the jacket.

If you want to wear a riding jacket over the air vest, use only a jacket specifically designed to accommodate the expansion of an equestrian air vest.

We recommend using ARRO Air Vest Compatible Riding Jackets or other jackets specifically approved by ARRO for use over the ARRO Air Vest.

ARRO-compatible jackets are designed to provide sufficient expansion space for the air vest to inflate.

Always ensure there is sufficient room for the air vest to fully inflate and follow the compatibility and fitting instructions in the ARRO User Manual.

Use With Body Protectors

An air vest does not replace an approved body protector where a body protector is required by the rules of a competition, discipline or governing body.

Where a body protector is required, the ARRO Equestrian Air Vest should be worn over a compatible approved body protector and in accordance with the applicable competition rules.

Always check the rules applying to your event or discipline before competing.

Important Safety Information

Horse riding, handling horses and all equestrian activities involve inherent risks of serious injury, paralysis or death.

No helmet, body protector, air vest or other item of protective equipment can prevent all injuries or eliminate the risks associated with equestrian activities.

The ARRO Equestrian Air Vest is designed to help reduce the severity of certain mechanical impacts in some fall scenarios when:

• the vest is correctly sized and fitted;
• the vest is correctly worn and securely fastened;
• the correct ARRO CO₂ cartridge is installed;
• the vest is correctly connected to the saddle using the ARRO saddle strap and lanyard;
• sufficient rider–saddle separation occurs to activate the system; and
• the airbag fully inflates in time.

The vest does not guarantee protection against injury and cannot protect against every impact, fall or circumstance.

It cannot guarantee prevention of death, spinal injury, neck injury, internal injury, crush injury, paralysis or other serious harm.

The vest protects only those parts of the body covered by the inflated airbags.

If a horse falls or rolls onto the rider, the airbags may be crushed, punctured or damaged.

Sharp or hard objects may also damage the airbags. Do not carry keys, tools, brushes or other hard or sharp objects in pockets underneath or over the vest where they may interfere with inflation.

Before Every Ride

Before riding:

• Check that the vest is the correct size and is correctly fitted
• Check that the vest closes correctly
• Inspect the outer material, stitching and airbags for signs of damage
• Inspect the trigger mechanism
• Check the ARRO lanyard and saddle strap for damage or wear
• Confirm the correct ARRO CO₂ cartridge is installed securely
• Ensure the cartridge has not already been activated or pierced
• Ensure the ARRO saddle strap is correctly fitted over both stirrup bars
• Connect the lanyard only after mounting and being correctly seated in the saddle

Always disconnect the lanyard before dismounting to avoid accidental inflation.

After Deployment

After the vest has inflated:

• Do not ride again until the vest has been correctly reset
• Remove the used CO₂ cartridge
• Reset the trigger mechanism in accordance with the User Manual
• Install a new ARRO-approved CO₂ cartridge of the correct capacity
• Inspect the vest, lanyard and saddle strap for damage before reuse

A deployed CO₂ cartridge is single-use and must not be reused.

Use only ARRO-approved replacement cartridges of the size specified for your vest.

Care and Storage

To help maintain the vest in good condition:

• Wipe clean using a damp cloth and mild soap only
• Do not machine wash
• Do not dry-clean
• Do not tumble dry
• Do not iron
• Do not use bleach, solvents or petrol-based cleaners
• Do not immerse the trigger mechanism
• Store hanging on a suitable hanger
• Do not fold or crush the vest
• Keep the vest and CO₂ cartridges away from children and pets
• Keep away from sharp objects
• Do not leave the vest or cartridges exposed to excessive heat

Please Read the User Manual

The information on this page is a summary only and does not replace the ARRO Equestrian Air Vest User Manual, Safety Instructions and Legal Notes.

The complete User Manual must be read before using the air vest for the first time.

Correct fitting, connection, inspection, maintenance and use are essential for the system to function as designed.

Competition rules and air vest requirements vary between disciplines, organisations and jurisdictions. Riders are responsible for checking the rules applicable to their riding activity or event.