Body Protectors & Visibility

Are you looking for a riding safety vest for kids, women or men? Then you've come to the right place. Here at Unamari you'll find all Equipage equestrian safety vests and back protectors in several different models and sizes. All are approved according to the current safety certifications, so you can safely shop safety riding vest here in the shop.

Riding safety vest or back protector?

When you need to find a safety vest for riding, you may have noticed that they are called both riding safety vest, jumping vest, back protector, body protector and back shield for riding. Roughly, they can be divided into two categories, namely safety vests with slats of shock-absorbing foam, or back protectors with sheets of a thinner type of shock-absorbing foam.

There are differences in both the look, the feel of wearing them and not least the safety they provide and the safety certifications they each have.

What is called a true safety vest is the type of riding vest that has its shock-absorbing padding in slats both at the back and front of the rider. The foam in the slats is usually EVA foam or PU foam, which is the strongest and most effective shock-absorbing and impact-reducing padding in safety vests. Logically, it's also the thickest, which means that some may find it a little compact to wear while riding. Nevertheless, it is the vest that offers your body the best protection.

Back protector safety vests always have padding on the back of the vest to protect the spine, but they can also have padding on the front. A back protector has a thinner and more flexible and shock-absorbing type of padding than the slatted safety vests. For example, it can be PVC Impact Foam. This is a type of foam that molds more closely to the body and is thinner than a slatted safety vest. Some people therefore find back protectors more comfortable and that you have more freedom of movement with this type of safety vest. On the other hand, it is not quite as shock-absorbing and protective as the lamella vest and is also safety certified at a lower level.

Unamari's range of back protectors are padded both front and back and are safety approved with the certification CE EN 1621-2: 2014 Level 2. This means that they are approved for juniors under the age of 18 to jump with them for show jumping, but the certification is not approved for the cross-country part of military.

Safety vests for riding - all disciplines

At Unamari you can always find the optimal protection for all your riding disciplines. Our safety vests are produced in a shock-absorbing material, so you are better protected against dangerous injuries in case of an accident. A safety vest for riding is always good to use no matter how experienced you are and we have the right safety vest for you. See the full range right here on this page.

What's the difference between a back protector and a back shield for riding?

Originally a back shield is a protective plate that protects the spine and they are also used in skiing, cycling and by motorcyclists. They can either be made of a solid material like a regular shield, or of shock-absorbing foam. In equestrian sports, back shields and back protectors are often used synonymously and are one and the same.

This is certainly the case when we talk about safety-approved back shields and back protectors. For equestrian sports, there are no fixed shields that are approved. If you search for "back shield riding" you'll find that they can either have shock-absorbing foam front and back along the back, or only along the back. It's almost in the name that a back shield's primary function is to protect the spine, but they can also provide front protection for ribs and collarbones if they are padded with shock-absorbing foam at the front.

If you want to use a back shield or back protector as a safety vest, you should be aware that safety-approved back shields have a lower safety approval and may not be used for the cross-country part in military. If you are considering a back protector for children, back protectors with safety certification EN 1621-2: 2014 (Level 2) are approved for children under the age of 18 for show jumping in both clubs and competitions. Whether you choose a safety vest approved at Level 2 or 3 is up to the individual, as long as it is safety approved with one of the applicable certifications.

The models Unamari carries are called back protectors and they are all padded at the front as well.

What is a jumping vest?

The term jumping vest is used for safety vests for riding in general. As such, a jumping vest can cover both safety vests and back protectors. The term jumping vest probably comes from the fact that safety vests have been most commonly used for jumping. Today, riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a safety vest when jumping and it is also recommended for adults.

There are a number of riding safety vests with slats and back protectors that are safety approved for use during jumping in riding clubs and at competitions under the Danish Equestrian Federation, so in that sense, jumping vest and safety vest can be used synonymously. However, not all safety vests and back protectors have the applicable safety certification or provide the same level of protection.

It is your responsibility as a rider, or parent of a rider, to ensure that the jumping vest you use is labeled with the applicable safety certification. We explain which ones to look for a little further down this page.

Safety riding vest for children

Many people choose to make sure their children always wear a safety riding vest when riding and being around horses - with good reason. A safety riding vest can make a big difference to how badly you get hurt if an accident occurs. But which one should you choose?

A safety riding vest is only mandatory riding gear when your child is jumping, but can be a great idea to wear at all sorts of other times too. For many parents, it goes without saying that "safety riding vests for kids" are inextricably linked.

Here is some information you can weigh up for yourself to help you choose a safety riding vest for your child.

• The safety riding vests that provide the highest safety are safety vests with slats, and this type of safety riding vest is often recommended for children.
• A slatted safety riding vest is heavy-duty and very shock-absorbing in its padding, and it may feel a little more cumbersome to move around in it.
• A back protector is a different type, thinner and more flexible safety vest, but it doesn't provide the same level of protection.
• In riding, a back protector for children is typically the same as a back protector. Please note that the back protector must be safety approved to be used for jumping.
• The right size and fit of the model is crucial to the level of safety provided by the safety vest.
• The safest safety vest is the one your child actually wears and feels comfortable in.

Safety vest riding adult

Adult safety vests are only required by the Danish Equestrian Federation during the cross-country part of military, but are generally recommended during jumping. Extra safety and looking after yourself is a good idea at all times. Even the most experienced riders fall off and can potentially get injured.

Many adult riders choose to use a safety vest when riding young horses, nervous or anxious horses, when trail riding and when jumping. But there are also adult riders who use a safety vest or back protector on a daily basis as a routine as putting on a riding helmet.

How do you know if a safety vest for riding is approved?

A safety vest for riding must be approved with current safety certification to be used for jumping by junior riders under 18 and for eventing. The safety certification is a label sewn into your vest that must state CE EN 13158: 2018 or 2023, or CE EN 1621-2: 2014.

The safety label is typically located on the neck of your riding safety vest. The two certifications CE EN 13158: 2018 and 2023 are approved for both show jumping and eventing, while CE EN 1621-2:2014 is not approved for the cross-country part of eventing. The actual safety certification is the one that starts with "EN", but the CE mark means that the product's materials comply with the applicable safety, health and environmental protection framework in Europe.

You can read more about the current safety approved equipment on Dansk Ridebund website. Safety certification with the current labels means that the riding equipment has been tested with standardized tests and passed the eye of the needle, and is approved for sale and safe use in Europe. Only the applicable safety approvals are accepted by the Danish Equestrian Federation.

In addition to the safety approval itself and the indication of the individual certification, there are also 3 levels of safety: Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1.

Level 3 is the highest level of safety, considered suitable for jumping, eventing and other risky elements of equestrian sport where maximum protection is either required or recommended.

Level 2 provides a lower level of safety but is approved under DRF. A safety vest labeled Level 2 is suitable for everyday use and protects the rider in low risk situations.

Level 1 is the lowest level of safety, which does not meet the DRF requirements for a safety approved safety vest.

You can read more about BETA's safety levels here. BETA is the British standard for safety approval of equestrian equipment, and their development safety ranking of safety vests and back protectors in levels is also used in the EU.

How should the safety riding vest fit? Find the right size and fit

For a safety vest or back protector to provide optimal safety, it must fit correctly. This means it should fit snugly and not be too big. The safety vest should cover from the lower part of the neck down to the lower back. At the front, it should at least cover the collarbones and ribs.

A riding safety vest should not be too big or too long. It should be snug but not tight, regardless of whether the rider is an adult or a child who is still growing. If the riding vest is too big, it can move on the body and be pushed upwards by the saddle, for example, and then it will not protect properly.

To find the right size and model, you can ally yourself with a tape measure and follow the size guides listed under the safety vests on this site.

If you're buying a back protector or body protector, you need to know the measurement from shoulder to waist, and the measurement above the widest part of the chest and the waist measurement of the rider.

If it's a slatted safety vest, you need to know the rider's full height and the measurement from the rider's shoulder to waist.

Riding safety vests: Unamari has what you need

Whether you are looking for a safety vest or a back protector, we have what you are looking for. Safety vest for women's horseback riding? Check it out! Safety vest kids riding? Check it out! Riding safety vest kids? Also check! Remember that you can filter on this page so that you only see items that match what you are looking for.