We’ve all come across those old photos in equestrian albums, where riders wear breeches with an elastic strap under the foot, no chaps, and a velvet helmet… without a chin strap. Helmets meeting today’s safety standards weren’t always common in riding clubs or at competitions! Yet, in the ranking of high-risk sports, horse riding ranks 10th in accident frequency and 3rd in severity (Source: L’Eperon.fr).
Aware of these risks, the general public now pays much more attention to rider safety, wearing a helmet almost systematically and increasingly using body protectors, rigid vests, and airbags.
What does the law currently say about helmet use? Where does the individual airbag, now rapidly growing in popularity, come from? We did some research to enrich your knowledge on the topic…
CURRENT LAW & HELMET USE: Rider Safety
Surprisingly, in its section on safety measures in riding centers and private stables, the French Sports Code does not explicitly require wearing a helmet for horse riding. Article A322-127 only specifies that the condition of equipment, saddlery, and tack must not endanger the safety of riders or the health of the horse. A duty of care is therefore mentioned at a minimum… In riding schools and stables, internal rules must require riders to wear helmets. They also have other obligations, including informing their clients!
Since 2003, establishments are required to recommend helmet use. Displaying this recommendation is highly advised (in addition to including it in the mandatory internal rules). It was only in 2013 that this recommendation became a requirement; in other words, while the law does not mandate riders to wear a helmet, the club itself must enforce it in its internal regulations… It’s all a matter of responsibility! Following along?
Riding centers must also provide helmets in good condition, suited to the participants' sizes, and take all measures to prevent accidents (Sports Code Article A322).
Currently, debates are ongoing about standardizing horse riding helmet regulations across Europe, and not all EU countries agree... The current standard is NF EN 1384 (the “3-point” helmet: shell, flexible visor, and neck protection).
THE BEGINNING OF A BIG MOVEMENT: RIDER AIRBAGS
Looking back at its origins, the first airbag patent dates to 1953 in aviation. In the late 1950s, Ford and General Motors experimented with inflatable cushion restraint devices, and in 1973, an airbag was installed in a car for the first time. The airbags we know in cars today were introduced by Mercedes in the 1980s…
How did airbags transition to individual use in sports? Through motorcycles, of course!
Airbags in Sports
In 1995, the Japanese manufacturer Mugen Denko adapted the airbag system for motorcycles. It was improved year after year until 2006, when the first individual CE-certified airbag was released. Originally designed for motorcyclist safety, its use extended to skiing and horse riding—sports where falls can be severe. In MotoGP, airbags became mandatory in March 2018. In Ski Cross, eight nations equipped their World Cup athletes with them—half of all competitors!
In response to demand from the equestrian community, companies selling motorcycle airbags began diversifying into horse riding. Rider airbags for arenas, stables, and competition grounds have been gradually democratized since the late 2000s.
On our side, we aimed to make this rider airbag as unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing as possible. We tested existing systems, gathered feedback from athletes familiar with airbag vests, and collaborated with a specialist: In&motion, a French company specializing in integrated airbag systems for motorcyclists and skiers. Our experience with innovative fabrics allowed us to replace rigid textiles with flexible, breathable materials. This led to the model we’ve been marketing since June 2017!
Just like in MotoGP and skiing, professional riders guided us in finalizing the product. Their advice can be summarized in one phrase: “Good protection works best when it protects without being intrusive the rest of the time.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Since 2014, In&Motion has been developing a skier airbag that deploys automatically upon detecting a fall. No cables to connect! An algorithm detects unusual skier movement and triggers the airbag before impact. This system has been sold in partnership with POC and Rossignol since July 2016.
With the development of autonomous technology, we can expect it to arrive soon in the equestrian world… Ready, Pilots?
The airbag is now invisible and fits perfectly under a wide range of clothing: jackets, coats, bombers, and training vests. This is not trivial: our new airbag is the first adapted to the new standards specifically created for riders: NF S72-800:2022!
