Vest Watch

Awareness of the outside world. “Another way of putting this is that, for huge swathes of the American population, essentially all of the gains in life expectancy for the population as a whole over the past generation have been driven by big gains among the relatively well off, while the poor, the working class, and even much of the middle class have seen either tiny gains, or actual declines … Consider these kinds of statistics the next time the sane moderate responsible Republican alternative to Donald Trump starts talking about how we need to raise the Social Security retirement age because ‘people’ are living so much longer these days.” Lawyers, Guns & Money: The cost of income inequality. Campos. November 28, 2023.

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In the spirit of Helmet Watch.

Show jumper Peter Petschenig wore a safety vest in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup – North American League CSI4*-W, Las Vegas, NV, held 18 November 2023, broadcast later.

I think.

It was black and close fitting, blending into his black jacket. Definitely not your average XC vest. [Rodney Tests The Vest]

I can’t find a confirmation photo from that class.

However, surfing turned up a Facebook photo of one of his students with a vest. Obvious due to black vest over a contrasting light blue jacket.

More surfing turned up the fact that vests in show jumping are becoming a thing. Not sure if the vests are regular or inflatable or if both are being used.

Equi.Lifestyle: Safety vests: “Absolutely no reason not to wear them”. Editorial. 2022. The person quoted is Karen Oris of OK Stables in Belgium. More a thing in Europe that in the US?

Kaval offers Airbag Jackets.

Questions

1) Why not?

2) Do vests actually help? The data is weak here. As in, maybe yes, maybe no. We don’t know.

3) If vests become common, how long will jackets last? Maybe it’s time to leave behind Ye Olde Foxhunting Attire and move into the 21st century. Gasp. Clutch the pearls.

In other news, an explanation of the letters. Equestrian Life: Showjumping: Know your C’s. So the CSI4*-W is a Concours de Saut International, meaning FEI rules, four-star, World Cup event.

Onwards!
Katherine