equestrian body protector
DESCRIPTION
A new system for cross country riding body protection, aimed to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with the sportTRANSCRIPT
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EQUESTRIAN BODY PROTECTION SYSTEM
K A R E N D I T K O | V I R G I N I A T E C H T H I R D Y E A R I N D U S T R I A L D E S I G N | F A L L 2 0 1 0
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To develop a body protection system for cross country riders that provides the maximum level of protection with minimal weight and size
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What is cross country?
Cross country is the second phase of the equestrian competition called a three-day event or horse trials. It contains up to 40 obstacles that are made of solid natural materials, such as logs and stones. These obstacles can be up to four feet tall and nearly nine feet wide at the base and six feet wide at the top. In addition there are ditches up to twelve feet wide, drops up to six and a half feet deep and water hazards interspersed between the obstacles. These jumps, ditches and drops are designed to test the horse and rider’s endurance both physically and mentally, with many fences being designed as optical illusions or positioned in a way so the horse and rider cannot see what is on the other side until they are over the jump.
Introduction
Research
Trend Studies
Materials
Ideation
Final Design
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Why is a body protector necessary?
Since many of the obstacles are large and intimidating looking, the horse and/or rider will misjudge how to navigate through them. When the horse and rider fails to clear an obstacle is when most injuries occur. This situation usually results in one of two outcomes: a refusal or a rotational fall. A refusal is when the horse suddenly stops before or while it is taking off to attempt to clear the obstacle. This sudden stop causes the rider to be thrown forward and often results in a fall. If a fall occurs, the rider will either hit the obstacle or the ground which can result in injury. A rotational fall is when the horse misjudges the size of the jump and ends up hitting it with its front legs after takeoff, which causes the horse to somersault mid air. This is the most dangerous kind of fall because it catapults the rider off the horse and the horse can land on top of the rider causing serious crush injuries and in many cases, death.
A body protector can help minimize injury, especially to the ribcage and vital organs.
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Rotational fall
Horse stops in front of the jump causing the rider to fall forward
Horse hits jump and flips over and often lands on top of the rider
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Injury Statistics
There is 1 accident per every 14 hours of cross country riding
20% of accidents require hospitalization
Approxmately 60% of serious injuries are to the head, neck or spine
Thoraco-lumbar (mid- and lower back) injuries are the most common spinal injury
Between 2006 and 2008, 16 riders and 13 horses died in cross country competitions
SOURCESGoldsmith, Paix (46-48), Silver (264-271)
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Safety Equipment
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1 ASTM approved helmet• Required for all equestrian
activities• Must fit properly and have chin
strap
2 Body protector• Does not have to carry any safety
rating• Protects ribcage and vital organs• Does not protect the spine
3 Medical armband• Contains critical information for
emergency personnell in case of a fall resulting in unconsciousness. It includes health history, doctor contact information, insurance information and emergency contacts
4 Gloves• Give the rider more control and
grip on the reins• Only minimally protect hands in
the event of a fall
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Safety RatingsThe two major organizations that conduct testing and offer ratings are the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association). ASTM does not have different levels of approval, but BETA offers a three level system:
BETA 1: Offers a level of protection appropriate for professional jockeysBETA 2: Offers a level of protection suitable for lower than normal risk situationsBETA 3: Offers appropriate protection for general riding
Ideally all cross country riders should be wearing body protectors approved by the ASTM that also carry a BETA 3 rating. However, since the USEA (United States Eventing Association) currently does not require body protectors to carry any sort of safety rating, many riders choose comfort over safety when choosing a body protector, which often results in riders being inadequately protected while out on the cross country course.
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Popular Cross Country Body Protectors
Tipperary• One of the most popular vests on the market• Paneled design and side strings allow for maximum
flexibility and adjustability• Carries a BETA 1 rating
Charles Owen• One-piece design does not allow any gaps in
protection• Front snap provides adjustabilityt• Carries a BETA 3 rating
Hit-Air• Deploys a CO2 canister to inflate the vest when
tether is broken• Thinnest, lightest body protector available• Often worn on top of TIpperary• Does not yet carry a BETA rating
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Survey
46 cross country riders were surveyed about their current body protectors. They were asked about what kind of body protector they have, and whether or not they’ve experienced a fall and injuries while wearing it. They were also asked what features they like, what features they dislike, and what they would like to see in future body protectors. This information was used to determine what sort of protection cross country riders need, and what sort of equipment they would be willing to wear.
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Survey questions
Do you ride cross country?
Do you compete or plan to compete in horse trials or three day events?
If yes, at which level do you compete?
What brand and model of body protector do you own?
What is the BETA rating of you body protector?
Is your body protector ASTM approved?
When do you wear your body protector?
What other clothing and protective gear do you wear while riding cross country?
Have you ever fallen while riding cross country?
Were you wearing your body protector when you fell?
Did the fall result in an injury?
If yes, what type of injury was it?
Do you believe your body protector helped prevent more serious injury? Why?
What do you like about your body protector?
What do you dislike about your body protector?
Are there any features or design changes you would like to see implemented in future body protectors and cross country equipment in general?
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Survey Results
15% know the BETA rating of their body protector
51% own Tipperary body protectors
22% own Charles Owen body protectors
67% know if their body protector is ASTM approved
Helmets and gloves are the most common safety equipment worn in addition to the body protector
70% have experienced a cross country fall. All were wearing their body protectors during the fall
22% of those falls resulted in injury
The most common injury suffered were head injuries. Other injuries include, neck, back, rib, and arm injuries.
83% believe that their body protectors helped prevent more serious injury
Bulkiness, awkwardness, discomfort, restrictiveness, and lack of ventilation are common complaints
Feeling of security, flexibility, adjustability, and lightness are positive features
More neck protection is a feature many of those surveyed would like to see in future body protectors
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Interpretation of Results
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Most of the riders surveyed own body protectors with the lowest possible safety rating, but do not know the safety rating (or lack thereof) and therefore are unknowingly putting themselves in danger.
These riders buy these body protectors because they fit their bodies the best out of all the body protecotrs currently on the market, and do not check for safety ratings. This may be because many riders assume that the body protectors are like riding helmets, which are all required to carry a high safety rating, and the few that do not carry this rating prominently display this fact somewhere on the packaging.
Weighted Matrix
Flexibility
Modularity
Adjustability
Protection
Lightweight
Mobility
Personalization
Comfort Safety Form Appearance Size Fit
10 6 8 5 4 9
7 5 8 8 7 10
8 7 7 6 5 10
4 10 10 7 8 9
9 4 6 6 8 6
9 8 7 7 6 9
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x8 x10 x6 x5 x7 x9
80 60 48 25 28 81
56 50 48 40 49 90
64 70 42 30 35 90
32 100 60 35 56 81
72 40 36 30 56 54
72 80 42 35 42 81
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Protection and mobility are the most important features of a body protector. An ideal body protector would provide the maximum amount of protection possible while still allowing for a full range of motion.
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Equivalent Sports
Motocross and freestyle downhill mountain biking carry similar risks to cross country horseback riding. All three sports involve traveling at high speeds across uneven terrain and over obstacles, and therefore have the same potential for injury and require the same kinds of safety equipment.
Commonly worn protective gear for motocross and mountain biking was investigated along with common injuries for both sports.
Motocross
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1 Helmet
2 Goggles
3 Elbow pads
4 Gloves
5 Chest protector
6 Hip protector
7 Knee pads
8 Protective boots
COMMON INJURIES
Separated shoulderFractured clavicleOccasional thoracic and lumbar injuries
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Downhill Mountain Biking
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1 Helmet
2 Goggles
4 Gloves
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5 Knee pads
6 Shin guards
COMMON INJURIES
Minor head injuriesShoulder injuriesHand/wrist fractures
Protective Equipment
Both motocross riders and downhill mountain bikers wear significantly more safety equipment than cross country riders, and as a result experience lower injury rates and less severe injuries. Motocross and downhill mountain biking fatalities are rare.
Chest and spine protection systems from these and other similar sports were researched, and ways to implement key features from these vests into cross country riding body protectors were investigated.
Based on information gathered from both the primary and secondary research, it was determined that a multiple part system with a dedicated neck and spine protector would be the best solution.
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Chest Protectors
Chest protectors provide protection for the clavicle, ribcage and sternum. Since they protect the ribcage they also protect vital organs from harm. Some chest protectors also feature shoulder protection.
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Spine Protectors
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Spine protectors are a vital piece of equipment. Spinal injuries can lead to nerve damage, paralysis, and even death. These pieces of equipment need to be flexible to allow for movement but sturdy enough to absorb impact to protect against injury.
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Undershirts with Protective Padding
Many base layers of athletic equipment for contact sports features built-in padding for additional impact protection.
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Inflatable protective equipment
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A new and upcoming trend in protective equipment is inflatable clothing. Accelerometers or tethers attached to built-in C02 cartidges built into the equipment inflate airbags when they detect that the wearer has been dislodged from their vehicle. These work in the same way that automobile airbags function.
Since this technology is relatively new and not widely accepted as adequate protection, it is often used in conjunction with traditional protective equipment.
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d3o Expanded polypropylene (EPP)d3o is a thin, lightweight flexible material that hardens upon impact. This allows for maximum flexibility and comfort for protective equipment while still providing adequate protection against impact injuries.
EPP is a highly impact absorbent plastic. It is moldable to any shape and is also available in a variety of different colors. It is used in a variety of products from furniture to car bumpers.
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Iteration began with explorations of how the different parts might fit together, and which part would protect which parts of the body.
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Different sizes, shapes, and panel shape and placement for the spine protector were explored.
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consists of a line of EPP panels along the spine, with an airbag folded into the top. The back piece attaches to the chest piece at the shouders and ribcage, allowing it to be put on and taken off without assistance and while wearing a riding helmet.
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The chest protector must safeguard the ribcage and vital organs from harm. Explorations of panel design take into consideration that the ribcage, sternum, and collarbone must be protected.
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The basic final design of the chest protector incorporates strategically placed panels that protect the ribs, sternum, and collarbone. The separate panels allow for flexibility to allow it to be form-fitting. It also features panels on the back to cover areas not protected by the spine protector. The neck hole is large enough to fit over the rider’s head while he or she is wearing a helmet. It fastens on the side with two velcro closures that allow for maximum adjustability.
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The initial final design for the base layer is made of a breathable spandex material with d3o panels to protect areas not covered by the other two parts from impact, namel the shoulders and hips. It also features additional protection for the ribcage.
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Security, conveniecnce and adjustability were main concerns with determining how the pieces attach to one another. Plastic snaps were considered, but the attached adjustable straps could come loose and the excess strap hanging down would be a nuisance. Backpack-like straps were also considered but deemed too insecure. Zippers come with the possibility of breaking or getting stuck. Ultimately it was decided that velcro was the best way to securely fasten the parts together while allowing for adjustability.
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The final base layer design is made of a breathable spandex shirt with incorporated d3o panels that protect the collarbone, shoulders, ribcage, and hips. This shirt can be worn during the whole course of the competition, providing additional protection and comfort throughout the day.
The chest protector features EPP panels that protect the ribcage and collarbone. The segmented panel design allows the chest protector to be form-fitting. Velcro closures on the side allow the rider to adjust fit to comfortably protect all sizes of chests.
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The spine protector features a line of EPP panels down the back and an CO2 cartridge-propelled airbag folded into the top. The trigger tether for the airbag attaches toward the bottom left of the spine protector for minimal obtrusiveness. Left-side placement will help the rider to remember to unhook it from the saddle while dismounting to avoid accidental triggering. The spine protector wraps around the back and attaches via velcro straps on the shoulders and sides.
The airbag automatically inflates when the trigger tether is broken. It is folded into the top of the spine protector with plastic snaps keeping it in place than can be easily detached when the airbag inflates. When the airbag is inflated, it wraps around the rider’s neck, therefore minimizing or preventing serious neck injury.
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The rider puts on the base layer at the beginning of the day
Dressage attire is donned on top of th base layer. The d3o panels help protect against injury in the event of an accident during this phase.
Dressage attire can be taken off immediately after riding, without the rider having to worry about finding somewhere private to change clothes, which can be prolematic at crowded show grounds.
For the cross country phase, the rider puts on his or her chest protector over the base layer.
The rider then puts the spine protector on, and securely fastens it to the chest protector with velcro straps. The straps are on the front to facilitate the rider being able to put it on independently.
After cross country, the rider can remove the chest and spine protector and get his or her horse ready for the stadium jumping portion.
Stadium jumping attire is worn on top of the base layer, which provides additional protection in the event of a fall. The rider once again can change clothes without needing to find somewhere private to do so.
At the end of the day the rider can pack away all of his or her nice show clothes, and wear the base layer alone, which can then be machine washed if it gets dirty, as opposed to show clothes which are all dry clean only.
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Goldsmith, Elizabeth. “After the Fall — ESPN’s Critique of Eventing Dials Down on the Dangers of the Sport.” Equine Ink. WordPress, 14 08 2008. Web. 4 Oct 2010. <http://equineink.com/tag/eventing-safety/>.
Shier, Linda. “Horse Events and the Issue of Safety.” Sports Image Times 21 05 2008: n. pag. Web. 4 Oct 2010. <http://sportsimagetimes.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/“horse-events-and-the-issue-of-safety”/>.
Silver, JR. “Spinal Injuries Resulting from Horse Riding Accidents.” Spinal Cord 40.6 (2002): 264-271. Web. 4 Oct 2010. <http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v40/n6/full/3101280a.html>.
McLain, David. “USCTA Accident Statistics for 1990 and 1991.” American Medical Equestrian Association 3.2 (1993): n. pag. Web. 4 Oct 2010. <http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/amea/apr93nws.htm>.
Paix, Bruce. “Rider Injury Rates and Emergency Medical Services at Equestrian Events.” Br J Sports Med. (1999): 46-48. Print.