My airbag went off while I was dismounting: what should I do?

It is an ordinary movement: your ride is over, you swing your leg across the saddle and begin to dismount. Then the lanyard tightens, the mechanism triggers and the airbag inflates. In most cases, this does not indicate a fault in the vest. It simply means that the system experienced the pull it was designed to detect.

Your priority is not to save the cartridge or reset the mechanism immediately. It is to bring the situation under control, for both you and your horse.

1. Secure your horse first

Inflation is rapid and may produce a sudden noise. Some horses barely react, while others may startle or try to move away. Keep hold of the reins if you can do so safely, speak calmly and avoid any hurried movement.

If the carabiner is still connected to the saddle, disconnect it as soon as the situation allows. Do not remain between the horse and a stable door, wall or other obstacle. The right response is always the same: create space before dealing with the equipment.

2. Do not try to compress the airbag immediately

Allow the vest to begin deflating naturally. Do not force it into a fold, sit on it or abruptly push the inflated chambers back into place.

If you experience pain, breathing discomfort or feel unwell, remove the vest with help from someone nearby and seek medical advice. Even without a fall, an unexpected deployment can cause a sudden movement.

3. A deployed cartridge cannot be reused

A CO₂ cartridge is a single-use component. Once pierced, it must be replaced with a new cartridge whose reference and specifications are approved for your airbag model and size.

It makes no difference if the cartridge is still screwed in or appears full: it has already served its purpose. Screwing it back in, keeping it “just in case” or trying to refill it yourself is not an option.

On AXION Equestrian airbag vests, sizes 3XS to XS use a stated capacity of 50 cc and sizes S to XL use 60 cc. Capacity alone does not prove compatibility, however. Always follow the instructions and labelling supplied with your individual vest.

4. Should the airbag be checked if there was no fall?

Yes. At minimum, carry out a careful inspection before resetting it.

A deployment without impact is generally less demanding on the vest than a fall, but you should still inspect:

• the fabric and seams;
• the visible chambers and folded areas;
• the mechanism and ball housing;
• the connector lanyard and carabiner;
• the strap attached to the saddle;
• the cartridge and its thread.

A tear, leak, deformation, damaged thread or resistant component means you should stop and contact after-sales support. Protective equipment is never the place to “see whether it will hold anyway”.

5. How do you reset the airbag correctly?

Wait until it has completely deflated, then follow the manufacturer’s procedure exactly. For an AXION airbag, resetting includes removing the pierced cartridge, returning the piston to position, replacing the ball, tightening the cap without excessive force and fitting a new approved cartridge.

The full procedure is available in the AXION cartridge replacement guide. If the alignment is not exact or any step meets resistance, do not force it.

6. Can you get straight back on?

Technically, an airbag that has been correctly inspected, reset and fitted with a new cartridge can be returned to service. You should also consider the circumstances, however.

Was your horse badly frightened? Are you still tense? Was the equipment subjected to an unusual pull? Do you genuinely have enough time to inspect everything?

When in doubt, postpone the rest of the ride. Rushing to reset the vest in the yard just to finish ten minutes of a session is not worth skipping a step.

How can you prevent another deployment while dismounting?

Establish a routine that never changes:

1. halt your horse in a safe place;
2. organise the reins correctly;
3. disconnect the carabiner from the saddle strap;
4. visually check that the lanyard is free;
5. only then dismount.

Conversely, connect the lanyard once you are in the saddle, never while walking beside your horse. This very simple sequence prevents most accidental deployments caused by forgetting to disconnect.

Should you worry about this happening often?

No. A mechanical airbag does not deploy with every small movement; it requires sufficient pulling force. But do not rely on that resistance when dismounting while still connected. Depending on the angle, distance and your movement, the threshold can be reached.

An accidental deployment is frustrating, but it highlights one essential point: the system was armed and connected to the saddle. The answer is not to become less vigilant, but to make connecting and disconnecting as automatic as putting on and adjusting your riding helmet.

To prepare your equipment, discover the AXION Equestrian airbag vests and the complete user guide supplied with every model.