Falling from a horse with an airbag: what to check before riding again

The vest inflated during a fall: can you replace the cartridge and ride again straight away? The first answer depends on your condition, then on the equipment. A new cartridge cannot repair a damaged seam or a distorted mechanism.

Here is a straightforward inspection sequence for AXION mechanical airbags. The instructions and user guide supplied with your vest remain the reference for resetting it.

1. Get to safety and assess the fall

Before touching the vest, move away from an agitated horse and check that you can move without worrying pain. After a blow to the head, neck or back pain, breathing difficulty or any doubt about injury, seek medical assessment. The fact that the airbag deployed does not mean you are uninjured.

If your helmet sustained an impact, inspect it according to its manufacturer’s instructions and do not ride again in a helmet you suspect may be damaged. The vest and helmet perform different functions.

2. Let the airbag deflate naturally

Do not pierce or forcefully compress the cushions to save time. Wait a few minutes. If some air remains, AXION instructions call for gentle, gradual pressure without forcing.

Use this time to note what happened: did the horse move away from you? Did inflation appear complete? Did you strike an obstacle, pole or the ground on a particular area? These details will help explain the impact to after-sales service if inspection is needed.

3. Inspect more than the cartridge

In a clean, well-lit place, examine the outer fabric, visible inflatable areas, seams, fastening, mechanism, tether, snap hook and saddle strap. Look for a tear, open seam, heavy abrasion, bent component or unusual operation.

Internal damage is not always visible. After a heavy impact, abnormal inflation or any concern about airtightness, stop using the vest and contact AXION for guidance. Riding “just to see” is not an inspection.

4. Replace the discharged cartridge with the correct reference

A discharged cartridge is single-use. Use only the reference intended for your vest’s size and mechanism. For AXION, the stated allocation is 50 cc for sizes 3XS, 2XS and XS, then 60 cc for S, M, L and XL. The volume alone does not prove that another brand’s cartridge is compatible.

If you do not know the exact reference, check the label and instructions or ask customer service. Our guide 50 cc or 60 cc: what you really need to check explains this in detail.

5. Reset it in the order given in the instructions

Once everything has been inspected and no defect is visible, follow the resetting procedure supplied with your airbag. In particular, check the position of the mechanism’s components, then install the new cartridge as directed by the manufacturer. Never replace a tool or component with an improvised solution.

Finish with a visual check of the fastened vest and tether. If a step resists, a component does not return to position or the cartridge does not screw in normally, stop and contact AXION. Forcing it may worsen a defect.

Can you ride again the same day?

Sometimes, provided you are fit to ride, the impact does not require further assessment, the airbag shows no sign of damage and it has been fully reset with a compatible cartridge. All these conditions must be met. There is no obligation to resume the session after a fall.

If you have any doubt about the vest, use other equipment that is suitable for your discipline or wait for inspection before riding again. The next deployment must remain reliable.

The small kit to keep at competitions

• A spare cartridge of the exact reference specified for your size.
• Your vest’s instructions and the AXION resetting tools.
• Customer service contact details and, if possible, a photograph of the vest label.
• A spare helmet if you often ride far from home.

To prepare your equipment, read the AXION use and care guide. If deployment occurred while dismounting without a fall, also read our guide to accidental deployment.