Full Protection Even in Rotational Falls: The Horse Pilot E-Twist'Air Fact Check
Why wired airbag vests fail in the most dangerous falls
You've been riding for years. You know your horse. And yet you know: a fall can happen at any time. According to the German Spine Society (DWG), 20,000 to 35,000 riding accidents occur annually in Germany – based on insurance statistics (DWG, press release 2016). Around 50 percent of those injured require surgery, as a study by Samuels et al. in the journal Injury (2022) shows.
Many riders today wear an airbag vest – and rightly so. But most don't know that classic wired vests systematically fail in a specific type of fall: the rotational fall.
The Problem: Rotational Falls Fall Through the Cracks
A wired airbag vest works via a cord connected to the saddle. If the rider falls from the horse, the cord pulls – the airbag deploys. This system works reliably as long as the rider is far enough from the horse.
This is not the case with rotational falls. Here, the horse and rider fall together – both somersault. The rider stays close to the horse, the cord doesn't pull, the airbag remains inactive. Precisely at the moment when protection is most urgently needed.
British Eventing documented a total of 45 rotational falls on cross-country courses between July 2013 and June 2014. 16 of these resulted in serious injuries, one fatally. The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) found that the risk of severe chest injuries decreased from 94 to 81 percent with an airbag vest – a relevant but not sufficient protection for direct impact (TRL/British Eventing, IRCOBI 2016).
The Solution: Electronic, Wireless, Proactive
The Horse Pilot E-Twist'Air is the first fully electronic airbag vest in equestrian sports – without cables, without a mechanical connection to the saddle. Developed jointly by Horse Pilot and In&motion, a specialist in electronic airbag systems from motorcycle and ski sports. On February 8, 2025, it was awarded as the winner of the spoga horse TOP INNOVATIONS 2025.
The core of the vest is the In&Box technology: a 6-axis sensor that measures acceleration and rotation – 1,000 times per second. If the system detects a fall, the vest deploys – before the first impact occurs. The total deployment time is less than 60 milliseconds: 25 ms for detection, 30 ms for full inflation.
Materials & Technical Data
| Sensor | 6-axis IMU (acceleration + rotation) |
| Measurement Rate | 1,000 analyses per second |
| Deployment Time | 25 ms detection + 30 ms inflation = under 60 ms |
| Protection Zones | Chest, abdomen, cervical spine, back |
| Back Protector | RE ZRO® Level 2 certified |
| Standard | NF S72-800:2022 |
| Manufacturing | Assembled in France by In&Motion |
| Care | Do not machine wash – wipe with a damp cloth, air dry |
| Warranty | 2 years with proper use |
Expert note: The E-Twist'Air is supplied without an In&Box module. The module must be purchased separately via shop.inemotion.com and activated via the app. Without an active module, the vest is not functional – this should be factored in when purchasing.
Who is the E-Twist'Air suitable for?
"I'm just going for a trail ride – I don't need a vest."
The risk is particularly high when trail riding. Uneven ground, roots, stones, sudden noises – the horse reacts to stimuli that are difficult to control. A fall on hard ground is more serious than in an arena because the ground doesn't give way.
"I don't jump – what could happen to me?"
Falls don't only happen over obstacles. They happen during the approach, during transitions, when the horse is unexpectedly spooked. The discipline doesn't matter – the vest detects the fall, not the situation.
"I only ride in the arena – the ground is soft there."
Even in an arena, a horse can fall or throw its rider. A rotational fall is not tied to discipline or ground conditions. The E-Twist'Air reacts in under 60 milliseconds – everywhere.
What studies say about effectiveness
A systematic review of 18 studies (PMC11511689, 2024) shows that the protective effect varies depending on the type of fall and impact speed. What is clearly demonstrable: Compared to wired vests, the E-Twist'Air also covers rotational falls – the most dangerous gap in previous protection concepts.
Important note: An airbag vest reduces risk – but does not replace defensive riding or thorough training.
The Horse Pilot E-Twist'Air is available at IQ Horse.
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References
- German Spine Society (DWG), Press Release August 2016
- Samuels, K. et al.: "Occupational vs. non-occupational equestrians", Injury, 2022
- TRL / British Eventing: Evaluation of Equestrian Air Jacket Effectiveness, IRCOBI 2016
- PMC11511689 – "Airbag Vests in Equestrian Sports", 2024
- Horse Pilot / In&motion: Technical Product Data, horsepilot.com, 2025
- spoga horse TOP INNOVATIONS 2025, spogahorse.de