One Big Thing: Rider Safety Equipment 101 with Ride EquiSafe
This week on Ride iQ’s Ask an Expert podcast, Catherine Winter, founder of Ride EquiSafe, shares what actually makes safety equipment effective and how to make sure yours is doing its job.
In this episode, Catherine discusses helmets, body protectors, air vests, and safety stirrups, explaining how to assess fit, understand safety standards, and avoid common mistakes so you can ride with confidence at every level. Her top three tips for riders of every level are:
- Prioritize fit first. Even the most highly rated helmet or vest won’t protect you if it doesn’t fit correctly. Proper fit is what allows the safety technology to work as intended.
- Work with an expert. Don’t try to figure it out on your own. Trained fitters can help you compare brands, understand your options, and find what truly fits your body and riding needs
- Know when to replace. Safety equipment doesn’t last forever. Helmets and body protectors should be replaced every few years and immediately after any impact, even if the damage isn’t visible.
About Ride EquiSafe
A frequent supporting partner of Eventing Nation, Ride EquiSafe is dedicated to helping riders make informed decisions about their safety equipment. A lifelong equestrian, Catherine created Ride EquiSafe to make rider safety more accessible through education, expert guidance, and a curated selection of protective gear. Her work focuses on helping riders feel more confident and protected in the saddle.
What is Ask An Expert?
Ask an Expert is Ride iQ’s weekly public podcast featuring in-depth conversations with equestrian professionals. This series is your go-to for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian pros. Whether you’re curious about improving your riding, training a green horse, or mastering horse care, our expert guests are here to help. Ride iQ is sharing select favorites with hundreds more available inside the Ride iQ app.
Major International Events This Weekend
Adelaide Equestrian Festival CCI5* & Oceania Championships (AUS): [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
Burnham Market CCI4*-S (GBR): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]
Oudkarspel North Holland HT CCI4*-S (NED): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]
Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*-S (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Live Stream]
Fair Hill International April HT CCI4*-S (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
US Events This Weekend
Sporting Days Farm April HT IV (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
River Glen Spring HT (TN): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Redefined Equestrian HT (CO): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Other Links and Reading
Training Tip of the Day
Listen… skinnies are hard. And they just get harder as you climb the levels, making runouts more and more difficult — listen to the experts advice:
Go Eventing
Horse & Country has a new series out titled “Spotlight on Eventing”, your brand new weekly deep dive into the world of eventing. This debut episode hosted by Saffron Cresswell highlights some standout combinations this season, offers strategic insights into course design and performance, goes in-depth with some recent major eventing features, and looks ahead to what’s coming next in the British and global eventing scene:
