ARRO Equestrian Air Vest + 3 CO2 Canisters

Independent Certification

The ARRO AAir1 in Medium holds EU type-examination certificate 2754/6648/162/08/26/0911, issued by Aliénor Certification, France, Notified Body 2754.

The certificate’s technical baseline is NF S72-800:2022 and expert assessment.

Certification assesses specified requirements and does not guarantee protection against every fall, impact or injury. This certification statement applies to the Medium model described on this page.

How the Air Vest Works

The ARRO Air Vest uses a mechanical lanyard system.

An ARRO saddle strap is fitted over both saddle stirrup bars in accordance with the User Manual. The lanyard connects the vest to the central attachment point on the saddle strap.

When sufficient rider–saddle separation creates the tension needed to remove the trigger key-ball, the mechanism pierces the CO₂ cartridge and releases gas into the internal airbags.

The system is designed to inflate rapidly following mechanical activation. Correct connection, sufficient separation and sufficient activation force are required.

Do not attach the lanyard directly to saddle D-rings or other decorative or potentially weak attachment points.

Use only the ARRO saddle strap, lanyard and correct CO₂ cartridge specified for this model. Do not modify or lengthen the lanyard.

Connect the lanyard only after mounting and being correctly seated. Always disconnect it before dismounting.

The Vest Will Not Activate in Every Fall

The mechanical trigger requires sufficient separation between the rider and the saddle.

In some situations—including certain rotational falls, falls where horse and rider fall together, slips, or situations where the rider remains close to or entangled with the horse or saddle—this separation may not occur in time.

The vest may therefore not activate, or may not fully inflate before impact.

The vest cannot operate as intended during riding if it is not correctly connected. Its intended inflatable protection depends on correct activation and full inflation in time.

Use With Riding Jackets and Outer Garments

Wear the ARRO Air Vest over your riding clothing.

Only wear a jacket or other garment over the vest if ARRO has specifically approved that garment for use with this air vest model and the combination is correctly sized and fitted.

A garment advertised as “stretch” or “airbag compatible” is not automatically suitable. Restricted inflation may prevent correct operation, reduce protection and cause injury.

Do not wear rigid backpacks or other restrictive equipment over the vest unless ARRO has specifically approved the combination.

Follow the User Manual and the approved garment’s fitting instructions. If compatibility is uncertain, contact ARRO before use.

Use With Body Protectors

An air vest does not replace an approved body protector where one is required by the rules of a competition, discipline or governing body.

When using this air vest with a compatible body protector, wear the air vest on the outside, with sufficient room for full inflation. Follow the fitting and compatibility instructions for both products.

Always check the rules applying to your riding activity or event before competing.

Important Safety Information

WARNING: Horse riding involves a risk of serious injury, paralysis or death. This air vest offers limited, supplemental protection. It is designed to help reduce the severity of certain mechanical impacts in some falls only when correctly sized, fitted, fastened and connected, with the correct cartridge installed, and fully inflated in time. No air vest can prevent every injury or make riding risk-free.

The vest cannot guarantee protection against neck, spinal, internal or crush injuries, paralysis or death. Sharp or pointed objects can puncture the airbags. Crushing, including a horse falling or rolling onto the rider, can damage or burst them.

Always wear an appropriate, correctly fitted and fastened equestrian helmet and any other protective equipment required for your activity.

Remove hard or sharp objects, including keys, phones and tools, from pockets beneath or over the vest before riding.

Inflation produces a sudden loud sound that may startle your horse or nearby horses and could contribute to further accidents.

Do not use the vest if you have broken, fractured, weak or recently injured ribs, or another condition affecting the rib cage or chest wall.

ARRO strongly advises against use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, have recently undergone chest, shoulder or spinal surgery, or have an implanted medical device, consult a doctor before use. Do not use the vest if your doctor advises against it.

Do not use damaged, altered, incorrectly assembled or incomplete equipment. Do not modify or repair the vest yourself. Perform only the user procedures described in the User Manual.

Nothing in this information limits rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable law.

Before Every Ride

Before riding:

• Confirm the vest is the correct size, fits properly and is fully fastened

• Visually inspect the outer fabric, stitching, trigger housing, lanyard, saddle strap and cartridge as instructed in the User Manual

• Check for damage, wear, corrosion or missing components

• Confirm the correct ARRO CO₂ cartridge is installed and seated in accordance with the User Manual (note the canisters are not shipped installed, just screw them in).

• Ensure the cartridge has not already been activated or pierced

• Check that the saddle strap is correctly fitted over both stirrup bars

• Ensure the lanyard is correctly routed and is not wrapped around other equipment

• Connect the lanyard only after mounting and being correctly seated

Always disconnect the lanyard before dismounting to avoid accidental inflation.

After a Fall or Deployment

Stop using the vest until it and its components have been inspected in accordance with the User Manual, whether or not the airbag deployed.

Replace the entire vest if it has been crushed by a horse or heavy object, or if its airbags or seams are damaged.

If the vest is suitable for reuse, follow the complete User Manual procedure to reset the trigger mechanism and install a new ARRO CO₂ cartridge of the correct capacity.

A fired cartridge is single-use and must never be reused.

Replacing the cartridge does not make a damaged vest safe to use. If there is any uncertainty about damage, operation or resetting, do not use the vest; contact ARRO.

Care, Storage and CO₂ Cartridge Safety

• Wipe clean using a damp cloth and mild soap only

• Do not machine wash, dry-clean, tumble dry or iron

• Do not use bleach, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners

• Do not immerse the trigger mechanism

• Store the vest hanging on a suitable hanger; do not fold or crush it

• Store cartridges in a cool, dry place away from heat sources

• Do not store or transport cartridges above 45°C / 113°F

• Do not leave cartridges in hot vehicles

• Do not manually pierce, heat or throw cartridges into a fire

• Keep the vest and cartridges away from children, pets and sharp objects

• If stored below 0°C / 32°F, allow the equipment to warm to room temperature before riding

Follow the User Manual’s requirements for periodic inspection, cartridge checks, maintenance and service life.

Read the User Manual Before Use

This page is a summary and does not replace the ARRO Equestrian Air Vest User Manual, Safety Instructions and Legal Notes.

Read the complete manual before first use and retain it for future reference. Correct fitting, connection, inspection, maintenance and use are essential for the system to function as designed.

If you are unsure about sizing, compatibility, installation or operation, contact ARRO before using the vest.