A properly fitted safety vest or body protector is one of your best defenses against a fall-related injury. Such injuries include bone fractures and internal organ damage. However, a vest functions properly only when it’s fitted correctly. Follow these instructions to make sure you’re protected.

John Nunn is the owner of Bit of Britain tack shop in Oxford, ?Pennsylvania, which caters to the needs of event riders and horses. www.bitofbritain.com.

This article first appeared in the May 2009 issue of Practical Horseman.