I am training 2 young horses to jump xc and as a result have had a couple of green pony type falls as they stop dead or duck out. All undramatic land on feet type falls. I think an air jacket going off in those circumstances would totally freak the horses out. So I am waiting till they are more established
OH and our RI chose Hit air too. Nothing to do with the noise tho. Both went to a shop where they could try on both brands.
KPnut I cant tell you what to do - no one here can. I can only report that shortly after my OH bought an air jacket, and there was a lot of talk about air jackets at the yard, I was being taught by a very experienced instructor, middle aged, horse owner - not well off - and one day she was summoned to the hospital since her daughter, a professional trainer, had had a fall while out hacking a youngster locally for another yard where she was employed. It was pretty scarey as no one knew what had happened.
The following week I was told that the daughter was not seriously injured thanks to the fact that she was wearing an air jacket. I was surprised that she had one but it turned out that her wearing an air jacket when riding young horses was normal round here.
It is noticeable in dressage for instance that once a few people start wearing a hard hat, it becomes the norm.I guess it is same with air jackets - if most people being paid to work with young horses wear air jackets when riding, it becomes the norm. And then may be insurance demands it too?
Since you are not being employed by a yard it would be up to you but the idea of not wearing safety gear because it might freak the horse seems wierd priority. You have kids.