Abstract: A jockey jacket actuates upon sensing a particular event, such as the jockey falling from the horse during a race. A series of air tracks are inflated by a gas generator to pump up a series of air-pockets, mini-airbags, and a collar protection region, preferably with a series of concentric circular cylinders which expand and provide resistance to motions that are transverse to the concentric axis. A plurality of caps are telescopically disposed within the tracks and are forced upwards by the injected gas. These caps form a column that, together with the other columns and a support member Within the jacket collar, forms an exoskeleton around the jockey's neck. A base webbing provides support for the columns. The jacket includes microelectronics to control the jacket actuation. The jacket is usable for other activities, such as motorcycling.