Advice needed please?

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sariska

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To cut a long story short, I have been wearing my BP ever since I started riding. I wore it all the time, including doing flatwork and out hacking.

I'm now a lot older, but my parents still insist that I wear it all the time. I have a 16.1 horse, and although she does buck the odd time, it's nothing that I can't handle - everybody compliments me on how well I sit her bucks.

I'm currently doing a lot of dressage, and in the process of teaching her extended trot, shoulder-in etc. , but my parents still insist I have to wear my BP even when at a dressage competition.

I now feel as if I'm too old to be wearing my BP at all, as I haven't had a fall in over two years, and I'm only riding one sensible horse. I was willing to make a compromise with my parents that I would wear it jumping, and out hacking (horse is scared of tractors) but they're having none of it - it's all or nothing with them.

They said if I don't wear it, then I don't ride, which, IMO is a bit over the top. I didn't ride oday because I refused to wear it when schooling in the field beside my house.

Anyone's opinions on what I should do? Do you think I should be wearing it all the time? Any help would be appreciated thanks :D
 
Wear it! I have known people have the most terrible falls even when just schooling. Until you are eighteen, you should do as your parents say I'm afraid.
 
Wear it. Once you are paying for the horse yourself and are an adult - you can do what you like.

Your parents just want you to be safe.
 
Why would you feel you are too old to wear a BP? you don't say how old you are but your parents are only looking out for your safety. I waer mine all the time on my youngster and when doing XC on my older horse and I would whatever age I was.
 
Im 23.... and I choose to wear mine every time I ride, I have had my horse 2 years and even though she can be a little unpredictable I have only ever fallen off her once - but it only takes that 'one' fall to hurt yourself - If you have the option to wear one, I dont see why you would choose not to IMO :)
 
If thats the condition they attach to riding then wear it.
FWIW I did wear a BP pretty much every time I rode one of my horses, but he was sharp and agile enough to dump you before you realised what was happening, I don't on my other 2 horses BUT I have to wear one when I ride at out a racing yard so it is of little consequence to me (when riding my other 2 my BP is usually in the boot of my car).
Broken bones and bruises don't look good however old you are.
 
faith123 said:
Im 23.... and I choose to wear mine every time I ride, I have had my horse 2 years and even though she can be a little unpredictable I have only ever fallen off her once - but it only takes that 'one' fall to hurt yourself - If you have the option to wear one, I dont see why you would choose not to IMO :)
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I don't like wearing it because it's bulky, and just feels eugh.. :( I also feel quite stupid going to dressage competitions and being the only one wearing a BP.....
 
sariska said:
I don't like wearing it because it's bulky, and just feels eugh.. :( I also feel quite stupid going to dressage competitions and being the only one wearing a BP.....
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Have you looked at what other designs are out there that are less bulky, but still offer the same level of protection???
 
amymay said:
Have you looked at what other designs are out there that are less bulky, but still offer the same level of protection???
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Yep, I have one of the ones that are in little sections, but still doesn't give me the freedom of movement that I'd like.
 
Wear it! I spent 3 hours in A&E with a suspected broken back after falling at a dressage competition. And do you know what they do to test if you have spinal damage in A&E? The doctor puts his finger up your bum.
If I'd been wearing a BP, I wouldn't have had to suffer the indignity of a stranger sticking his finger where the sun doesn't shine.

And yes, as Amy May says, designs have become less bulky and more lightweight.

My parents were always very strict with regard to my safety when I was a child and teenager. I am so glad they were because I am in one piece today!
 
I'm 41 and i've only just started wearing mine but i consider myself lucky as to have not had an accident, but a lady i knew, fell after her horse spooked and was killed instantly - this was just out hacking - so even the most stable natured horses can be unpredictable , i know what you mean about ditching it especially for dressage where looking elegant is a key factor , but i wouldn't , riding is high risk whatever you're doing and as far as your parents are concerned , keeping you safe is their number one priority...
 
I hated wearing my old rodney powell one because it was bulky - so I spent some extra money and got a well fitted racesafe one, which is so comfy I dont really realise I am wearing it.... I feel strange if I get on without it :)
 
Erm…hmmmm lets see, so we've got a sensible horse and you've not had a fall for a few years

.....I say you're due a fall mate! ;)

Seriously though, I know it can be a pain in bum wearing one, specially in this heat, you might feel a bit uncomfortable or a bit 'novicey' (is that a word?:D) and yes you may have over protective folks at home wanting to wrap you up in cotton wool for the rest of you life (better than having ones that don't give a monkey's I must say) but at the end of the day you are more likely to have a fall out hacking/schooling (if you do that 99% of the time) than just keeping it for jumping etc.

The one time I chose not to wear mine (other week doing a dressage test, although I rode and warmed him up in it) and he chucked a buck in during the test, thankfully I didn't come off but it's just typical that he did it when I wasn't wearing one, I guarantee it will happen when your not wearing one and when it does your parents will be giving it the old ' I told you so' line.

Which is worse, nursing some painful injuries or your parents being right?

....I'd say both! so it's easier just wearing one.
 
yeah i have a aerowear one i love it to bits so comfy and looks quite stylish the racesafe ones (as above) are good but I agree My parents like me to wear one so compramise we got a nice one and i wear it when they want... I agree as long as my parents pay for the horse I dont mind doing what they tell me... I have serious back problems after riding my schoolmaster who was absolutely bombproof and one time he saw something span and i fell now i have to wear a back support so its really worth it...
 
maybe an air jacket would be a good compromise if your parents are willing to fork out?? much less bulky for you to wear - you could hide it under your show jacket pretty well and if your horse is as safe as you think then you shouldnt have to pay to have it regassed too often!! just a thought...
 
I'm 21 and just bought a racesafe as my new one will chuck you at any given time!! If you feel its too uncomfortable get your parents to buy you a new one that fits well and you like! Wear it for an easy life...like kenzo said you probably are due a fall!
 
sariska, you think YOU have it bad? My children will not let me ride without a body protector! I'm like Kevin the teenager when my son's on the yard and I try to work without it! (He's 19 so my age will be considerably more than that)
 
I had an accident two years ago. A new horse reared up and went over on top of me. I dislocated my collar bone from my sternum and broke my navicular.... The only reason I came away from that accident with only those relatively minor injuries is because I was wearing my BP and hat. The thing that makes me shudder is that I um'd and ah'd about whether I should wear it and it was a beautiful day and really warm, but I talked myself into wearing it reminding myself that the horse was still new and I did not know him that well - how right I was but you imagine if I had not worn it.... I dont think I would be typing this response to you now if I had not.... Sorry to get all preachy but before that accident I only every wore it if I was jumping or riding new or young horses. I now wear one all of the time and I am nearly 30!!! :o)
 
Do as you're told ;)

The reason old bags like me tend not to wear bps is not because they've graduated from them, but because they never got used to them in the first place. Obviously those of us still walking around lived to tell the tale, but plenty didn't.

And what Kenzo said about being due a fall. Don't ever take it for granted.
 
Wear it, having watched a girl fall off and fracture a vertebrae in her spine from a seemingly innocuous fall I feel everyone should wear one. Doctors said the chances were if she'd had it one on her injury wouldn't have been as severe. She spent about a month lying in a hospital bed and 6 months in a back brace but thankfully went on to make a full recovery.

I'm 29 and don't ride without one, I don't give a flip what folk think about me wearing it :) Mine is an old bulky one, but one day when I can afford it I'm going to get myself a Kanteq one which are much more comfortable and fitted to wear.
 
Millreef, my husband and children make me wear mine - and hi viz! But I am so grateful to have a horse after all this time, I just don't care. And the racesafe BP is much better than the one I had before
 
Flicker said:
Wear it! I spent 3 hours in A&E with a suspected broken back after falling at a dressage competition. And do you know what they do to test if you have spinal damage in A&E? The doctor puts his finger up your bum.
QUOTE]

Do you know, I wondered why they did that to me after my accident!!!:D:o:D

I was on the most sensible, docile, non spooky horse you could imagine. Little did I know that events would happen beyond my control and a car would hit us. I am not saying my BP would of stopped me breaking my back, but it would of prevented some injuries.
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I had one as a child and hated wearing it, i wore it less and less and then stopped wearing it altogether. My mum always wanted me to wear it but i tended to only wear it when jumping, then i fell off and dislocated my shoulder, would have happened if i was wearing it or not. My shoulder socket smashed and i have all sorts of problems with it, but i still dont wear one as in my opinion they dont really do alot except restrict your movement.
I fell off a few months ago, and broke my coccyx, again, would have happend even if i had been wearing one.

BUT, if your parents say you have to, you have to since,you are under 18, and they are funding you.

When you are older, then make the decision. Its personal choice, i dont like them but some of my friends do, and thats their choice :)
 
No shame in wearing a BP.

If I had a horse bought for me as a teenager I would have never complained about anything, ever, even if the condition for me to have a horse was a to dress up as a bumblebee/wear a pineapple on my head, etc... everyday.
 
benson21 said:
Flicker said:
Wear it! I spent 3 hours in A&E with a suspected broken back after falling at a dressage competition. And do you know what they do to test if you have spinal damage in A&E? The doctor puts his finger up your bum.
QUOTE]

Do you know, I wondered why they did that to me after my accident!!!:D:o:D

I was on the most sensible, docile, non spooky horse you could imagine. Little did I know that events would happen beyond my control and a car would hit us. I am not saying my BP would of stopped me breaking my back, but it would of prevented some injuries.
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I did not get the finger up the bum treatment..... Just poked me all down my back and pumped me full of morphine....
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Flicker said:
Wear it! I spent 3 hours in A&E with a suspected broken back after falling at a dressage competition. And do you know what they do to test if you have spinal damage in A&E? The doctor puts his finger up your bum.
If I'd been wearing a BP, I wouldn't have had to suffer the indignity of a stranger sticking his finger where the sun doesn't shine.

And yes, as Amy May says, designs have become less bulky and more lightweight.

My parents were always very strict with regard to my safety when I was a child and teenager. I am so glad they were because I am in one piece today!
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Good grief....I didn't know that!

~goes to dig out BP and blows the dust and cobwebs off it~
 
Sorry - think I have to agree with the other posts. Mum of 5 and horrified recently to see young teenager died while in paddock at home when horse stood on her chest - she wasn't wearing her bp. Also, some of the worst accidents I have heard of recently have been dressage rider and showing. As long as you are still dependent on Mum and Dad I think it reasonable that they make the rules - there are plenty of parents out there that wish they had put their foot down and I thank my lucky stars for the improvements and education in safety since I was your age (no bps and we would whip the chip straps of our hats as soon as the parents turned their backs). It's a tough one and I do understand how you feel but try and just be thankful that they care that much.
 
Well, if you don't wear it, I'm sure you'll be fine with your parents wiping your ar$e for you :D

When I last came off, just a silly fall, if I hadn't been wearing the BP, although it wouldn't have stopped me breaking my back (compression fracture from landing on my feet from a good height), it stopped me from being paralysed as I then went flying and bouncing along the school surface at a great rate of knots.

Where my back broke was just above where the nerves go off for everything below the waist. Had I not had the BP on, their functions would have been damaged. I'll leave the details to your imaginations :eek::cool:
 
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