Advice needed please?

I always wear mine and I'm 22. I even asked for a new one for Christmas. I fell off two weeks ago and broke my back. Had I not been wearing one, I probably would've been confined to a wheelchair. I've got to wear a back brace for 6 weeks, can't bath or shower, can't wash my hair, can't drive or work. Obviously can't ride for months. Do the maths and wear one!
 
Why would you think you are too old? Accidents happen to people of all ages - that's the nature of accidents! By definition, they are unexpected!! Also, a sign of maturity is that you don't care what other people think of you! ;)

A BP may not protect you in all eventualities, but it is about minimising the risks to your own safety - and it does do that. Maybe your parents could run to the air-bag type, as someone suggested? But my advice is, keep wearing it.

I have got back into the habit of wearing one (and hi-viz) after the catastrophic accidents recently at our yard (and my own comparably minor one!!) I must say that I find my Racesafe one really comfy (even with my mega-boobs!!)
 
When you are 18, in work, living in your own place or paying full board to your parents, have paid them back for buying your horse and are paying every penny that it costs to continue to keep your horse -

give up wearing your body protector. Simples :)
 
I know exactly how you feel OP. I'm 40 and not allowed to ride without one :D hubby won't let me.

Seriously though, I was in 2 minds about putting mine on last week. If I hadn't, I'm pretty certain I would be nursing broke ribs now. I was only schooling in an indoor school, had an argument with horse and lost by being spectacularly dumped on the floor.

From now on, putting my BP on will be as automatic as putting my hat on.

I've got a Kanteq, it's fitted to me and extremely comfortable. Maybe you could save up for one and come to a deal with your parents, you save half and the rest as a birthday/Christmas present....... they are expensive, but you don't have to replace it after a fall, it's fitted for you and even though it's heavy to lift up, you hardly know it's on when you're wearing it.
 
Syrah said:
I know exactly how you feel OP. I'm 40 and not allowed to ride without one :D hubby won't let me.

Seriously though, I was in 2 minds about putting mine on last week. If I hadn't, I'm pretty certain I would be nursing broke ribs now. I was only schooling in an indoor school, had an argument with horse and lost by being spectacularly dumped on the floor.

From now on, putting my BP on will be as automatic as putting my hat on.

I've got a Kanteq, it's fitted to me and extremely comfortable. Maybe you could save up for one and come to a deal with your parents, you save half and the rest as a birthday/Christmas present....... they are expensive, but you don't have to replace it after a fall, it's fitted for you and even though it's heavy to lift up, you hardly know it's on when you're wearing it.
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Just had a look at these on line.... Might have to purchase one in the summer....
 
I'm 42, and have just bought my first ever BP - a Kanteq. I wear it every time I get on our home bred filly, just in case, and I think I'll be wearing it for years and years. I wish BP's had been around when I was a kid, as I may have saved a lot of money on having chiro/osteo/physio/bowen/McTimony etc etc every month or two since I was 18 - and I know I got off lightly with my back injury.

A friend (older than me) has just had a crashing fall. She didn't have a BP on. She was hacking out on her safe as houses mare, and had said to someone just a couple of days before that her mare was completely bullet proof, she never spooked or shied - she did! The rider landed on a decent size rock, and has broken all the transverse processes on all her lumbar vertabrae... I'm no Doctor, but I'm thinking a BP might have meant bruising, or at least less breakages.

Compromise - your parents want their daughter alive and walking, spend some time at a decent saddlers being refitted, and get the best you can afford and feel comfortable in - stay safe.
 
Well I'm 47 and wear a body protector (think I'm the oldest so far on this thread :) )

I wear it for my own sake and not because my parents say I should. I'm not sure my Mum actually approves of me riding a horse, she probably thinks I should 'act my age' rather than hanging out down the stables and galloping round the countryside.

May be it is a high risk sport, but you can minimise risks to your health and safety by wearing hat, bp etc.

Trust me, you really don't look silly and if I can get used to my chunky Rodney Powell, you can get used to your rather nice looking BP.

:D
 
This is the Kanteq, this is also the biggest size they do, a 16 (not allowed to put on any weight now then!)
DSC04440.jpg
 
AndiK said:
Just had a look at these on line.... Might have to purchase one in the summer....
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Highly recommend them especially for the well endowed on the boobage front. It's an investment, but I don't have to fork out for a new one now. I also kept my arm out of the way (was falling onto my side) and let the BP take the fall. It's also fully adjustable if I put any weight on or lose any :)
 
Syrah said:
Highly recommend them especially for the well endowed on the boobage front. It's an investment, but I don't have to fork out for a new one now. I also kept my arm out of the way (was falling onto my side) and let the BP take the fall. It's also fully adjustable if I put any weight on or lose any :)
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I am an ironing board so no probs there and a skinny witch, just read about all the info and was really impressed. I was looking at race safes but I think I might save a bit more and buy one of these....
 
I have to say i don't wear a BP when hacking or in fact doing anything other than XC. However, had I been under 18 and my parents insisted on it then I guess I would have done it seeing as they paid for my ponies/horses. I remember when you didn't have to wear BP for XC and I remember the year they came in and were made compulsory - we were all like "god, another expense, what do you need these for?". That was when the design incorporated that lovely elastic bit which went between your legs and velcro fastened at the front - now THEY were bulky BPs!! Prior to that all you worried about going XC were what colours you were wearing!! Lol

I am not sure if I would ever wear one for normal day to day riding - I may well when I break in my youngster but that won't be for a year or two yet! I do need a new one as mine is rather old and I think i will invest in a Kanteq. It's so much better these days, BPs have come on in leaps and bounds and are not half as bulky as they were.
 
I'm 38 and wear mine all the time even when I do dressage (the photo on my signature is old). Your parents are being very sensible, there is nothing cool about spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair and anyone can fall off a horse anytime - look at Olympic rider Courtney King who fell off while doing a simple leg yield in an arena.
 
Syrah said:
Highly recommend them especially for the well endowed on the boobage front. It's an investment, but I don't have to fork out for a new one now. I also kept my arm out of the way (was falling onto my side) and let the BP take the fall. It's also fully adjustable if I put any weight on or lose any :)
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They don't fit over my boobs :(

Nothing does. Racesafe was as good as it got. Boo. I would love to be able to wear a BP comfortably but no one seems to make one for me so I don't

OP, whilst your parents are paying you should probably just do as they wish. It's because they care about you and that's a good thing :)
 
Just wear it...when you get older, in hindsight you will realise how sensible it is. I had a terrible fright last week, and hate to think what would have happened to me and my horse if I hadn't have had mine on.

If you have a fall, and hurt yourself - you don't even have to be seriously damaged, even bruising can be very sore and make you immobile - you need to be in a position (excuse the pun) to try and go after your horse if you come off (where possible) - rather than be unable to move. So wear it for both your sakes.

I don't know how old your BP is, but they have improved over the years - even try and come to a compromise and say you'll wear it if you can buy a better fitting/lighter one.
 
As a mum , with kids who ride, I can understand their concern. My kids will wear a body protector for x country (small jumps). I really struggle to get them to wear one any other time. I wear one on my horse when I ride which is rarely.

I think you should wear it at home and out hacking etc. Re the dressage comps, I can understand why you prefer not to have it on. But if your parents will not negotiate on it, then they probably get the final say.

As you get older you get to make these decisions for yourself, and accept the consequence of same.
 
Speaking from someone who broke her back wear it at all time. I do now they werent out when i had my accident but i wish they were your never to old to get hurt I had owned my horse years knew him inside out that day got it wrong only hacking as well in walk
 
Bearing in mind the state of the average land at the moment falling off in the field will be like hitting tarmac.
I like your parents very much, they care for you so much they are willing to make you stomp and stamp just so they know you're taking as few chances as possible. Nice people!
 
My parents are exactly the same! if i dont wear the bp the pony goes, and i just have a 13.2hh pony aswell and i cant remember the last time i came off.

I made a deal though that i didnt have to wear it at competitions ( i still wear it for xc) but i still had to wear it for flat work, jumping (at home) & hacking out.

Its a bit of a pain wearing it but one day you might be glad you did!
 
jeeve said:
As a mum , with kids who ride, I can understand their concern. My kids will wear a body protector for x country (small jumps). I really struggle to get them to wear one any other time.
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I blooming don't. I feed both them and the ponies. No body protector no riding. End of.

Yours, Evil Mummy.
 
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