As from this weekend just gone

Kenzo

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I've decided to wear my BP for everyday riding (hacking/schooling).

I've decided rather than it sat in the bottom of my wardrobe collecting dust it would benefit me more if I actually used it on a daily basis.

I’ve decided that it probably was the best birthday present my mum could of bought me and if she was here today she’s be b*llocking me for not wearing it and wasting her money.

I've decided that been thrown onto a fence post in the school is going to hurt more without one on.

I've decided that I do fall into the 'high risk' category and I no longer wish to be an insurance statistic because I am more likely to suffer a back injury/be thrown from a horse/be involved in some form of road accident while 'just out hacking' and therefore using a BP while out hacking is actually more important than using one for any other riding activity.

I've decided I have seen too many posts on here reading about people's injuries/bad falls/road accidents and actually reading them, getting the know the people (even if its just on a forum) really hits home and it makes me realise how lucky I have been in the past, I'm not a cat, I don't have 9 lives.

Anybody else care to join me?
 
Bentley and I have a 100% record for always wearing a BP whilst riding... okay so he is currently being backed and I've only been on him six times but I still think the statistic is a good one :p :D On a serious note I also wear my BP and a hat for lunging and long reining as exciteable bucks and play hurt when they hit you!! :D
 
You know what Kenzo.... I may join you. I paid alot of money for my BP, and only wear it when jumping, which TBH is not a lot.
I have an exisiting back problem, so wearing one, would not only support my waek back, but also prevent any bad injuries...
Also over the last few weeks, everytime I go to the yard for a lesson, someone has come off some how and thankfully walked away, but one day that someone may be me, and I may not be as lucky!!
I'm going to wear it tomorrow for my lesson!!!!! Well, I'll try to remember!!!
 
You know what Kenzo.... I may join you. I paid alot of money for my BP, and only wear it when jumping, which TBH is not a lot.
I have an exisiting back problem, so wearing one, would not only support my waek back, but also prevent any bad injuries...
Also over the last few weeks, everytime I go to the yard for a lesson, someone has come off some how and thankfully walked away, but one day that someone may be me, and I may not be as lucky!!
I'm going to wear it tomorrow for my lesson!!!!! Well, I'll try to remember!!!

*thumbs up*

Fabby news!!!, so that's two converts and a gold star for Lippyx :)
 
*thumbs up*

Fabby news!!!, so that's two converts and a gold star for Lippyx :)

Well, what you say is true! If anyone looks at me in a strange way or questions me, I will say I am too precious to my OH to loose!! (Also, if I came off, and made my back worse, I think my OH would have something to say about me riding without a BP!!)
 
I have recently joined you too! After years of not wearing or even owning one I bought one last summer. It too sat in the car/ tack room not being used. I had a splatting at Christmas and really hurt my back- still didn't start wearing it regularly.. By some fluke I was actually wearing it for schooling when I got bucked over the school fence very unexpectedly and came away without even having a stiff back/ neck although rest of me was black and blue! It isn't the most comfortable thing to wear but im determined to stick with it now.
 
I was thinking this very thing on Saturday. I hacked out for the first time in 3 weeks after having an nasty high speed fall. Luckily landed on my head - so didnt come to much harm!

I didnt think twice about buying a new hat, nor would I ever ride without a hat, so why do I not wear my BP? I think one of the big issues is that BP's are not always comfortable and with the nicer weather coming they can be very hot. Does any one know of a make of BP thats not too hot - small in the body (I wear a large child size) that also has room for big boobs?
 
A good and splendid plan K :D

If I don't wear my BP it's because I'm wearing my Mountain Horse 'guard' jacket :). I have, however, been known to wear both if I think things might get interesting :D

I made D1 and D2 wear hats and gloves when they Pessoa'd the Dizz this morning - maybe I should add the BPs as well. Though, I have to admit to not wearing my gear when I did her :o
 
I am 100% with you!

In Fact just a few weeks ago I was laughed at for 'all my safety gear' (a hat and BP) by someone who's horse I was just about to get on for the first time... a horse who she described as a 'sensitive mare' and who I know threw her off the first time she got on her after getting her home... Stupid me!! lol! anyway, when I explained I had had several bad falls resulting in damage to my back and I didn't want to end up a cripple she shut up! lol!
 
I wear my BP everytime I ride ever since I got bucked off and really hurt myself a few years ago. It is a bit annoying in that it gets very hot, but I would rather that than hurt my back again, it gives me enough problems as it is!

Sometimes I think people think I am being a bit of a wimp, wearing it everytime, but I don't care!
 
I think one of the big issues is that BP's are not always comfortable and with the nicer weather coming they can be very hot. Does any one know of a make of BP thats not too hot - small in the body (I wear a large child size) that also has room for big boobs?

Well I must admit I got a bit of a sweat on at the weekend, I thought it was because I worked hard in the school...then I realised I had my BP on :rolleyes: :D although its a good thing I forgot I had it on I suppose, meant I must of been comfortable.

However after a while I got a trapped wind feeling in my stomach (no it wasnt trapped wind :D) but I think it's because I was strapped/sucked in for quite a few hours that my stomach wasnt extending quite as much as usual and perhaps squashed my inners a tad bit :D may need to adjust the strap slightly :D
 
I used to hate wearing my body protector as I tend to get a little pink faced even without one (I blush and go red from exercise very easily even when mega fit) - but a few falls later and I decided enough was enough. Now I wear it all the time, and thank goodness - I was just having a 'play' on a friends horse and we were chatting - and I wasnt paying attention when suddenly I was on the floor on my back - jumped back up not even winded... I have a bad back and normally that would've left me off my feet for weeks...

I know I look stupid but it keeps me safe!
 
Kenzo, me to. After years of riding and only wearing one for Jumping my mum bought me a racesafe for my Birthday, and I have never worn it.
I restarted my youngster on Saturday after his 6 month break and its Body protector all the way from now on. He was a total star, but I have promised myself I will not get on a horse again without it.
 
I know I look stupid but it keeps me safe!

But do they?

Or do you mean you feel stupid in one because some peoples attitude to BP's are that they give off a 'novicey look'

Or make you look like an over caustious accident prone numpty :D

Having said that, I guess it's the same kinda thing with stab vests, police didnt used to wear them for normal duty but now they have them on all the time, you don't notice them wearing them now because there part of their uniform but when they first did it was something that you noticed.
 
I have one on order. After humming and Arring for some time I finally bit the bullet and went to try some on. None of the off the pegs fitted so I was measured up and will soon have my own made to emasure in my own colour choice BP....so I guess i had better wear it. i was intending on wearing it when jumping or doing fun rides but will certainly give more thought to wearing it more often. if I make myself wear it everytime I ride hopefully it will then feel normal to wear it and strange without...i would never conisder getting on without a hat but i do come from the time when BP's were unheard of so it all seems a bit alien to me.

Have to say when I was trying them on the one that fitted my boobs in was to long in the body and I felt very constricted but when i tired the one on that was the right length it felt much better unfortunately to small around the chest hence the need for a made to measure which incidently dosn't cost any more you just have to wait for a few weeks.
 
I guess its because they aren't flattering and I think I look like a nervous novice but having had injuries to my back and ribs as far as I am concerned its easier to be safe.
 
Strangely enough, I bought my first BP about a month ago, been riding for 40 years without one but just started to think maybe it would be a good idea, not getting any younger and although I dont do anything risky, have read too many awful stories where folk have come off hacking and schooling. I have a Racesafe and it is super comfy (a plus I have noticed for us larger busted ladies is that it stops the bounce factor). Wear it all the time now and although Che is usually pretty chilled the spring grass took effect this weekend and he bounced, bucked and jogged his way round our hack. Have to admit that this time last year I would probably have hopped off but knowing I was a bit more protected I sat a bit deeper, growled at him a bit and managed to laugh it off as high spirits, rather than a determined attempt to get me off. Im with you Kenzo:)
 
I should join you all and go and buy one as i havnt owned one for over 10 years!! and do suffer with a bad back but i would just feel bit of a numpty wearing one not that it should bother me what i look like it dont bother me what i look like when i turn up to the yard half asleep and my hair all over the place lol
 
Ooo fabby news more people joining the clique :D

Although its quite sad to see that people have not been wearing them because they feel silly wearing one or because their not jumping...which I admit the latter is the reason I've not worn mine since it was bought, bought it to replace my racesafe one which I grew out off but only bought it because I needed it for a HT that was coming up, but then felt no need to wear it for everyday, but how often to I go wizzing round XC jumps compaired to have often I'm wizzing round the school, or up the village or round the fields, how often have I fallen off doing XC/jumping compaired to when I'm out hacking! :eek: thats quite a scary thought actually.
 
Oh, I'm shameless. I've no desire to have a broken rib puncture an internal organ and don't care if people know it.

My BP is quite adjustable for small fluctuations in clothing thickness (and rider thickness!) and I spent ages in the shop trying on, sitting on saddles etc until finding a good fit. Should be entirely possible for anyone to find a comfy one for them.

Sig should be updated now too!
 
Please may I join too? I was only thinking the same this morning, feeling a bit more rickety and vulnerable with a bad back as well.....I've always worn one for xc or fun rides but the roads are getting more risky every day!
 
I was always forced to wear mine when I was younger so when I got back into it a couple of years ago it just made sence to get another one, got mine at a 2nd tack sale for £5 BARGIN :) must say though after my fall(s) last spring I was thanking my lucky stars that I had it on otherwise I think I would be in a different situation noe :)
 
Well Kenzo, looks like you have started a craze!!
Told my OH about how I am now going to wear my BP everytime I ride. He was shocked to start with, as like so many other people have said, BP's and not the most flattering, although they have come along way from when I first started riding 20 odd years ago!! But he then realised that it made alot of sense, especially as I have a weakness in my back... he did say the only other way to prevent injury would be not to ride...... yeah right.... he's got more chance of winning the lottery... especially as he doesn't play it!!! Hee Hee!!
 
Does any one know of a make of BP thats not too hot - small in the body (I wear a large child size) that also has room for big boobs?

The aerowear are very good - designed for girls with room in the appropriate places!!:D:D:D Mine is sooo comfy that I really don't know I am wearing it - yes it may get a bit warm in the summer but bettert o be a little warm than a lot broken!:rolleyes:

I wear mine for hacking - as Kenzo says that is when I have had my falls - all of them I have been wearing my bp and *touches wood* I have not been anything other than a bit stiff the next day. Neice has to wear hers for hacking and jumpoing - she does X-country etc so has to wear it then so she has to be able to do everything in it and be used to it for competing in all weathers!:)
 
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