Body preotectors- your views

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Sarah&Millie.x

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I was just talking to my dad about body protectors and he was saying he would prefer me to ride in one but i disagree. Personally i think wearing one restricts me more as if as horse jolts to the side or runs out f a jump i feel im so restricted i cannot freely move and end up more likely to fall off.
Anyone agree or just me?
 
I hate the things and resisted one. But it saved me from serious injury in a very nasty fall 4 weeks ago and I am a convert. My airowear outlyne tends to flex more as it warms up and you forget you're wearing it.

Paula
 
Yes but for different reasons. The two most potentially dangerous falls I've had I escaped the horse landing on me by inches, if that. My ability to land safely, & roll out of the way at speed saved me ending up under the horse both times. With a bp those few extra seconds may have meant the difference between getting landed on. So I only wear one rarely, when rules dictate I must. Also, my 7yr old rarely wears one, although does far more often than me. Firstly, cos I like the fact she's learnt to stick on. Secondly, she's learnt to fall & roll properly, which I think is harder to learn in a bp. If she continues to progress riding wise, I'd very much like to know she has the ability to get herself out of trouble. So with her I weigh up the pros & cons of the situation as to whether a bp is a help or a hindrance each time she rides.
I think some people forget a bp is only a bit of extra protection, & the emphasis should be on how to stick on, & if the worse happens how to fall well. Rather than ignoring the second part & thinking a bp offers ultimate protection. I frequently hear people exclaiming how much worse their injuries would have been without a bp. And at least 50% of the time I think how avoidable their injuries were, if they'd either not been doing something stupid, learnt how to stick on or learnt to fall.
 
A body protector should not make you feel restricted, if it does its the wrong style, size for you. I tried a couple before finding one that fit we so well that I forgot I had it on after a few minutes.

I only used mine once and it ws a Rodney Powell one with shoulder pads and it cost £85 at the time I bought it about 2 years ago.

I have just given it to my sharer as she was gonna buy one for when riding my hackney who can be a bit loopy at times
 
Paulag said:
My airowear outlyne tends to flex more as it warms up and you forget you're wearing it.

Paula
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when i first put mine on it feels v stiff but i have the same make as quoted and dont realise im wearing it when its warmed up. i use it for jumping out and about and also for hacking up the hill and woods.

wearing one has nothing to do with not being able to fall well or that i cant stay on my horse. i fell off onto a stone (first time falling off in years because i have good stickability) and one side of my lower back has never been right since. if i had been wearing my BP i would not have a painful back nearly two years on. i didnt used to wear it at all but do now.
 
I wear one all the time now as my WB mare is opinionated but sensitive. I have the aerowear one too and yes you can feel it when you first put it on but by the time i have put her boots on and got on I dont realise i have it on. It has saved me from falls. I used to hunt, pony club, cross country and ride to BHS stage 3 but i dont think it is bout stickability as i sit most things but it is about protection if you do come off.
 
I never wore one in my youth. I have no idea whether I fall well or not, I try to avoid it as far as possible :o. I bought one when I was going to try new horses because the last time I did that I got bucked off in a spectacular fashion so I decided I wasn't riding other folks horses without one. I don't wear it apart from jumping the 13.2, I will probably wear it on my new youngster all the time for a while at least.
 
Mine is not noticable at all once its been on for a few mins & has warmed up.
I used to only use it on x/c and on rides away from home that might be 'hairy' ;):D
Its only noticable at all when I stop 'doing stuff' in hot weather. When riding & getting on with things I just dont notice it :)

When newest Dainty Fuzzy arrived just over 2 weeks ago, I rode in the BP immediately I got her as she is a little sharp (and I promised DH as we were going on hols 8 days after she came)

Am very glad I did, as tipped out the side door the 3rd time out riding! This was totally down to me being too relaxed towards the end of a hack :o - she saw a deer up the path we were riding on - as did our companion out with us - he spooked & knocked DF flying as he whipped round past us. If I had been more on the ball I might have stayed put. So a big lesson to me to sharpen up & pay attention :rolleyes:
I had a badly bruised coccyx and bruises on my legs & arm, I didnt let go (tho got yanked around 8 ft down the very stony track) & am glad the BP did its 'job' by protecting my upper body which had no bruising at all :)
 
The racesafe body protectors are really comfortable when they're fitted correctly, I'd really recommend you trying one if you feel restricted in what you wear now.
I hate wearing BPs in general but I don't feel restricted in this and always wear it when I ride as my horse is a bit 'special' and I've had a few really nasty falls where the BP has completely saved me.
 
My partner and I both wear one all the time, we use RS2000 which are very comfortable. They have saved us both from much more serious injuries, for which I am truly grateful!
 
I always had same opinion especially as my boy spins my old bp- too long would stop me going in same direction as him.
Bought an airowear outline before moving to New yard- i wear it everytime i ride and will for the foreseeable future as lots of New routes and changeable routes.
I only know i have it on when first put on its flexible once warmed up and short backed so doesn't touch saddle- its warm by time i put my boots on and walk over to stable. It doesn't even affect the slightest when mounting or dis mounting.
I would buy one again the injuries they prevent from are not from being a poor rider or not being able to fall correctly that's an arrogant opinion. Even the simplest fall can result in serious injury a bp can limit the damage and that to me is worth the money, maybe from working on spinal injury wards.
 
I don't wear one either - unless going xc, I know I should but I hate the restricted feeling and as much as I would like a race safe they are quite expensive.
I think I learnt as a kid that my solid bp made me fall off more! And haven't forgotten that horrible feeling of not being able to bend and soften to stick on!
My mum does keep telling me she wants me to wear one but until I have one that doesn't actually make me fall off I don't think I will unless doing more dangerous activities
 
I assume that was aimed at me paulag. Nowhere did I imply bps were only for inexperienced riders only, or that only bad things happen to those that deserve it. I used the words 'some' & '50%'. That could only be offensive to someone who feels they are in that group. I certainly didn't aim my comments at any individuals, so if you feel the need to take them personally, perhaps you should question why that is.
 
I wear mine out hacking, mainly in case I am unlucky enough to come off and hit a big rock or a fence. I have the airowear outlyne one, and I don't notice it's on by the time I get on the horse. I wear a hat every time I ride, so sticking on the BP to hack is just offering me more protection and extra safety. Each to their own though - I never used to wear it until I moved to my new yard, and the horse became a bit of a loony! Now it is a habit to stick it on for a hack, much like donning the riding hat too :)
 
I'm reading this thread with broken ribs - having recently coming out the side door of my horse! I was wearing my bp at the time but hit the deck with some force!! Had I not been wearing it my injuries would have been much worse. It is an areowear outline and will never be without one!!
 
A BP should not make you feel restricted. I wear a Racesafe 2010 - unbelieveably lightweight and moulds to me perfectly - I forget I'm wearing it and keep it on for mucking out after riding because it's warm, comfy and I'm too lazy to take it off til I get to the car to go home. I wear it every time I ride. I appreciate that it might not save me from getting hurt, but at least I make the effort to reduce the risk. I think that if I rode without it now, it would feel like driving a car without the seatbelt on!
 
Holly Hocks said:
I think that if I rode without it now, it would feel like driving a car without the seatbelt on!
Click to expand...

Thats exactly how i feel now if on the very rare ocassion i get on without one. I also have the airowear outlyne, its great, i love it! I doesn't prevent me from sticking on, in fact anyone you ask will tell you that i stick on quite well, and my mare is a bugger for ducking out, if she's happy then she'll jump lovely, if she can't be arsed, then she will look as if she's jumping, take the big 3 strides towards the fence, then put in the dirtiest duck out you've ever seen and i have to say that i have not yet jumped a jump myself (touch wood) despite always wearing my BP.
So no i don't agree that it prevents you from sticking on. And only ones that don't fit or are the ancient ones will make you feel restricted and as if you're wearing two bits of wood. :)
 
I never get on a horse without one, I don't even know its on. I use race safe. If its correctly fitted you will forget its there. On Sunday was at BSJA , landed after a fence and my saddle slipped to side so was hanging off a bit my horse freaked and did a massive buck sending me flying into the air and I cam down in the arena fencing right across my back, I was badly winded and could not move for a few mins - the medical people came running over first thing they said - oh my god thank goodness you got body protector on - everyone who seen it said if I'd not been wearing it I'd be in hospital now with maybe a broken back or at least ribs I hit the fence with some force. And instead I'm not the worse for it bar a bit stuff and some bruising. I have lost count the number of times it's saved me. My friend fell off her horse jumping a tiny cross pole breaking her back the hospital staff felt if she had worn a PB she would of been ok. I'd never risk it now.
 
Last night at our monthly Pony Club committee meeting we were discussing Back Protectors which ar enow compulsory for X country at all competitions.

NZ Pony Club have not set any particular safety standards so effectively the gear inspectorsat competitions haave absolutely no say as to what is consdered a back protector.

Evidently recently one competitor presented herself with a quilted vest on and advised gear inspector when questioned - this is my back protector. GI protested and rider stated - there is no NZ safety standard advised therefore I wear what I feel happy with.

The rider was right - until NZPCA state which standard we are to go by as they have done with helmets we can wear what we like.

The discusion came about because we are planning as a cluub to buy several back protectors in different sizes to hire out/loan to our members that are giving eventing a try. We plan to buy a good brand that fit well and comfortably. They have certainly changed since my first back protector - a piece of high density foaming thing that covered my back and was held in place by a piece of elastic around my waist.

I've been considering one to wear in general riding now that I am in my 60's and don't bounce like I used to.
 
I never wore one until a bad accident last year made me wake up to safety a lot more :cool:
I hated the way i felt restricted in them so i purchased a hit air which is really comfy and you hardly know its there, in fact i now feel naked if i don't have it on :)
 
I never used to wear one... Used to say they made me feel restricted. Until I came off out hacking and landed on a stony path. I lost feeling in my legs and thought I had broken my pelvis. Thank god it was only temporary shock and I was fine. Had I been wearing my BP I would've been fine. Now I'm never without it, only if I'm having a lesson in the school as I overheat! Mine isn't restrictive and have others have said, I don't know it's on. Seems like a no brainer to me...
 
My daughter wears one all the time what ever she's riding. Se once fell jumping and the poor pony who tried so hard to avoid her ended up stepping on her back whilst she was face down on the floor. Could have been awful but she got up and walked away (got back on and continued jumping!)
She did however have a hoof print in the back of the BP
I've also fallen 3 times recently and my body area was the only bits not damaged in the first 2 where I was wearing one but in the third fall I hurt my back, its still scarred from skinning it on the road!
 
Personally I hate them. The fact I can't manage to mount from the ground in mine says it all! Also I've fallen off and had worse falls when wearing one than when not, mainly because I'm very well used to tucking and rolling, last time as I couldn't move quick enough I ended up with a broken finger and a busted leg as in process of trying to slip out the side door quietly I got caught across the saddle from the poxy thing and twisted. I must invest in a new very lightweight race safe one which may dampen my hatred slightly. I have an airowear currently. Really though want a point two air jacket to go out hunting in. I know they look awful but def would have saved my skin a couple of times when horse has landed in a hedge.
 
I don't wear one normally as I don't jump anymore (only sensible flat showing and dressage at my age now, LOL) BUT I do wear one when I take my mare out galloping (which hasn't been much this year due to the poor weather) or those times of year when the horses tend to have the wind up their bum. I wish I had been wearing mine when I was jumping side saddle, came off and broke my ribs!!

I also wear one when I'm riding unfamiliar horses or schooling my friend's horse who is young and inexperienced (and very rude!). My friend's son was riding the said horse on Sunday when it bucked him off and then proceeded to turn his bum to the son and kick him square in the chest out of spite. If he hadn't of been wearing a body protector, I reckon we'd be going to his funeral.
 
I wear mine every time I ride my horse and do not feel restricted in it in any way. The correct fit is pretty crucial though.
 
I'm in 2 minds over them TBH, friend who's daughter went to PC was telling me about a discussion one of the instructors had with her about them, certain types were thought to be contributing to broken upper arms in kids because of the bulkiness down the sides where they overlap.
personally i don't wear one, have had 2 , a rodney powell and a race safe, both make me tight chested and tense so not comfortable for me or the horse!
 
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