Body Protector Debate- Yes or No?

floradora09

floradora09

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(hope debating is allowed, thought it would be interesting to see what you lot think!)

Yes or No? Obviously you wear them for XC, but do you bother for SJ, dressage, schooling, hacking? What are your views? I know people feel quite strongly about this, which is fine, but I just thought it would be interesting to see what you lot think of them- for or against?

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personally, i have never worn a body protector for riding, might get shot down for this :S ive never done XC tho, i would wear one for tht.

ive tried numberous on and i find them very uncomfortable and restricting they actually really hurt my back lol!!
 
When I was youger and learning to ride and riding a variety of different age, ability, etc horses I was always made to wear one (plus my mum is a worry wart!)

now i dont wear it for dressage, showing, or SJ, always wear it XC as Im a big wimp and cack my pants when I do it!
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However it defo depends on the horse, if i was riding a new youngster or a very green horse, I would probably for a few rides to be safe and get a feel of the horse
 
I only wear one for jumping and tbh that is just because I get nervous. It is really a security blanket......I've only ever fallen on my head or shoulder so not really sure how it does it but it does make me more confident.
 
I would wear one for cross-country and possibly if I got on something young/or very naughty and was expecting to fall off and land on something.... The rest of the time no I don't wear them, I don't like them, they make me feel stiff, restricted and hot! In my opinion they are brilliant for their purpose i.e. to spread impact if you hit and object or get stood on, but for general falls I think they are largely uneccessary and can cause more trouble.
 
I don't but prob should, the lady I loan my horse from broke a bone in her back (luckily it was fixable) but the horse only slipped on the road and she landed on a stone, if she had her BP on she would have been OK. She's always telling me off for not wearing one.

I always insist my daughter has hers on no matter what she is doing. I think it's one of those things if you've had a near miss or bad experience you wouldn't go without one. I must put one on my Xmas list and stop being a hypocrite! Although I've seen a few people lately hacking out without their hats!
 
If i have a lesson and know i'm going to be jumping bigger than i like to (anything over 2ft6 lol) then i will put one on. Also for x-country lessons.

But anything else nope.

Depends on the situation and how i am feeling TBH
 
I used to wear one all the time when I first began riding (I was very nervous and fell off a lot) but when I changed riding school the new instructor told me that by wearing one when I fall off may do more harm than good because it didn't allow me to roll. I still fell off a lot at the new riding school, without a Bodyprotector but never came to any great harm (despite often falling off in fields or jumping), and my seat relaxed because I wasn't in a "straight jacket".

Then I got my own pony and began to do some Pony Club etc but at camp someone's parent came up to me and told me off for now wearing it, although technically it wasn't really their buisness and my instructor said there was no need for it. The annoyed me a bit, but I get on fine with them now, I hasten to add! ;D

But yeah, I always wear mine doing XC, but find its more of a hinderance than a help the rest of the time. I think it sort of depends on what you do and the horse you ride, atm I have a sensible pony who's unlikely to do anything stupid (although horses will suprise you!!) so feel happy about not wearing one, but can see that maybe people who ride silly ponies who often throw them onto fences etc may wish to wear one!

So overall for me, BP's are a yes-yes for XC, but a NO-NO the rest of the time. =D
 
I dont wear one for everyday riding (even when we were breaking our boys in) although I am now on the look out for one as want to start doing XC this year and know theywont let you on any courses unless you are wearing on
 
I never wear one with Jack - used to wear one with my old guy all the time but ashamed to say I gave it up out of pure vanity - BPs and BSJA just don't mix sadly. However, I wouldn't dream of (nor would be allowed to) get on any of the racehorses without one, even for hacking. Obviously it's the rules anyway! I can wear mine to ride out 4 lots without too much in the way of ill effects (other than getting hot!) but as it's pointers so we do most work over the winter months it's nice for a wee heat anyway lol!
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I wear it xc because I have to but I don't wear it at any other time. I think it did help me avoid injury to my ribs and back when I landed heavily in a fall xc but I find them restricting and prefer not to ride in one as a general rule.
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Yes when competing i.e showjumping / xc but not otherwise.

Harness racing we have to use them when racing otherwise we're not allowed to run (and if you saw the falls we have you'd know why - the horse is fine 99% of the time but the drivers go flying!)

Having said that - I wouldn't have a bruised bum now if I'd worn one on Tuesday when I got a bit over confident and got straight on one of our harness horses that hadn't been ridden for 2 years - doh
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!
 
I wear mine everytime I get on a horse. Would never even consider riding without it. Even if I'm just going for a walk around the block.
 
I ALWAYS wear mine to hack and jump in.
I will sometimes school in mine if the mood strikes me, my favourite is a very very old one which will never meet current standards but it is the most comfortable thing in the world, fits me perfectly, not bulky at all and I can move around it in. I do not notice I am wearing it so I don't mind riding in it all the time if it might save my back a little more if I hit the deck.
 
Yes.
You can never tell with horses.
The worst accident I have so far had was whilst just walking along on a loose rein. I don't remember the next two hours...
 
*+ wear one for xc (schooling and comps) and for backing young horses and about the first 6 months of riding them at 3-4 yrs old, until i'm pretty sure i can trust them not to do any really impressive airs above the ground. i use an Exo for the former job, and a RP for the latter.
 
I have only worn my for XC and xc schooling, but to be honest I should wear it more considering, my excuse used to be because I found them a bit restrictive but if I'm totally honest with myself, the newer one I got (just a cheepy Just Toggs one) is actually very comfortable and you forget (well I did) that i had it on, not really something I'd want to wear for schooling though, but having said that, that's the time when I'm most likely to get thrown!

hmm maybe I should start wearing it.
 
i only ever wear one for XC, its been like that sicne i started riding- aged 6 days old! obviously at pony club rallies at 4/5 yo i was told to, so i did. but my pony was a saint, i never fell off her, so it really wasnt needed. i never wear one for everyday hacking and jumping, including XC schooling, only for competing. i think this is purely ebcause my dad isnt too bothered. you would think i would wear a BP as i have had a very nasty fall resulting in mucking up my back, but tbh... riding you are going to fall off... thats how it is and i feel that in just general riding you are going to tumble off etc. but nothingn major (touch wood) and therefore you can roll more easily.
i probably should wear it more, as i fall off a fair bit, but im happy without it.. im in idiot i know!
i think ive fallen off enough times to learn.. but i still havent learnt!
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i probably should wear it more, as i fall off a fair bit, but im happy without it.. im in idiot i know!
i think ive fallen off enough times to learn.. but i still havent learnt!
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Same! :P
I used to have to wear one all the time (mum's rule!
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) when i was on ponies, but once i got my first horse and was riding probably more, and was able to make a conscious decision myself, i stopped. However even though my mum doesn't MAKE me wear it for anything, she likes me to wear it when i'm hacking alone or hacking on the road- i usually do when hacking alone, but not always on the road, as both mine are fab in traffic etc and don't really play up- and IMO i am more likely to have a fall when jumping the TB than when on the road, and i don't wear one for that!
Must admit though i don't actually mind AS much now i've got a Racesafe- I love it!- but still wouldn't want to wear it every day.
 
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I only wear one for jumping and tbh that is just because I get nervous. It is really a security blanket

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Me too, I get all nervous if i'm not wearing it and don't ride properly - then he starts to stop as I'm not riding properly and it makes me more nervous so the vicious circle continues.

I did do one round of showjumping last year without one as I'd forgotten it. Sod's law I fell off and although it was a pretty innocuous fall I do have to say I was much stiffer for the following days than I have been after other similar falls when I was wearing my body protector.

I've just broken mine, in the middle of a lesson, he jumped big I ended up on his neck, got the zip caught in his mane and as I pulled away burst the zip open! I had to do flat work for the rest of the lesson. Luckily my instructor knows I'm neurotic and was happy to oblige - he said, "I'm the same I can't jump without gloves" (WTF???!!!)


So if anyone has recommendations for a new one I'm open to suggestions, I fancy the new slimline airo-wear one but am a bit skint at the mo and Archie's only on hacking duties while he recovers from his bruised pedal bone anyway so it'll wait.
 
I only use one for XC whether it be competing or schooling, never for other disciplines
 
i wear one all the time even though my horse is very quiet you just never know what might happen . i have a racesafe one , very comfy , you wouldn't even know you were wearing it . i dont understand why more people dont wear back protectors when you get used to them its the same as putting on your hat , and most of us wouldn't ride without that !
 
I wear mine for all jumping and hacking, I will also wear it for schooling if I think George might be a bit fresh. I used to wear mine all the time but recently stopeed wearing it for schooling / dressage comps and I think I ride a bit better without it!
 
Only ever wear mine for XC cos you have to, although I remember competing xc and ODEs as a kid when you didn't have to wear them and hardly anyone had them and I also remember when the rule was brought in you HAD to wear them and we all grumbled about it! hehe

I have never worn one for hacking and don't imagine I ever would. I don't wear one when out on my bike and I don't go to the shops or on a night out wearing a stab vest!

I'm sorry, if i fall off and injure myself then tough. I don't o out riding my horse thinking "what if?", if I did I'd probably never ride! I'm just as likely to suffer serious injury driving my car to work and back every day.
 
nope i never wear 1 , but i think they make you less mobile so more likely to fall, and also as they never fit me kids 1s are the best width wise but wont ever zip up over my boobs!!!!!
 
I always wear mine now after hurting myself in a fall - it is very comfy and I don't notice it when I ride - the only downside I would say is that I get very hot wearing it sometimes - wouldn't ride without it now.
 
I used to wear it all the time- Showing (Under shirt), schooling, hacking, SJ etc. Never got on a horse without one. Now I only wear it when required, breaking in and for fun rides with XC. I am thinking of using it for all driven XC however, but not decided yet
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I had a bad fall 10 years ago out hacking, the only reason i was not wearing a body protector was because the zip broke on my old one and my new one was on order. It was the first time i had ever ridden without one. 10 years on i still have a bad back and think 'if only' I may of walked away...instead of many hospital visits and having costly physio...
 
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