Body protector is so ugly

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MagicEquine1

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I'm going to the beach tomorrow with my friend who is 2 years older than me. im 13. I have had my 14hh Welsh section d for nearly 2 months now and we are both really excited. However I am going to be so embarrassed, my mum is refusing to take me if I don't take my body protector. I know she wants me to be safe but I am going to be fine! My friend doesn't need to wear one and I tried mine on and it makes me look so large and I was going to get lots of photos but I don't know if I want any now that I'm going to look so horrible and big with it being underneath my jumper😭😭
 
I would not worry what you look like. Your mother is being very sensible as she does not want you to be injured. No one knows what can happen on a ride (however sensible the horse) and at least you will have the best protection that you can have just in case something happens.
Hope you have a lovely ride.
 
It's not supposed to be pretty, it's supposed to protect the wearer from injury. Horses are not machines - they can and will spook, stumble, etc, and beaches are exciting and not especially smooth terrain. In the event of an accident, you will be glad that you have your body protector on. I say this as someone who ended up being trampled after landing in front of their horse during a fall. Your mother is perfectly right.
 
a broken back is more ugly than wearing a body protector!

your mum is right to make you wear one! you've not had your horse long, you dont know how its going to behave! the beach can be very exciting! I wear mine every time I ride my horse!

It will probably be cold, so you can just stick a jacket on over it and no one will be any the wiser
 
Don't hide it. Wear a warm thin top underneath. Wear it with pride. You are so lucky to have a sensible mum who cares. When i was your age, they werent about. But i wear mine all the time now. I am 50 with a very sharp Arab. Took a chunk out of mime when i hit a fence post. Wld have been my side if not wearing. Better to wear one than have a Dr say "if only". Have fun on your ride. Be the leader of the group, show them how it should be done. X
 
If you wear your body protector over the top of your jumper then it will be totally obvious in the pictures that is indeed a Body protector and you won't feel huge hiding it all under a jumper. That's what I'd do anyway. Best to be safe and then that way you can just concentrate on having an amazing day!!!
 
Wear a long sleeved the shirt with your back protector over the top and no one will even think about your back protector in the photos :) beach rides are very exciting for ponies and you're definitely better to be safe than sorry :) have fun
 
I would defenitley wear it!! I wear mine doing everything even though it's very big and bulky because I know that looking a bit stupid is a lot better than getting injured.
 
You're 14 and have a pony to ride on a beach - I'm not going to swear because of your age but really, you're pretty lucky

All the obvious stuff applies about punctured lungs not being pretty.

But, more importantly for an over privileged vain teenager: think how slim your legs will look!
 
I always think I'd rather look a bit puffy in my body protector and be safe if anything happens than have something bad happen if I hadnt worn it and think for the rest of my life 'I really wish I had worn my body protector'.

Your mums foresight to keep you safe and protected is much better than your hindsight if you got injured for not wearing it.

Enjoy your day, you'll have a great time - and remember to post us some photos to be jealous of!
 
ThursdayNext said:
You're 14 and have a pony to ride on a beach - I'm not going to swear because of your age but really, you're pretty lucky

All the obvious stuff applies about punctured lungs not being pretty.

But, more importantly for an over privileged vain teenager: think how slim your legs will look!
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There's no need to be spiteful.
 
Wear it and stop moaning... my son wore his when he was 13 and had just got his new horse ( ex polo pony) and she spooked at a beach brolley, and took off and galloped for 3 miles down the beach, my son threw himself off after stearing her into the water!!! Where she slowed down, and someone caught her. My son got away with wet clothes and a sore arm!
Had he not been wearing it he could have been really hurt as he felt her kick his chest as he fell off.
 
cold_feet said:
There's no need to be spiteful.
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You're right that was not best phrased, I apologise.

I'd just been listening to the debate on child refugees of similar age to OP having their teeth checked to guess age and I think the contrast in circumstance (whatever you think of any migrant/refugees the child ones have a very difficult time through no fault of their own) left me thinking that really OP wasn't appreciating how incredibly lucky she was (or the slimming effects of a BP!)
 
I think you're getting the general consensus of opinion OP, but if you think a BP makes you look fat then have a look at the bionic suit that Claire Lomas has to wear in order to walk a single step. You may be too young to know Claire's story but have a quick google; she WAS wearing a body protector.
 
I don't recommend a broken back. It hurts. The BP stopped it turning into paralysis.

I still make my twenty-something-year-old daughter wear her BP.

Go and have fun lass. In the pictures see only happiness and enjoyment.
 
By wearing the body protector, you have a better chance of saving yourself from a serious injury, should anything happen, and then you can carry on enjoying your pony for many more years to come.

Honestly, I understand how horrid it is. Showjumping as a teenager, my mum insisted I wore mine, but none of my friends did and I felt like the real odd one out. Nowadays, it's much more common to wear them. No-one will even notice it in your pictures X
 
I wear mine all the time these days just out of habit.

You wouldn't dream of going to the beach without your hat so just think of your body protector in the same way.

As others have said, be proud and lead the fashion. Wearing a body protector is much cooler than hurting yourself !
 
Riding hats can be looked upon as ugly too if that's your way of thinking, OP. Bet you don't think twice about wearing yours. Your BP will become part of everyday riding gear eventually, and you'll look back on this thread with amusement.

Pop yours on, go to the beach and have an absolute blast! At least you'll have done everything possible to protect yourself should anything go wrong. You just never know with horses!
 
What colour is your bp? Mine is black so I often wear a long sleeves black thin top underneath and if cold I put a body warmer/gillet/zip fleece over the top. With the plain top the bp blends in quite well. With the body warmer/zip fleece it can easily come off if needed without going over my head like a jumper.

I was always lead to believe you should put your bp as close to your body as possible and not over the top of bulky clothes.
 
Wear it OP. Wet sand isn't comfy to fall onto, you haven't had your pony very long and you're taking him to the beach which is probably a new place for him.

Your BP should fit you very snuggly, so shouldn't stick out and be very bulky. If it's catching on the saddle or very uncomfortable to ride in I'd be more concerned it doesn't fit.

Don't worry about how you look - no one online on instagram, facebook, whatever, will judge you for wearing a back protector on the beach or not. I used to ride down to the beach in mine, and would not have ridden on the beach without it even though I don't when I'm in the arena at home. I have a big horsey coat I wear over the top, and you wouldn't know it's underneath. I don't look fat, just like I am wearing a thick and warm coat.

I also never wore a jumper over my BP, but instead wore it under and made sure my BP was on quite tight. I think it actually didn't make me look fat or huge, but made me look a bit skinnier as my jumper/hoodie wasn't able to puff out in front or behind!

Your safety is much more important than looking 'good' in a few pictures - go down and enjoy yourself, and if you are having a good time that will make the pictures look good. I know in my pictures from the beach, I can look at them and I don't think how ugly the fluorescent things are and my BP looks, instead I look at how much it looks like me and my horse are enjoying it :)

Have fun OP!
 
Just think, not only might it save you from serious injury, but it will also gives you that tough cross country rider look about you ;) They all wear body protectors!

Just don't wear it under something if you are worried about looking fat. Where it on top with pride!

I have been riding for 25 or so years, and never once rode on the beach. I will be taking my lovely gelding soon, and when I do I will be wearing my air jacket for sure :)
 
I was in my mid twenties and living in my own house, when my entire family insisted that I by and wear a bp, as I was going autumn hunting (this is many many years ago when bp's came in light blue only and felt like straight jackets!). I wore the thing because I knew that it would be them looking after me if anything went wrong!
Go, wear it, and have fun :)
 
This thread made me laugh and think back to being young again. My parents made me wore a body protector from seven to sixteen, at which point they couldn't force me anymore :D
 
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