Body protector vs air jacket

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numptynovice

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I know this has been done to death, but looking for thoughts on BP vs air jackets. I’m looking to replace my outlyne after a noddy fall yesterday when the horse I was riding decided at the last minute to run out on the (very slightly raised) canter pole ? and I exited out the side door stage right in front of all the teenagers in the lesson....

My body protector is so bulky and inflexible and I’m sure it hinders me sitting correctly because it pushes my shoulders forwards, unbalancing me. I think if I wasn’t wearing it I’d find it easier to sit up and be less likely to fall off and am considering an air jacket instead. It also really gets in the way of my bending at the waist to lean forward and dismount.

I’m just a weekend riding school hobby rider - popping the odd little cross pole/log out hacking and going for the occasional gallop on an elderly shire is about as risky as it gets, but I’m in my 40s and definitely don’t bounce these days so happy to invest in protecting my creaky old bones.
 
It would be more tricky as a riding school client to use an air vest if you ride a variety of horses. The bungee/lanyard needs to be set up to the optimum length on each saddle to be most effective, which could be a faff.

I’m not up to speed on modern body protectors, but I think that a well fitting one of those would be the way to go.
 
I've never adjusted a lanyard in my life and I've ridden probably twenty different horses in ten different saddles in my P2, several out hunting.

The problem with swapping saddles is that the D rings are not attached well enough to use as the anchor point and you will need to put the stirrup bar strap on before you can ride. That won't take long, though.

I'd go with an air jacket instead of a body protector every time. I never ride without mine now I'm older and bounce less.

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Thanks - I have very short legs and always need to faff around a lot with stirrups anyway and have been considering getting my own on the YO’s advice so that wouldn’t be a problem.
 
If you are a riding school rider, have you checked with them whether they would be happy for you to use an air jacket? Some schools have concerns about a jacket going off in group lessons (they can be very loud)
 
ruth83 said:
If you are a riding school rider, have you checked with them whether they would be happy for you to use an air jacket? Some schools have concerns about a jacket going off in group lessons (they can be very loud)
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Hi - I haven’t asked specifically, but there’s another lady who rides there who has an air jacket so had assumed was ok. I will check though, thanks for the suggestion.
 
I am an elderly rider and learned mostly in RSs andf through hacking. Always using a bp.

If you hadnt been wearing a bp you might have been hurt in your fall, so why not check the fit? If it is pushing you forward, it may be too long at the back?
A properly fitted bp or outlyne should not hamper you. A bp should be very close fitting and you shouldnt really know you are wearing it.
Because I was older when I was learning I had many lunge lessons to improve my balance and to hopefuly make me secure in the saddle. The bp never interfered with that, including when I was riding and trotting bare back. I canter both sitting and in forward seat and the bp isnt something I am conscious of at all.
And if you cant buy an outline to fit you, please go and see whether another brand might suit your body shape better? perhaps a Race safe?

My OH used an air jacket on top of his bp as the bp on its own did not give enough protection to his very knobbly spine. Neither riding school objected. and he never fell off in it. But it is a bit of a faff because ther length of the lanyard has to be right for the height of the horse you are riding.
And the advantage of a conventional bp is that one can get straight back on the horse after a fall.
 
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