Body protectors… who wears them

[Chocoholic]

Just curious who wears body protectors for general riding like hacking and schooling ?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Me.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I don't ride anymore but when I did I wore it every time I rode (mainly hacking)

If I ride when on holiday I'll take it and my hat with me

 

[The Xmas Furry]

There was a very long thread in the last month or so ago on this.

Yes, I wear one every time I get on, hat, bp, gloves and suitable boots, whether hacking or competing.

 

[AntiPuck]

Always for hacking, but not usually for schooling unless jumping or on an unfamiliar horse. Not sure why I don't wear it for schooling as well, it's more a habit then a rational decision.

 

[JJS]

I always wear one.

 

[cold_feet]

I used to wear one all the time. Now I don’t. Most bad things happen to other bits of the body. I can see why eventers wear one, Or anyone who jumps maybe, but I don’t.

ETA maybe I’m biased, as I’ve broken all 4 limbs - a bp has never helped.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I ride in my air jacket every time I ride

 

[smolmaus]

Feel naked without one. The only time I haven't was at a local trekking place where nobody wears one and I felt awkward ? which is p pathetic for a grown woman.

Small lie there actually, I sat on just-backed Sadie without one as it was just for a loop of the school with someone leading her and I was SO tense I really regretted not taking the time to go get it.

 

[dixie]

I ride in an air gilet nearly every time I ride, especially on the roads.

I’ll usually wear a BP jumping nowadays but sometimes just the gilet.

 

[webble]

I wear my air vest every time. I used to hate my body protector especially in the summer

 

[ihatework]

Nope, never. Bloody uncomfy things.
I’ll pop an air jacket on occasionally if I feel the forthcoming ride might need it!

 

[spacefaer]

Never unless forced to by xc schooling venue or competition rules.

I don't think I've had a single injury (and there have been plenty over the years) that would have been prevented or mitigated by wearing one.

 

[JackFrost]

Me. Always. The one time I had a bad fall, I decided not to wear it because it was a hot day. I have felt since that it is tempting fate not to wear one, and had falls that would have been much nastier without it.

 

[ycbm]

Never ride without my air jacket these days.
.

 

[Fjord]

When I was on a farm with private hacking, I only wore mine for jumping, stubble field gallops or if I had a confidence wobble. Since moving to a yard with bridleway hacking I wear it every time. My mare is a bit more nervous with the new hacking and I worry about being spooked by dogs and bikers etc. I've just bought a new racesafe, it has quite good ventilation and is pretty comfy.

 

[Pmf27]

I wear one every time I ride, I'll also wear one when walking out in hand (not just to the field and back, but if I'm 'going for a walk').

 

[Impu1sion]

Just curious who wears body protectors for general riding like hacking and schooling ?

Me! Always ride in my air jacket these days ☺

 

[J&S]

Absolutely not! Wrong generation, hated having to wear one for XC or outdoor Trec with fixed obstacles.

 

[Skib]

I bought one when I started hacking (aged 62) and dont hack without it either in UK and on holiday in USA. I dont notice I am wearing it and wear it in lessons too. It has been a boon and a blessing as I have never been seriously hurt in a fall and was able to ride bareback. My grand daughter (now a student) has always worn one too.

 

[ThreeFurs]

I wear my Champion Tii22 Beta 3 bp hacking, but not necessarily schooling although, and maybe I would with a horse I don't know, or in a new environment.
Although my friend has just buggered her knee this morning, from falling off her Clydie x who did a spook and spin. So unless we get knee pads too? No, joke. I'm an ace at finding nice tech tops that disguise the back protector; but I never really worry about what people say. However, if I see an ad for a horse for sale, and all the pics show a rider in a back protector, I do think twice. I mean, its only common sense. If the horse for sale is a dressage horse, I pause, if its a show-jumper or eventer, I think oh, OK, cool.

 

[Cortez]

Never worn one.

 

[Archangel]

Never. If I am expecting trouble I wear my long suede chaps for a bit of extra stickability.

If I were to travel back in time to when my now retired horse was first ridden I would wear full body armour and have a private ambulance following me wherever I went.

 

[Widgeon]

I ride in my air jacket every time I ride

Me too. Don't own a BP though.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Never. Been riding for nearly sixty years and never felt the need. I do wear hi viz on the roads though. The volume of traffic has multiplied over the last few decades.

 

[Sealine]

I've not worn a BP for a few years since I stopped competing and schooling XC. I never wore one hunting. I ALWAYS wear hi-viz for hacking.

 

[maya2008]

Hard to wear one all the time in this weather - my son is wearing his on our newly backed 5yo (reactive, whizzy Welsh A) and couldn’t wait to get it off yesterday morning!

 

[palo1]

Um, certainly not as often as many people would say is necessary. Always when required for xc training or in the rare event of competing xc. Otherwise not, tbh. I have a fitted bp in the tack room and 'know' that we are all advised to wear them whenever we ride but I never really have and blooming hate them. I did wear it when starting a very hot youngster but found it massively unhelpful in being able to relax. Psychologically, donning the bp was not helpful for me in that situation. I have also had a nasty injury (freak accident) when wearing one (part of a jump snagged on the armhole when horse jumped sideways. It may have been worse without the body protector - I don't know but I had a horrible wrench etc). I know we should wear them always. I know accidents can happen any time and I know protective kit can prevent horrible, potentially life changing injuries. My sister has spent years working in A&E and I have had riding accidents that have required hospital attention and surgery; none of which would have been prevented or lessened by the use of a BP. There is no excuse not to wear one. But I don't and probably won't. I do wear hi vis and am generally aware of safety though I know people will say that saying that and not wearing a bp when you ride is cognitive dissonance etc. I can't afford an air jacket either though perhaps that suggests to some that I shouldn't afford to ride a horse!! There is no hope for me clearly. When I am still riding at 85 or 90 I may remove my up to standard helmet and don a charming fedora with a feather. That will be the same day I purchase a hot young thoroughbred perhaps...People should do as much as they can for their own safety but we are all different and have choices that we can make.

 

[milliepops]

Not since i gave up eventing. i don't own one any more.

I do wear my hat every ride though, when i was younger i didn't always... and i did love wearing a top hat in competition in the summer when they were still permitted as it was much less of a head-cooker than a safety hat! things move on.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Always when on the youngster.
for others, I wear for jumping, xc, sponsored rides