Body Protectors - beware, it could get nasty!

my 7 yr old niece wears hers for all riding, she goes and gets it and pops it on with her hat and has never questioned it. its not going to inhibit her learning that much, its comfy enough (as it can be) and if its there to be worn why not wear it.
she fell off the other week and the shettie half heartedly kicked her in the back on his escape... she didnt even notice.

i wear mine (super comfy racesafe one) for XC only, usually only comps but sometimes at home too.

i know people who wear BPs for all riding, cant say i've ever thought twice about it. if they feel it is going to protect them more in a fall let them get on with it. if my horse was a fruit bat i'd wear one more often too, its there to help so may aswell, if mine was uncomfortable or restricted my riding then maybe not though.
If its a sign of modern times being more fluffy then i think its a fairly mild form... they arent compulsory for most things and offer protection from some types of fall.
 
Until three weeks ago I had never:
a) fallen off a horse
b) worn a body protector

Having leapt off while my horse bolted and having seen a ton of hairy cob flying towards me (I cleared the horse I flung myself that far!) I went out a bought a BP - I don't give a tiny rats a** what people think of me, hacking out on my cob in a BP - I am wearing it and I think more people should, especially children!

What is the point of taking a risk that you will be 'ok on a hack' - I wasn't and have the broken rib to prove it!

I don't think anyone should be putting ideas into peoples heads that its 'not cool' or 'unnatural' to want to protect yourself whilst riding a living breathing creature that has its own brain to make decisions with! You wouldn't ride a motorbike without protective clothing and a hat would you? or drive a car without a seatbelt - and you have control over these things!

I am very grumpy today - the rib really really hurts!!!
 
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I've never worn one. I've had some nasty falls but haven't (yet) injured my torso. I have bruised a muscle in my back, but it was my lower back/bottom area, so not sure a BP would have helped anyway. I have, however, injured my neck, arm, head (yes, I was wearing a hat) and face, through falling. And numerous non-riding injuries, none of which would have been prevented by a BP.

I don't go XC, I don't hunt, I rarely jump at all (the occasional 6 inch cross pole or log while hacking). I only ride "safe" horses (and yes, I do know any horse can trip/slip/spook). I have (in the past) ridden silly horses and backed a youngster, as well as re-backing polo ponies who have had 6 months off work.

I've never been fitted for a BP. I'm short and very round, so I really don't think a BP exists which would properly fit me. If they fit me widthways, they'd be too long and be bashing on the saddle, tipping me forwards (which I have a habit of anyway!). I honestly think I'd be more likely to come off while wearing one.

So, that's my personal choice. I know the risks, I know the benefits of wearing a BP (and I would wear one if I was ever brave enough to go XC). I think the key word is "choice". I don't criticise anyone for wearing one, and equally, I don't expect to be criticised for not wearing one (a certain person at my yard tells me I should buy one every time she sees me on a horse!!).
 
Rana if you are at a show with the racesafe stand go and have a chat. they might pleasantly surprise you

I'm amazed at the OPs attitude to hacking in a bp.

the last time I nearly came off was hacking at a walk through a hamlet. Unfortunately, someone who was trying to assemble a metal shed behind a hedge, dropped it. The horse nearly dropped me on the road.

For the record, the shed builder was very apologetic
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My racesafe is so comfortable, that I've been known to use it as a waistcoat for schooling if I can not be bothered to go back into the house. Why wouldn't I want to wear when hacking on tarmac?
 
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I know what you mean at my last yard nearly everyone hacked out wearing their body protectors!

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Live and let live, I say! It's their body so if people want to wear a BP for hacking, it's not harming anyone else so leave them to it.

I find this post quite interesting as if someone had posted to say "who on earth wears their HAT other than for backing youngsters and XC, and god forbid anyone should bother to hack out in a hat", there would be outcry, so why is a BP any different?

FTR, I only wear my BP for things where the rules state I have to wear it, and for fun rides. Don't ride day to day in it, don't jump at home in it, don't hunt in it, don't hack in it.

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I just thought it was quite amusing tbh, I just get the impression the people think that if you're wearing a body protector you won't fall off and if you do you wont hurt yourself, which we all know is not true.

I was under the impression that body protectors were specifically designed for xc falls, and that they protected you from being crushed underneath your horse if it fell on you?
 
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I just thought it was quite amusing tbh, I just get the impression the people think that if you're wearing a body protector you won't fall off and if you do you wont hurt yourself, which we all know is not true.

I was under the impression that body protectors were specifically designed for xc falls, and that they protected you from being crushed underneath your horse if it fell on you?

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For the first part of your post- they must be pretty dim to think that.

For the second part- no, they are not designed to protect you from crush injuries. Maybe the exo, but other general body protectors are not. They even state on the labels that they are not designed to give protection from crush.
 
i think what this post has shown up is how many people are really really out of touch with what modern bodyprotectors are like!
a correctly-fitted one fits like a glove but still allows you to breathe and move totally normally. some can be altered at the back if you are short, so that they don't catch on the saddle.
as for one getting caught on the saddle when backing a youngster... only if it is the most appalling fit in the world! i wear mine over my fleece and it would not catch on anything, i guarantee.
i put mine on and forget i am wearing it, i literally do not remember that it is on AT ALL until i dismount at the end and undo my hat. perhaps subconsciously it does make me slightly more confident though... i was just on my flighty 4 yr old (wearing my Kan, as always on her) who spooked and accelerated sharply across the arena, and i stayed totally calm, didn't tense up at all, so she calmed down immediately and didn't do a rodeo show... for that alone, with that horse, it is worth its weight in gold, quite apart from the fact that if/when she dumps me (again) i am less likely to be injured!
speaking as someone who has been in intensive care after being knocked off a horse by a rider coming the other way (we hit shoulder to shoulder, my arm broke from the impact, my elbow rotated under my ribcage, puncturing my spleen and rupturing my lung) ANY way of avoiding hospital is a good thing... i very sincerely wish i'd had a bp on that day.
 
I dont have one...I never had, but they weren't around back in the day. I think about it occasionally but have never got around to it. I wore a friends to see what it was like...didn't really like it TBH, felt a bit restricted but it was a cheaper make and I assume the more pricey ones are more flexible etc.

My daughter on the other hand...I make her wear one....simply because she is only just 7 and her pony is 13.3hh....she didnt wear one on the last pony but that was only 9.2hh lol!

Its not so much the fall...its what she may land on out hacking in the woods...sticks/twigs/branches etc could all puncture her little body if landed on from the back of a 13.3hh pony and thats the only reason.
 
I'm 53 and have just bought my first horse. I have never ridden in a body protector (not that I've ridden much), but there is no way I'm doing anything on this boy till I have one. He's too big and I'm too old for a fall to end in anything other than tears so I'm taking no chances.

My sons rarely wear theirs however except for XC. They don't object when they do because we had them properly fitted, indeed one had to be custom made. Not wearing them is not a comfort question, they are just devil may care boys.

OH does not even own one.
 
The problem with BP's now adays and hats for that matter is that anyone can buy one off Ebay! and because of that there is no fitting involved.
As I have said again and again-If you don't like seeing someone in a BP don't ruddy look and I don't care if you think me putting my bubs in a BP is a waste of time or over the top. Until she is of an age where she can take responsibility for her own safety then it is my responsibility as her parent to make those choices for her.
 
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I have a problem with people who wear them all the time who are wearing one that clearly doesn't fit meaning they are restricted, I have seen several broken bones because the body protector has stopped the rider tucking/rolling etc when falling.

A properly fitted modern body protector should as said fit like a glove and will not inhibit your movement, especially the race safe and similar which is a series of panels that bend with your body rather than the old style single panel covering the whole of your back which was so stiff and uncomfortable. also several of the brands also offer the ability to get made to measure BPs for those who are for example larger chested etc meaning that everyone should be able to buy a good well fitting body protector.

Personally I only wear one XC and on unpredictable youngsters and actually for the last 8 years haven't owned one. But I have had access to one (that fits) which I have used. I am moving in the next few weeks and won't have access to said BP so am intending to buy myself a racesafe in the new year.

I do not judge anyone for wanting to wear one all the time especially novicey riders or those with a physical reason (i.e. weak back etc!) as a fall could have far more serious consequences for them due to lack of balance/weakness etc inhibiting the ability to tuck and roll.

One thing I hate with Kids wearing BPs is that they are often wearing one several sizes too big which does actually cause more problems both with not offering the desired protection and also restricting their movement and balance. But their parents have brought them a bigger size which they can 'grow into'. You wouldn't buy your child a hat 2 sizes too big because you know they will grow into it so why would you do so with a BP?!

Also BPs over jackets argument agree it looks messy and also inhibits the BPs effectiveness as it should only be worn over a thin layer of clothing.

There was also a comment about point 2s. Please remember they are designed to be worn on top of a standard BP and shouldn't be used on their own and so are not a simple alternative to a BP.

Lastly a BP will not generally prevent a fracture although on occasion they may well have, they are designed to limit/reduce bruising in addition to offer padding and protection from penetration impacts, ie a pole cup/branch etc which otherwise for the BP may have pierced the skin. That is why they are called BODY protectors and not back protectors.

End of day its a personal choice but I do ask if you choose to wear one all the time please please please make sure it fits properly, it shouldn't hit the saddle and you should still be able to tuck and roll. It may sound stupid but try doing a forward roll wearing yours (when not riding of course
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) if you can't easily roll because the BP is restricting you it doesn't fit properly.
 
Millitiger she was leaning over, the horse shot side ways, luckily other person didnt let go of her ankle!
I personally find then too restricting, Im not prepared to pay £150 for a BP, I am a qualified fitter, you dont need to spend over £70 to get a decent one that fits!
Mine fits, but I cant stand wearing it!

Each to their own, I would never look down on someone for wearing one! Thats pretty shallow and sad tbh.
 
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