body protectors out hunting

[MandyMoo]

i wear one on jumping days out hunting, and when i do cross country... but i dont wear one while hacking/schooling, showjumping or non-jumping days out hunting. don't see the point unless im jumping solid fences =]
mandy xx

 

[echodomino]

I have a Racesafe RS2000 BP - the one with all the panels and I don't notice I'm wearing it. In fact I very rarely ride without it on. It doesn't restrict me in the slightest. The old BPs that are just 2 solid panels are really uncomfortable and I didn't like wearing that.

My friend has just bought her daughter one too and I now she has one wont take her riding any where unless she's wearing it.

I would never go hunting or XC without wearing mine - regardless of how much damage it does or doesn't prevent, it makes me feel safe.

Each to there own but the BP has my vote all the way. Also I wont wear anything but a skull cap - don't feel safe in a velvet either.

 

[dwi]

I don't hack without one any more, I certainly wouldn't hunt without it. I've only been once and my mare was very well behaved but when we go lots more next season I will be wearing it every time. As I zipped it up over my lovely smart outfit it did spoil the look a little but thats not really the point. If it makes me less likely to have a serious spinal or internal injury then it stays on. I have fallen off twice wearing it and I have to say it hurt alot less than I would have expected it to although neither fall was remotely serious.

 

[nomini]

I've never been hunting but if i did go i would wear one, I never jump without mine. Once i've got it on i don't even notice it, mine's really comfortable and has moulded to the shape of my body, would not bother me having it on all day at all

 

[Merlotmonster]

I only wear one for x country, never hunting.

 

[JenHunt]

i don't and i have no excuse apart from the one i have won't go over or under my jacket (it is a close fit over my summer eventing shirt) and i'm too tight to buy a bigger jacket to fit over it.
however - as testament to wearing them - yesterday when hounds were running we skipped over a hedge then turned sharpish left to go thru a gateway which just looked muddy. it was concealing a gutter tho. the horses largely just strided over but the ponies were jumping it. one girl was totally out jumped by her pony and landed in front of the saddle and proceeded at a gallop on the ponies neck for 40yds before landing on her back on a stone. she was wearing a body protector, but still had to take an early bath (proceeding home at a walk)

 

[christian]

Used to, back in the day when I was 15 and wore rat catcher.

One day i didnt, ONE DAY!!! and that day i fell off and broke my nose (the only bone i have ever broken). OK so my back wasn't injured, but the principle is the same.

But then I realised I trusted Todgie (my horse) with my life, Finnie wasn't likely to chuck me off either, I bought a hunting coat and decided that because I was 16, i was grown up now, had 2 safe horses and it was bad for my image, and stopped wearing it!! H*ll!! Aren't i vain!