ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I wear a P2 air jacket every time I ride unless I'm in a group lesson where one isn't allowed when I wear a Racesafe Provent. I started this when I hit 60 and stopped bouncing.
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Body Protectors! When do you wear them?
- Thread starter equestrian7474
- Start date
ArklePig
Well-Known Member
Almost every time I ride! Messed my back up in a fall last year with it on but the consensus from the medical professionals is it would have been a lot worse. I'm 31 for balance but if I get on without it I get my dad's voice in my head. If we were caught without it when younger we would have been banned from riding. He's very risk averse and as a result so am I ?
muddybay
Well-Known Member
I always wear a body protector out hacking and cross country! I had a bad fall a few years ago where I got dragged down the road hacking and cut up my back when I wasn't wearing one and a body protector would've definitely prevented the scaring I have on my back now.
Crazy_cat_lady
Well-Known Member
When I had a horse I wore one everytime I rode. It was like my hat and was part of my kit. I mainly hacked but it still went on every time I rode. It's a racesafe provent.
I still have it, it's in the wardrobe atm but if I choose to go for the odd lesson/ to a trekking place in the future, I'll still wear it especially as they won't be horses I know.
I still have it, it's in the wardrobe atm but if I choose to go for the odd lesson/ to a trekking place in the future, I'll still wear it especially as they won't be horses I know.
AntiPuck
Well-Known Member
I used to hate them so much as a teenager/early 20s but wear a Racesafe for every ride now, after a pretty severe Rugby-related back injury brought it home to me just how debilitating it can be to injure your back. I plan to get an air jacket soon and will wear that over the top of the BP.
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Only for XC or when backing youngsters. I have a Racesafe and dont use an air jacket.
Nasicus
Well-Known Member
If I'm on board, I'm wearing a body protector. I fall like a sack of potatoes in general, but I have a bit of a fear of sustaining piercing injury (landing on a sharp branch, fence post etc) so it makes me feel happier mentally to protect my vital organs.
I rode without it the other day (horse crapped on it right before I went to put it on) and felt quite naked!
I rode without it the other day (horse crapped on it right before I went to put it on) and felt quite naked!
Jango
Well-Known Member
Only for XC competition and XC schooling. I find you're a lot more likely to fall off wearing one, you can't sit spooks/bucks as you're so rigid you just get pinged off!
bouncing_ball
Well-Known Member
I don’t think that’s true anymore with modern well fitting body protectors. I upgraded to a new one at the start of the year snd can’t really tell that I’m wearing it.
lme
Well-Known Member
I don’t own a BP or an air jacket. TBF I mainly hack these days.
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
What a load of nonsense! Clearly you've not worn a well fitting BP.
If it stops you moving , something is wrong !
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Agree. The original body protectors were indeed like straitjackets, but modern ones are much more comfortable.
planete
Well-Known Member
I have never owned one. A friend tried to make me wear hers eons ago and it felt so much like a straighjacket I took it off before even getting on the horse. I have always relied on my reflexes and balance to keep me on board and felt these would be seriously hampered. As this was years ago, I realise my opinion may be outdated. If I decide to buy one, which ones would the least noticeable to wear?
Jango
Well-Known Member
I have a 'modern' one. Went to hope valley at Somerford and tried on loads. For me (short person, with a short body, huge boobs!) I find them all very restrictive and definitely make me feel more likely to get pinged off. I hate wearing them and will only wear for XC. For people with different body shapes it might be different? But that's definitely my experience!
bouncing_ball
Well-Known Member
i have level 3. - Racesafe provent that I find very comfy.
SussexbytheXmasTree
Well-Known Member
I wear my Point Two pretty much all the time on board. I only leave it off for showing and dressage competing although I might put on if on the day the horse was on edge for some reason. I would also wear my Racesafe for XC and probably jumping.
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
On my older horses (now both out on loan), only for XC. On my previous loan horse I wore one for a while post-Covid as I had a bit of a confidence crash after 8 weeks of not riding him, then I didn't use one for a year when I popped one on to teach him flying changes...he'd bucked me off pretty badly a month before!
On my youngster, I put one on for our first jumping attempt and will continue to wear one for poles / jumping until we're both more confident. I'll also put one on if I know we need to work through a challenging issue or if he's feeling fresh - not because it particularly feels like I'm going to fall, but I feel less at risk and will therefore ride more confidently forward. It's classic risk compensation but works for me!
On my youngster, I put one on for our first jumping attempt and will continue to wear one for poles / jumping until we're both more confident. I'll also put one on if I know we need to work through a challenging issue or if he's feeling fresh - not because it particularly feels like I'm going to fall, but I feel less at risk and will therefore ride more confidently forward. It's classic risk compensation but works for me!
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
isn't it interesting how the mind works!
I feel the opposite, if i felt like i needed a BP on i would already be thinking negatively in my mind. I absolutely am not against wearing BPs, i happen to not own one at the moment and only wore mine for XC when i had one, but fully understand your POV, it just wouldn't work for me, so much of riding is in the mind, innit.
eggs
Well-Known Member
I used to wear one when I went xc but I haven't done xc for a number of years now (too old and wibbly). Like mp I don't own one now.
Spiritedly
Well-Known Member
With my mare I don't wear one but on my gelding I wear one if I'm jumping or doing fast work out of the school. I don't bounce anymore and my ribs and back aren't as tough as they used to be.
EchoInterrupted
Well-Known Member
For reference, I'm late 20s. I used to never wear one or have one, then took 8 years off riding and suddenly was way more safety conscious when coming back to it. Currently have a BP and wear it every time I jump, but not for flatwork. I currently don't have a share horse/my own, so am only riding in lessons. Once I have my own (in whatever shape/form) again, I plan on investing in an air jacket in addition to the BP, to wear when hacking on its own and in conjunction with the BP when jumping/XC. Though wouldn't be opposed to wearing an air jacket all the time if I don't find it distracting.
I knew that if my BP was uncomfortable I would almost never wear it, and with it being such a big investment and so important for safety, I decided better to bite the bullet and get the one that fit me best and I felt most comfortable in. I ended up with a Felix Buehler KOMPERDELL Body Protector, which I totally love. It's much more flexible than any of the other ones I tried and I genuinely don't notice it when I'm riding. I found a lot of the other ones I tried felt very bulky under my arms, rubbed, etc. but this one doesn't. They're £70 off on the Kramer website right now if anyone is looking. I'm a tall slim build with relatively small bust for reference.
edited for typo
I knew that if my BP was uncomfortable I would almost never wear it, and with it being such a big investment and so important for safety, I decided better to bite the bullet and get the one that fit me best and I felt most comfortable in. I ended up with a Felix Buehler KOMPERDELL Body Protector, which I totally love. It's much more flexible than any of the other ones I tried and I genuinely don't notice it when I'm riding. I found a lot of the other ones I tried felt very bulky under my arms, rubbed, etc. but this one doesn't. They're £70 off on the Kramer website right now if anyone is looking. I'm a tall slim build with relatively small bust for reference.
edited for typo
Sealine
Well-Known Member
I have an Airowear which must be at least 10 years old now. I only ever wear it when required for an event or venue as I always get so hot in them. I have a very sensible, reliable horse but I appreciate accidents can happen and it's a risk I take. If I was riding and jumping anything young or I felt unsafe I'd wear it more often.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
I think I have one…somewhere. Last used it when I went XC a couple of years ago.
I usually use one for the first week or two after backing and for XC.
I usually use one for the first week or two after backing and for XC.
maya2008
Well-Known Member
I wore mine more until I fell off with it on, and did far more damage to my lower back (from the BP pressing in on impact around its edge) than I would have done falling off without it. The bruising lasted for weeks, and I had only fallen off a 13.2hh onto sand!
bouncing_ball
Well-Known Member
isn't it interesting how the mind works!
I feel the opposite, if i felt like i needed a BP on i would already be thinking negatively in my mind. I absolutely am not against wearing BPs, i happen to not own one at the moment and only wore mine for XC when i had one, but fully understand your POV, it just wouldn't work for me, so much of riding is in the mind, innit.
I hack in large open spaces, that are very busy with lots of hazards. Race horses exercising in the morning. Afternoons - hoards of kites, dogs, kids, bikes, prams, mobile planes, picnic-ers etc.
I feel safer with body protector (very breathable and comfy and negates need for sports bra too!), safety stirrups, a hunting breastplate, and running martingale, and R-stor grab strap and hi-viz, and my mobile. Doesnt mean we cant have lots of fun zooming around, but does hopefully give me the best chance of staying safe if something goes wrong. e.g. being chased by an out of control dog (happened twice last weekend!).
Rusky
Well-Known Member
I have a hit air too and I believe you are advised to wear a body protector underneath?
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Absolutely not knocking any of that. What I meant was I think zipping myself into a BP would reinforce any nerves I was already feeling, as in telling myself subconsciously that I was right to be apprehensive.
A personal reflection rather than a judgement on anyone else.
bouncing_ball
Well-Known Member
I didn’t read your original comment as judgemental. I was reflecting that I take confidence from a belt and braces approach. ?
SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
I don't wear one hacking, schooling, showing or for dressage. I have an asymmetrical lower limb weakness though and am not secure if another horse barges into mine so I wear one on fun rides (I have twice had idiot strangers run their horse into mine because they couldn't stop). I also have also worn one on the very few occasions I have jumped anything in the last 5yrs due to concerns about my balance- ironically one of those times was the only time I've fallen off in over a decade and I landed on my backside and fractured my pelvis, so wouldn't have been any worse off if not wearing a BP!
When I next buy a new horse I will wear a BP for all riding for the first couple of months and then stop once I feel the horse is safe enough for me (or sell them if they aren't). I expect as I get older I may wear a BP more often.
When I next buy a new horse I will wear a BP for all riding for the first couple of months and then stop once I feel the horse is safe enough for me (or sell them if they aren't). I expect as I get older I may wear a BP more often.
Elf On A Shelf
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This is pretty much the only bonus I see in wearing mine when trotting up the road ??