Body protectors - your thoughts and recommendations

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mymare

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As titled. I'm looking into buying one for my eight year old daughter. Can anyone recommend a good one that doesn't cost the earth please.

I don't want one that will restrict her movement too much.

Any advice welcome, thanks :)
 
Absolutely buy one - and a hat with the highest safety rating you can. I've become a boring protective gear evangelist after having my bacon saved by a good hat and body protector last week.

I have an airowear outlyne which they do a child's version of. It warms up and moulds to your body so isn't too restrictive.

Paula
 
I was against them a bit as they are restrictive however after a nasty fall onto concrete I got one and it kept me nice and warm in winter. A few motorcylists were suprised that more horse people didnt wear them. The advice I got from them was make sure it was snug.
Mine is a zip one(cant remember the make) my son got a second hand one which was like a tabbard and had velcro on the shoulders with a strap round the waist. I would go to a good horsey shop and try on a few as they do come up differently for different shapes too. I was tempted to get the shoulder attachments but never did! Good idea when you think years ago we never wore hats(or I never did)! Sis split hers in two after a very nasty accident..knocked out the hat saved her.
 
Def get one. I notice the new champion one is VERY light and bendy.

Also when the time comes ahe wont wear it ....My rule for those kids that refuse to wear one is fine but you don't ride. So long as you never give in....they wear them
 
i too, have just invested in an outlyne after much research and questioning. I have so far been very impressed at how comfortable it is - and i can move in it. Its relatively soft and pliable even before its warmed up to body temp and even better after wearing it for a while. just wished i`d had one before the tumble that cracked a shoulder blade and ribs recently lol.
 
My view is that it depends what experience she has & what she's doing. Imo, kids should learn the (now often lost) art of falling safely & rolling first, before doing stuff requiring a bp. A bp reduces the injury, falling safely & rolling out of the way does more. No bp will save a kid from a pony landing on them. Being able to land & get out of the way does. You can roll in a modern well fitted bp but not quite as fast, & its difficult to learn to fall & roll in one. So imo its not in a novice child's interest to wear one till they have learnt to save themselves. If your child's at that level op, or you think differently, best bet is to go & get one fitted properly & ask the fitters recommendations, just like adults kids shapes vary. Easy to get mine to wear one, because as I don't tell her to everytime she rides, when I do she knows there's good reason.
 
I learnt how to fall and roll back in the days when you did it off a horse on a lunge (what were hey thinking :eek: ), but that doesn't help if you are thrown into something, or just stuff it up.
 
Also got one recently to do X country training. It wasn't as restrictive as I thought it'd be. The shop I got it from were very particular about the fitting being correct as it should cover the sacrum area but with enough clearance to not interfere with the seat in the saddle. They had a saddle to sit on to make sure.. I've also had a fall so I'll be wearing mine in future too...probably. ;)
 
Perhaps you did paulag, but its no longer common to teach kids or those new to riding to fall ime. So when my child rides I judge which is of most benefit for the situation. Rolling at speed (or perfecting her ability to) or extra protection. Some people may think that's wrong, & that's up to them. Just like its ok for me to find how little skill some have to stay on, & to be horrified by the thud when they fall. Op asked for opinions, so I gave mine, including how to buy a bp that is most suited to her child.
 
littlelegs said:
My view is that it depends what experience she has & what she's doing. Imo, kids should learn the (now often lost) art of falling safely & rolling first, before doing stuff requiring a bp. .
Click to expand...

any riding imho requires a BP where a child is concerned.

I always wear my BP, whatever Im doing. I do feel a bit of a prat wearing it for flatwork/dressage but its a promise I made my husband and one I stick to. For the odd ‘pony ride’ fair enough as long as they have a hat but once it progresses past that stage no child of mine would be riding without a BP.

OP - I have a racesafe and an airowear outlyne, both are very comfy but the racesafe is my favourite as it is so slimline.
 
Nsn- I think the opposite, odd pony ride, a bp is fine. Doing anything where a real flyer or rotational is possible, they need to fall, land & roll to reduce injury. Once that's achieved, a bp is extra protection. But a bp shouldn't be relied on instead of learning to save themselves. The nastiest falls I've had involved rotationals, my ability to get out of the way stopped me landing underneath the horse. A few bruises, rather than being paralysed or dead because I don't expect a bp to protect me alone. And that's a skill I insist my daughter has. Completely agree they reduce injury, but not in place of falling well, combining the two is best. Unfortunately modern attitude is often to just rely on safety wear. However hijacking the thread slightly, ops child may well be at the stage both can be combined, I just thought it worth pointing out as its often overlooked these days.
 
for my children, including an 8 year old, I always buy the Rodney Powell ones with front zip (they fit much better than the tabard style ones). Make sure you get it fitted and remember they need to be quite short at the back esp if they are jumping.
 
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