Body Protectors

When do you wear a body protector?

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  • Poll closed .
foraday said:
Got a point two

Always wear mine.

Has saved me on 3 occasions now! Like someone said I put it on like my hat! Never leave home without it
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Just out of curiosity, do you have the bp with in built air jacket, or do you have the jacket that you wear over your bp??
 
At the moment my kids wear their Bps when jumping but as it isnt compulsory with the pony club the older kids (and some youngsters) dont bother. We are def the odd ones out when we go to shows which I know is going to start causing them to question it. As a mum I have to watch the most important things in my life doing a dangerous sport and I see other kids coming off and think I wonder if that might hurt less if they were wearing a Bp. If it was in the rules for SJ as well as XC it would make MY life easier than the inevitable arguements but the day will come when they make their own decisions and I just hope that because they have always worn them (as they have hats) that it will just feel normal.
 
I have very little in the bosom department but HATE wearing a BP and never do now. I only got one after being bucked off my ex horse. I was wearing it the second time he chucked me off and it made sod all difference. A waste of £130. I will not wear it ever again. But I do always wear a hat.
 
Pedantic said:
Does the distance from the saddle to the the floor change then depending on what your doing.
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No of course not but there are so many different variables to consider.

Hacking - always wear my BP, I trust my horse completely but I don't trust some of the idiots that get behind the wheel and the road is a pretty hard place to fall! As are fields, I should know!

XC- solid fences, fast speeds, differing terrain, no brainer really.

SJ- As I said in a previous post I do with current horse as she is green, tend not to on more experienced horses, the ground is a lot more level than xc so less chance of horse tripping etc etc.

Schooling - tend not to but will put one on for new horses, horses that are fresh/ very windy weather etc. Most schooling is within enclosed arenas on level surfaces.

Hunting - the BP is DEFINITELY going on!
 
jesstinsel said:
I find them all so hatefully uncomfortable. I am busty (very, as in 36G or even more than that on a fat day) and short and tbh none of them really fit me properly. I am xc schooling on Saturday and I won't be wearing one because I don't even own one.
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^ Ditto this.

I rarely XC school anymore tbh anyway, though don't wear one when I do. The places we go there's never anyone there anyway.
I don't wear one when I hunt, so see little point in wearing one any other time.
 
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I voted never/rarely as I only wear mine for cross country. I broke my back as a child when I fell off and the horse trod on me and it doesn't matter what make I try/wear for anything it causes my back to cease up to the point that I can't walk. I've tried most makes over the years and cant find any that dont do this to me, although I have not tried the ones that blow up when you fall off! I do wonder if they might be more comfortable...?
 
Since being dumped twice on the same day off my youngster i went out and had one fitted.. haven't had much chance to wear it still but will do when i can finally get on and have been using it to ride other horses.. It hurt a lot falling on the concrete andto much of a inconvienience if i break any bones :o
 
On the whole, yes. I hate, hate, hate wearing them as they're so uncomfy (racesafe aren't bad but still not great!), and I feel like they get in the way and affect my position - I only used to wear it for jumping, but after a nasty riding accident where i would have been in serious trouble if not wearing it, I do now wear it most of the time. I always wear it out hacking, always wear it jumping or when we're somewhere new (lessons somewhere else / fun rides etc), and usually wear it to school at home - depending on which horse I'm on. One of them spends her time trying to kill me, the other one likes to focus!
 
Never anymore. :) :) :)

I barely jump, never do cross country and only really ride a small, sane horse, but I always hated the things when I used to be more adventurous and occasionally had to wear one.
 
jesstinsel said:
I find them all so hatefully uncomfortable. I am busty (very, as in 36G or even more than that on a fat day) and short and tbh none of them really fit me properly. I am xc schooling on Saturday and I won't be wearing one because I don't even own one.
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If you do want one the race safe ones are very nice and fit my 36H busticles nicely as you lace the side to fit you then it zips at the fit you want every time you put it on. Never jump without mine.
 
I never used to wear one but I'm now the wrong side of 60 and riding my daughters youngsters etc so always ride one - I just won't bounce anymore! I would NEVER XC school without - far too much risk.
 
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I used to wear mine all the time but now I do just for jumping or the first time i've ridden after i've injured myself. This is mainly because when I fall off I nearly always injure my shoulder or my hips, neither of which a body protector protects!
 
For what it's worth, to the majority of those of you who say that a bp is uncomfortable, then it either doesn't fit, or it isn't fitted properly ;)
 
Always XC because obviously you have to at events. I wouldn't dare go XC without one though even if you were allowed, they seriously help cushion the impact especially on fast heavy falls that I tend to experience! I have a Point Two for XC as well, so obviously I will wear a BP under that. They're such a god send and life saver (literally), I've had many falls that would have been a million times worse if I hadn't have been wearing a BP.

I also wear a BP when I first get on youngsters/breaking in/etc.

Otherwise I don't wear one SJ and don't for flatwork or hacking (unless horse is a liability).
 
RiderLizzie said:
For what it's worth, to the majority of those of you who say that a bp is uncomfortable, then it either doesn't fit, or it isn't fitted properly ;)
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Well I can honestly say with me that is not the case! With two of mine I have gone to manufacturers to have them fitted and even then, they still cause me to be in agony when I get off the cross country! Some BP's are far more accomodating for certain shapes and sizes than others however, for what they are some are very, Very expensive and therefore that can be an issue when looking at buying them for some people! :o
 
I said never but I wore my new (race safe 2010) Christmas present one today to sit on Nitty and it was actually ok. I could become a convert yet! :)
 
Always- even on my 23 year old who I have 19 years and never come off.
I just don't feel right if I haven't got my BP on, a bit like driving without a seat belt.
 
sue12345 said:
So surprised at the poll result that most don't wear one. I admitt that when i came back to riding after 20 years i found it an odd sensation but now it's like driving with out a seat belt, just wrong. Mine defo saved my life a few months ago.
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agree that once you get used to them it is like driving without a seatbelt if you happen to forget...

I got mine when I got my daughter one. I felt that I had to wear mine to set a good example and now got used to it and feel wierd without. THe only time I have ridden without purposely was when I competed dressage... think it would have looked daft over my show jacket - how vane I am!
 
ALWAYS! tbh i dont know any different, have ridden in one since i was about 12! I fell off on a hack in the summer (embarrassingly off the most bomb proof 21yr old cob ever). I hurt my back and in fact im still suffering, i dread to think the damage id of caused myself without it!

I would of laughed if someone had said i'd fall off him! Just proved to me that sometimes falls can happen when u least expect!!!!!!!
 
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