Can I demand that he wears a body protector?

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

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Just wondering.... I'm sending my boy away in March to be back and I wouldn't feel comfortable if the guy got on him without wearing a body protector, can I demand that any time he gets on him that he wears one?

He's career is show jumping and backing horses, so I really wouldn't want my boy to hurt him! I've told him that he had a stage of rearing in hand a year ago, so he knows what he's like! but is this something I can put in a contract or something?
 
All you can do is pre-warn and advise he wears a body protector. If he doesn't and is injured then it is his fault.
Just make sure you have it down in black and white so he can't say otherwise.
 
I don't think so .
It's the riders free choice you might wish to have written evidence that imformed the trainer of what the horse has done in the past .
 
Most pros I know don't even wear a hat - I wouldn't like to back a horse with a back protector (I like to be able to move) on and if he's a pro and an adult surely he's the one to make this decision. You can ask but it's a little bit patronising tbh to force him to wear one and he may refuse the job if you do.
 
It's completely up to whoever is riding. Some people feel more confident without a back protector on and do better without. Each to their own.
 
Ah okay, I think I would just feel really guilty but I have seen him working without one with other youngsters! maybe I will just put it down in writing then and hope that it will be okay! I think because I've had a few accidents, been trampled on etc, I wouldn't dream of getting on a new horse without a body protector!
 
I can't imagine backing a horse with a body protector on. Not in the initial stages anyway.

Anyone backing horses for a living will have insurance to cover them anyway (unless they're bonkers!), so will make their own choices. I'm sure they'll welcome you telling them the issues you've had with him in the past though. I think you would be out of order to demand they wore one. Suggest yes, but insist, no.
 
If you trust him to back your horse you should be able to trust him to make his own decisions about safety, I would think it unlikely he will use a body protector and being told to is not going to work.
I have backed numerous horses and ponies over the years for clients and have never worn one, I like to be free to move not restricted in any way, a hat is a different matter your head if damaged will not repair but a body protector will not really prevent most injuries involved with coming off a youngster. If he is good at his job he will not fall off the horse will be well prepared and confident at each stage.
 
If he makes his living partly out of backing horses, what makes you think yours is any more unpredictable than others that he has backed?!

There is no harm in asking though....
 
Sidney said:
If he makes his living partly out of backing horses, what makes you think yours is any more unpredictable than others that he has backed?!

There is no harm in asking though....
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Another good point. Any horse is unpredictable and even the quietest horse can spook. I'm sure he'll proceed with caution.
 
Sidney said:
If he makes his living partly out of backing horses, what makes you think yours is any more unpredictable than others that he has backed?!

There is no harm in asking though....
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I don't know, maybe I'm just more honest than a lot of people? He did say he appreciated me telling him about his past and that a lot of people don't do that same!

I'm sure he'll be fine and he was just going through the terrible twos but I don't want him to hurt someone! but you're right it is the guys job and im sure he'll be able to cope with him!
 
Nice that ur concerned but it's really not standard to wear one. As a kid I used to hide mine everywhere it was so embarrassing, dad made me wear one to jump and I got teased un-mercifully for it! I wear one now for jumping and b2 psycho days but this guy's a pro! I'd probably decline the job if u tried to insist as I'd expect a nightmare owner.

Eta that sounds like I think ur nightmare, I don't but u get what I mean, get too instant and he may wonder if ull be breathing down his neck all time telling him how to do his job. I think it's sweet ur honest and concerned
 
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Spotsrock said:
Nice that ur concerned but it's really not standard to wear one. As a kid I used to hide mine everywhere it was so embarrassing, dad made me wear one to jump and I got teased un-mercifully for it! I wear one now for jumping and b2 psycho days but this guy's a pro! I'd probably decline the job if u tried to insist as I'd expect a nightmare owner.

Eta that sounds like I think ur nightmare, I don't but u get what I mean, get too instant and he may wonder if ull be breathing down his neck all time telling him how to do his job. I think it's sweet ur honest and concerned
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haha that's cool, im not easily offended! I am really worried coz he was unhandled when I got him and only really knows me, the vets and the farrier! he does love people though, so im sure he'll be fine but I do worry about him! I will try and not go to see him too much and defo wont tell him his job! like you all say he's the pro, im not hehe!!
 
Really Ive never had a issue with it? leaning over etc I wouldn't but as soon as i'm moving on a youngen Ill have one on untill I feel I can trust it enough to take it off.
 
I've never worn one backing a youngster and wouldn't either - you are less flexible, which doesn't encourage a young horse, and I feel therefore more likely to come off, which isn't good for their confidence!!!
 
kerrieberry2 said:
haha that's cool, im not easily offended! I am really worried coz he was unhandled when I got him and only really knows me, the vets and the farrier! he does love people though, so im sure he'll be fine but I do worry about him!
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It's nice that you are concerned but I can assure you anyone worth their salt will assess any horses presented for backing through groundwork. By the time they actually get on the horse they will have a dam good idea what to expect and procedd accordingly.
 
kerrieberry2 said:
I wouldn't feel comfortable if the guy got on him without wearing a body protector, can I demand that any time he gets on him that he wears one?
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Yes but he might just laugh in your face :)

Don't worry - its his job. He won't just jump on the horse the day you'll pick it up, he'll spend time assessing it and working with it on the ground to ensue the horse is ready before he gets on.
If he does come off, which there's always a chance of, he'll know that it's an occupational hazard of the job. That's why he gets paid for it :)
 
The one who backed a really sharp horse of mine said he would never wear a body protector because it starts from the assumption that you might come off, and that's a really bad idea to have in your head when backing a horse.

Good point, eh?
 
I wouldn't even ask. Honestly. If you do and especially if you make a thing of it and he agrees to please you, then you are increasing his chances of getting hurt if he doesn't normally wear one. He'll have his way of doing it and changing any of that will increase the risk, not decrease it so bear that in mind. You've told him about the horse, so as others have said, put it writing and let go of the worry.

Regarding the worry, if you are planning on being there for any of the work, please do your trainer and more importantly your horse as favour and if you ever start to feel tense/nervous/anxious....walk away and out of sight. It's amazing how much it can affect a horse when there is someone around who is tense. As CPT has said, the assumption needs to be that it is all going to be fine and dandy and mostly, it is.

When Molly reared over with me last year, I believe a large contributing factor was my YO. Not that it was her fault at all, but she is a worrier/flapper/panicker and she was extremely panicky at the time. She got stressed with her horse being nappy so smacked her which is what initially spooked Molly which meant Molly and I were in the middle of the road. There was no traffic, there was no rush so there was no need for any worry but I was having a hard time staying calm with her panicky and tense flapping about getting out of the road, "get off, you're in the road, are you ok, was it my fault, omg it was my fault, I am so sorry, let me lead her back in, get off her, you need to get out of the road, are you ok, it was my fault, I'm sorry"....the words were coming like a freight train despite me repeatedly and calmly asking her to please be quiet. It wasn't her fault Molly reared, but it was definitely a factor.

As an aside, her sons pony could be a bit tricky. Anything being done to him my farrier or vet and he can rear and be a little naughty. With her there, I have had him rear up and come down on my arm a good half a dozen times. I have had to shout at her to go out of sight and the moment she does, he instantly clams down.

So please, just bear that in mind. I'm obviously not saying you are like my old YO...I don't know you...but just the fact that you are worried about the trainer getting hurt can be enough to affect the horse and worsen the situation, so if that's the case, best to stay away or at least at a good distance if that makes sense.

Hope it all goes well.....how exciting :)
 
maccachic said:
Same could be said for xc??
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Different though. Falling off a young horse on a soft arena surface and falling at high speed onto a solid fence?

When backing a young horse, you want to be as relaxed and chilled out as possible, whilst paying total attention to what the horse is saying. Having a BP on makes you more rigid, and I feel that transmits very easily to a young, unsure horse. It's a stage you don't want to mess up, and tbh the likelihood of falling isn't that high (I've broken a lot and never had one throw me at the backing stage, it's usually later if it all) if you prepare the horse for backing properly.
 
khalswitz said:
Different though. Falling off a young horse on a soft arena surface and falling at high speed onto a solid fence?

When backing a young horse, you want to be as relaxed and chilled out as possible, whilst paying total attention to what the horse is saying. Having a BP on makes you more rigid, and I feel that transmits very easily to a young, unsure horse. It's a stage you don't want to mess up, and tbh the likelihood of falling isn't that high (I've broken a lot and never had one throw me at the backing stage, it's usually later if it all) if you prepare the horse for backing properly.
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Ah I have never had a nice soft arena always done in paddocks. Arenas are a luxury over here (New Zealand).

I guess it depends on how you define backing as well, I will lean over etc without it but as soon as I ask the horse to move off Ill be wearing one. I don't find mine restrictive at all and haven't needed it yet however there was one time on my older horse I wish I was wearing it. Murphy's Law.
 
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If its his job then he knows the risks and issues it would cause himselfif would cause if he was injured.

I dont see how you can demand he wears one.
You could say you would prefer if he wore a body protector.
Or if you think your horse is going to the challanging type, not the straight forward type to back.
 
maccachic said:
Ah I have never had a nice soft arena always done in paddocks. Arenas are a luxury over here (New Zealand).

I guess it depends on how you define backing as well, I will lean over etc without it but as soon as I ask the horse to move off Ill be wearing one. I don't find mine restrictive at all and haven't needed it yet however there was one time on my older horse I wish I was wearing it. Murphy's Law.
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Fair enough. By the time I leave the arena, the horse knows about aids to walk, trot, stop and turn, so they have an idea. And I've found that by that stage, if you've been quiet and not rushed them, then the worst they throw once you start riding them out is a bit of a buck or a spook - they don't tend to try to get you off (plus I always take a clam older horse, and they always want to stay near them). So out of % of times a breaker has had me off, versus the restriction/stiffness it creates, I'd rather not have one on for a youngster. in it's first four weeks of riding anyway.

TBH, I feel the same though when riding my own horse. He's had a me a few times, but I'm more restricted and therefore more likely to come off with one on, so wearing one puts me in brain mode of coming off... so I don't. Plus I seem to fall oddly with a BP on - I always end up on my back like a turtle, and always seem to end up hurting my neck, whereas coming off normally I'm pretty quick at a tuck-up.
 
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