Do you hack in a Body Protector?

Damnation

Damnation

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2008
Messages
9,662
Location
North Cumbria
Visit site
I am just curious really. I don't jump so I don't actually own one. But when I rode in one a few years ago I just couldn't get on with it!
I found it so resctictive and when the horse arsed around I found it very difficult to be able to manover myself to stay on.
But I thought to myself the other day my mare is good on the roads but when she has a moment she does it properly! And falling off onto tarmac must be.. sore!!
But they seem to be like marmite. People I have spoken to either love their BP's or hate them and refuse to ride in them unless its XC.
Do you hack in a BP? If so why?
If you don't hack in a BP - why not?
D :D

P.s If people could reccomend me a BP for someone who is quite curvy ;) but short.. with boobs :eek: :o
 
I am just startingt to bring an ex racer back into work, i have a body protector, i havent worn it the first 2 tmies i rode him as i couldnt find it. However last time i rode him he was quite naughty, i am now going to wear my BP again at least until i know him and we are slightly further on in reschooling!! I would definately wear it to hack as im only in school at present.
I too hate the feeling of them and feel they restrict me, i am going to try a airowear outlyne as they are more specifically shaped for women when i get paid. Mine is a race safe at moment but quite supple. However i think i can deal with a bit of restriction for a while rather than falling off and breaking my back!!
 
I used to on my mare who was part bred with Satan and could execute a 360 degree turn on a tarmac road faster than you could say 'exorcist'. But with my current horse I don't bother - he's a dream on the road (I have probably cursed myself to a crashing fall at the weekend LOL).

I'm afraid I can't help you with a BP recommendation - I am tall and skinny and boobless!!
 
I don't hack in one and only wear one when going XC (which is borrowed from a friend as I don't have one that fits!).
 
I'm not a fan. I would only ever use one XC, hunting (my horse is a plonker and loses his brain) or on something it would be dangerous to ride without (ie more than a 50% chance of hitting the deck)

I hate them- horrid things.

As I get older I may appreciate them more as I'll break more easily, but they are truly horrid things :s
 
Damnation said:
I am just curious really. I don't jump so I don't actually own one. But when I rode in one a few years ago I just couldn't get on with it!
I found it so resctictive and when the horse arsed around I found it very difficult to be able to manover myself to stay on.
But I thought to myself the other day my mare is good on the roads but when she has a moment she does it properly! And falling off onto tarmac must be.. sore!!
But they seem to be like marmite. People I have spoken to either love their BP's or hate them and refuse to ride in them unless its XC.
Do you hack in a BP? If so why?
If you don't hack in a BP - why not?
D :D

P.s If people could reccomend me a BP for someone who is quite curvy ;) but short.. with boobs :eek: :o
Click to expand...


No I have never considered hacking in a body protector on the roads, but if I were riding round the local riding club members ride or on a UK chasers course I would never be without one even if I were just walking around. But to be honest I certainly wouldn't think less of anyone if they did wear one to hack out.

I used to wear one to show jump both at home and at competitions but the falls that I encountered were not helped by the body protector and if anything slightly hindered me.
 
The only time I DON'T wear one is when I'm schooling......


I would suggest going to some good tack stores and getting one fitted. Go to a few to try diff makes if you're not sure. But ask the person who is fitting it if they are trained to do so.

If one fits properly you will be able to forget it once you get used to that slightly bulky feeling. Personally I like and recommend Airowears.
 
applecart14 said:
No I have never considered hacking in a body protector on the roads, but if I were riding round the local riding club members ride or on a UK chasers course I would never be without one even if I were just walking around. But to be honest I certainly wouldn't think less of anyone if they did wear one to hack out.

I used to wear one to show jump both at home and at competitions but the falls that I encountered were not helped by the body protector and if anything slightly hindered me.
Click to expand...

This is what I found when I rode in one!!
I couldn't move with the horse if it bucked or reared because the bloody back protector would stop me!!
I am considering one with this mare because the first time I hacked her we galloped home and in any other saddle I would have decked it, at gallop, onto tarmac :eek:
She doesn't do it now I have learnt the controlles but I am considering one.. still on the fence mind because having boobs and being short means its hard to find one that will fit!!
Apparently all riders are 6ft and flat chested men!!! :D
 
applecart14 said:
But to be honest I certainly wouldn't think less of anyone if they did wear one to hack out.
QUOTE]

Applecart i find it interesting you say you wouldnt think any less of someone for wearing one to ride on what is the hardest surface to come off onto. I find that strange really! Sorry if i have not understoof what you are saying it is after all friday 13th!;)
Click to expand...
 
Yes, a racesafe and if I am on the roads I pull a fluorescent cycling jersey over it.

Why not? Its like everything if you make it a habit you just don't think about it.
 
dizzydancer said:
applecart14 said:
But to be honest I certainly wouldn't think less of anyone if they did wear one to hack out.
QUOTE]

Applecart i find it interesting you say you wouldnt think any less of someone for wearing one to ride on what is the hardest surface to come off onto. I find that strange really! Sorry if i have not understoof what you are saying it is after all friday 13th!;)
Click to expand...

Oh yes so it is. I am deffo not hacking today then.. eep!!! :eek:
Click to expand...
 
some times i do sometimes i don't spent all summer hacking and jumping and didn't wear it once mostly lovely soft sand tracks though for me it depends on the surface, the horse, what i'm planning on doing, and how confident i am feeling oh and also my back as sometimes it needs extra support sometimes it is too stiff and a body protector will make it worse etc etc etc. atm i wear one hacking as i am feeling a bit fragile and i am riding a rather large babyish horse. i dont find them all that restrictive really am i do tend to fall off when not wearing it sods law i suppose does mean i have learnt to tuck and roll with out and can fall properly with or without body protector. most of my friends think i need one of those hockey goaly helmets though as i seem to injure my face most when falling off so body protector no use there :P
 
I hack in one. The Airowear outlyne. Yes it was uncomfortable at first, but it has definitely softened over time and is quite comfy. Mentally, as well, I "feel" safer with it.

And I am so glad I do wear it...I had a nasty fall at gallop after a spook in the woods a few weeks ago.

But, I don't school in one (although I probably should).
 
I never ride without one now having had several falls within short succession a couple of years ago, twice resulting in broken ribs which are very painful and take weeks to heal.
I have a RaceSafe which with my whopping 36HH's also acts as good support!
When I first bought it, despite having it correctly fitted in the shop, I found it too long in the back and it caught on the back on my saddle, which actually contributed to a couple of my falls. I contacted RaceSafe and they shortened it for me. It now fits perfectly and I don't really think about it when I'm wearing it as it is very comfortable. Just not so comfortable when I take it off as it makes me rather sweaty (sorry if too much info).
 
I have an aerowear outlyne it fits brilliantly is relatively lightweight and I can jump in it no problem. I paid £130 for mine from my local tack shop as they put all the work in to fit it but you can get them cheaper online. My boobs are about average but ladies bigger than me would have no problem fitting into one as there's so many ways they can be adjusted. The back is shorter than all the others I tried to so while it protects my spine it doesn't touch the saddle. I'm 5ft 5 and I love mine... In winter I'll wear it all the time but in summer i'll be wearing it while jumping and fast hacking only as it's just too hot in summer even without a BP!
 
Thanks to paranoid, non-horsey parents, I was bought one at the age of about 8 when I started jumping. I've worn one ever since. I dont get on a horse without it and I'm sure its saved me from some serious injuries. I have fallen off on tarmac, and it hurts, I certainly wouldnt suggest it! lol!

I have a friend whose life was saved by her bp, and a friend who broke her back when she wasnt wearing one, so I can see the benefits!

They arent that confortable but once you are used to them you dont notice. I've never found it impaired me when riding through "silly horse" moments, I think you just have to take the time to get used to it.

I;ve actually just bought a new one this week, A Rodney Powell one and I love it! My husband decided I needed a new one (equally as paraqnoid as my parents!)
 
I've worn a Racesafe bp EVERY single time I have ridden, regardless of what I intend to do on my horse. I had it fitted last summer & find it very comfortable. It is now just part of riding, no different than wearing a hat!
I also ride a spooky little bucker so feel I'd be a fool not to wear it!! ;)
 
CeeBee said:
I never ride without one now having had several falls within short succession a couple of years ago, twice resulting in broken ribs which are very painful and take weeks to heal.
I have a RaceSafe which with my whopping 36HH's also acts as good support!
When I first bought it, despite having it correctly fitted in the shop, I found it too long in the back and it caught on the back on my saddle, which actually contributed to a couple of my falls. I contacted RaceSafe and they shortened it for me. It now fits perfectly and I don't really think about it when I'm wearing it as it is very comfortable. Just not so comfortable when I take it off as it makes me rather sweaty (sorry if too much info).
Click to expand...

Having done the same myself and currently recovering from broken ribs and punctured lung following a fall I am definitely geting fitted for a BP when recovered and hopefully it will also make me feel more confident. Never worried when younger but always break when I fall now and you just never know when its going to happen!!
 
Have one and only wear it for XC, i find they get in the way and prevent me from riding properly.

When i did wear mine for a days XC training it bruised my arms as it sticks out from the chest and catches the underside of my arms.

I am short 5'1", curvy size 12 with big boobs also :cool:
 
I wear an Airowear all the time and it's very, very comfy. In fact I feel weird if I don't wear it!

It's probably a cultural thing, but quite a few people in France have asked me why I wear one, but I have also been asked why I wear a hat handling (I think in the UK both practices are a bit more common and don't 'raise an eyebrow' as such even though many people don't subscribe to them).

My only problem is that it gets horribly hot here in the summer and if I overheat I feel dizzy so I may have to take it off for the summer months.
 
I only use one jumping and xc. My husband bought me a Mountain Horse Body Guard jacket for Xmas and I have worn that hacking a few times (cheeky bugger said 'now that you are older'), but it has been an absolute godsend with my aggressive horse as his teeth could not penetrate the shoulder and chest pads and I felt really secure around him in that! Very comfortable jacket but would be too hot in summer
 
Booboos said:
It's probably a cultural thing, but quite a few people in France have asked me why I wear one, but I have also been asked why I wear a hat handling (I think in the UK both practices are a bit more common and don't 'raise an eyebrow' as such even though many people don't subscribe to them).
Click to expand...

This reminds me of being quizzed by the locals in a sauna in Austria as to why I was wearing my bikini and they were all nude! Ugh!
 
I wear mine all the time - it was when I was schooling that I fell off and broke my back. Yes it didn't prevent the injury but it supported my back till the paramedics came.

I find it irrelevant if you have a 'safe horse' as accidents can happen as a result of other people i.e. a car coming round a lane too fast etc.
 
I'd always get it fitted in personby someone who knows what they are talking about as it shouldn't catch you anywhere ... If it does I was told it doesn't fit properly.
 
When I get home and see what make sharers is I'll post it for you, Mine is a 'just togs' rigid one but I am very short and quite top heavy and I actually get on really well with it. It's quite flexible and doesn't get stuck on the back of the saddle which is a problem with being short! It's too hot in summer but I don't notice much difference in my riding.

Sharer has a flexible one which I have tried, it is really comfy and somehow cooler than mine but I can't remember the make, comes in a rigid form which one of the girls at the yard has and likes but I have never tried.

Sharer being under 18 and parentally funded has to comply with parental rules, ie BP everytime she rides.

I wear mine to jump, so SJ, XC, hacking where we intend to jump or may come across things to jump. I don't wear it for a hack where I know there is no jumping or day to day schooling though I do wear it on a new horse the 1st time I ride it but this stems from being on a probationary period at work where I would not get paid for sick leave!! I never used to but have got less brazen recently. Up until 2 years ago I didn't even wear it for big XC on my B as I trust her but I guess if she makes a genuine mistake it would still hurt!

They are generally more accepted than they were when I was Sharer's age, and a lot more comfortable!
 
I never used to wear one.
But now I do for hacking because it makes me more confident.
Definitely dont think people should think less of people that do wear them. My horse is safe and normally sane, and Im a fairly competent rider. But Ive always been let down by my nerves. Wearing one just means I can feel safer and ride better :D
Mine wasnt comfortable when I first put it on, but now its fine, think a combination of it moulding to me and me getting used to having it. I just went to the tack shop and asked them to fit one to me :)
 
I wear mine for schooling, hacking, jumping, xc, dressage... I’ve got a racesafe so it’s super comfy!

My friend is a similar shape to you, she only hacks and I met her out the other day and she said that falling off wearing her new racesafe made a huge difference to the amount of aches and pains she had post fall.

In the heat of summer I’ve schooled without it but I wouldn’t jump or hack without it.

(I’m not very good with pain so I do everything to avoid it ;-) )
 
I have a Kanteq and wear it every time I'm riding. It's great for bigger boobed ladies, shaped for women and comfy to wear.

It's feels heavy lifting it up, but doesn't feel heavy when wearing it.

Another plus, with the technology used, it doesn't need to be changed after a fall.

I forgot to put it in my car the other day and felt naked not wearing it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top