Do you ride in a body protector?

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bluewhippet

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I have bought one at great expense and find that I never get round to using it. Wondering whether to return it the tack shop and swap for something else or if I should force myself to use it.
 
I used to wear mine every time I rode. I'm afraid to say I've lapsed recently, but every time I have fallen off has been with my body protector, so I have been glad for it.

Do you do much jumping? I would def wear it when I'm jumping - recently was thrown off at a jump straight into the wing, and was badly winded, spose my ribs may have bruised or something if I had not been wearing my body.

I want to get a new one this year and get back into wearing it all the time. May be a bit hotter, but its also safer.
 
Deffinately force yourself to use it!! In January my OH bought me one for my birthday. After 30 years of riding, I had never used one before, so it has taken some getting used to, but I'm convinced it was a really good investment. Anything to protect yourself surely must be a good idea?
 
I grew up never wearing one, took some very heavy falls, and my poor back is now paying the price, of course, i started wearing one after all the damage done, but i wouldnt ride without one now. Maybe it's the fact that i dont have the same confidence as I once had, and I hate pain, so anything that helps is welcomed!!!!
 
3Beasties said:
I only use one for XC, don't actually own one that fits so have to borrow one from a friend :o :o
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I work in a saddlery and have been trained to fit various makes of body protectors and hats. I believe that borrowing a protector, or even a hat, is not a good idea as ill fitting equipment can be worse than not having any at all! Both of these should be professionally fitted!
 
Maybe a bit off topic but if anyone does have a body protector they don't use (I'm 5"11) please PM me and I'd gladly buy it off of you!

I definitely need one as I'm having a jumping lesson next week, eek!
 
No! I have a P2 which I wear show jumping and when I xc I wear both the P2 and my BP but I hate the BP. Even though its a racesafe one I just can't get on with it as I feel so restricted, that's why I love my P2 despite all the slating they get. :)
 
bluewhippet said:
I have bought one at great expense and find that I never get round to using it. Wondering whether to return it the tack shop and swap for something else or if I should force myself :to use it.
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I almost always use it for schooling and always useit for jumping, cross country and hacking. I can't afford to be hurt with seven horses, four dogs, a hubby and two sons to look after.
 
I used to always, but then got out of the habit. But after recent events (accidents and falls), I felt like I would want to wear one again, especially when going out. So I did a lot of research before I bought a Racesafe.

I wore it for the first time when I went out for my little walks last week and I was amazed at how comfy it was! Even though it was 27 degrees on Thursday (yes, 27!!!), I didn't feel to warm, either! Result! :D
 
bought one and wore it once first time i sat on my little mare its now full of cobwebs as at 47 they just werent around in years gone by and i just cant wear them . BUT and believe me its a BIG BUT I believe they are brilliant and should be worn and youngsters encouraged to wear them and def used is XC and SJ its just this old body cant get used to them lol :)
 
I never used to because it was so stiff and uncomfortable but then i begged my parents to buy me a racesafe one, it is so comfy (as in i don't really realise im wearing a body protector) So now yes i wear it all the time.
i used to 'only wear it for XC, but then when i got bought a new one which was, quite expensive, parents were like 'wear it' and my mum actually commented saying you could be just as like to fall out hacking onto the road if a horse had a silly spook or SJ at home as i normally jump bigger there...
 
I have one and wear it all the time. Never used to wear one when I was younger until I had a crunching fall and now have a bad back. I ride a lot of young or unpredictable horses out hacking so I like to make sure I have a BP on!

Used to wear it just for jumping on my loan mare, wore it out hacking as I was planning to have a quick jump straight after, cantering through a field and she fell underneath me....so glad I was wearing it, especially when I had her hooves on my chest!!
 
bex.louise said:
I work in a saddlery and have been trained to fit various makes of body protectors and hats. I believe that borrowing a protector, or even a hat, is not a good idea as ill fitting equipment can be worse than not having any at all! Both of these should be professionally fitted!
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My friends fits me where as my own one doesn't hence why I borrow hers :)
 
I had a fitting in a saddlery shop once; and know that I couldn't possibly wear one. It felt tight, hot and uncomfortable, and positively claustrophobic to be in for any length of time.

I felt I couldn't breathe properly in it, and couldn't get the damn thing off fast enough.

Am quite interested in the "Racesafe" ones people have been mentioning though.

IF there was something out there that was wearable, breatheable and comfortable (and affordable!): then happy hackers like me who don't do X-country or SJ would probably buy one, but I think the whole design of them needs looking at.
 
Thanks very much. Maybe I will try it on again. Not uncomfortable really - just a bit different from what I am used to and something else to remember. But I have 2 little girls, a mother, 2 dogs, a cat and a horse who all rely on me so I should just force myself.
 
Hi Yes I always ride with a body protector, but it takes some time to find a comfortable one, as I feel that is the reason some people don't use them.:)
 
Never owned one, and rode in one once when I was learning to canter never would again, and would only wear one if I knew the horse to be silly, or if it required it in competing.
 
Kokopelli said:
No! I have a P2 which I wear show jumping and when I xc I wear both the P2 and my BP but I hate the BP. Even though its a racesafe one I just can't get on with it as I feel so restricted, that's why I love my P2 despite all the slating they get. :)
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But I thought you had to wear a BP with a P2?

This is a subject im currently debating, I was thrown off my horse 2 months ago onto the road whilst hacking and ended up with a dislocated hip and 7 fractures in my lower back and pelvic area. I will not be able to ride for a while but when I do get back on what should I wear???
Im not convinced a BP would have prevented my fractures as they are all below where a BP would sit and I think Id hate the feel of a BP.

So can you wear the P2 without a BP and it will work in the way an airbag would on impact of hitting the ground?
 
Started to wear one after a fall where I think I broke a rib and was off work for 2 weeks and in a lot of pain, now just put it on when I ride and then I forget I am wearing it. The only time it is awkward to wear is when it is very coldbut if I put it on when I groom before riding my body heat softens it before I get on. I would have thought that if myjodsaretoo tight found the body protector that uncomfortable it was the wrong size or another style would feel better.
 
Brontie said:
Never owned one, and rode in one once when I was learning to canter never would again, and would only wear one if I knew the horse to be silly, or if it required it in competing.[/QUOTE

It shouldn't matter if the horse was a silly one or not - that's coming from someone lying in the trauma ward with a broken vertebrae!

I'm unsure if the bp could have prevented any fractures however it did support my spine until the paramedics arrived limiting any further damage. I would still always wear one.
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