Do you routinely wear a body protector when you ride?

Do you routinely use a body protector when you ride?

  • Yes

    Votes: 46 43.4%

  • No

    Votes: 60 56.6%
  • Total voters
    106
  • Poll closed .
E

Expo

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15 July 2016
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I own a body protector of the type made from rigid high density foam. It is certified for use to the current safety standards. However, I quite simply hate it and just can’t bring myself to actually use/wear it, hence it has become a fairly useless tack room ornament. It feels bulky and uncomfortable in use as well as making me very hot, even in cold weather. A quick poll of other liveries at my yard shows that about half of us wear a similar body protector, a couple of people have air vests of different types, and the rest of us ride without any type of safety body protection.

I am a happy hacker a type of rider, do an occasional flat work lesson and never jump. My horse is a sensible type, not prone to spooking and I generally feel perfectly safe when riding.

So, are you a regular body protector wearer?
 
I wear an air jacket rather than body protector, but have ticked yes. I wear it to hack and usually not to school unless we are doing more canter work
 
I put yes as I routinely wear an air jacket every time I hack, however I don’t wear an air jacket when I’m schooling in the arena unless it’s a young/ fresh horse.
 
I did when my horse was younger/slightly more unpredictable but I havent in a long time now, I also find it very rigid and restrictive. I did once come off on the road in it and as much as I was glad I was wearing it then, I’m not actually sure I would’ve come off at all without it 😬 I’ve bought an air jacket second hand that needs a service but I’m not sure id use that other than jumping now that I’m used to being without anything again.
 
If I'm doing something I think he will find exciting or when jumping then I wear my full body protector and/or air jacket, for everyday riding I have a back protector that I wear everytime as my spine is so knackered I'm one wrong fall away from paralysis...specialists words...so it makes my family feel better and tbf I'm less tense knowing I have that bit of extra protection.
 
IrishMilo said:
Air jacket every time for every horse these days. Seems mad not to now.
Click to expand...

I have a spooky one, always wear air jacket now. I had to make a rule for myself to start with now it is just second nature.

Edited to add I am old, live alone and I need to keep as safe as I can. I know it is not 100% but seems the sensible thing to do.
 
I always wear one when I hack, but not when schooling. It's pretty warm in the summer, but I'd rather be safe than sorry whilst cantering over the hills!
 
Big horse I never get on without an air jacket.

He only hacks but a) it's a long way down b) he can be unpredictable.

I've worn one on him since he was about 6yrs old. He'll be 17 this year 🙈..

Just realised, now have an empty cannister for each year he's been alive 🤣🤣.
 
I wear a Racesafe one and have recently bought shoulder protectors for it too. This is after coming off in November and badly breaking my collar bone. The only time I don't wear it at the moment is when I'm doing mounted archery. I'm a firm believer in PPE. For snowboarding, I wear wrist guards, knee pads, padded shorts, a back protector and a helmet!
 
No, because in a regular body protector I can't sit with the movement. Had to wear one while taking jumping lessons and felt terribly constricted.
Air jacket would never work for me, I would forget to untie the cord EVERY time I get off, or make it go off any other way possible, I know myself all too well 🤣 .

I'm considering a back protector for jumping my young-ish horse, but not gotten round to buying one yet.
 
I’ve got one of those funny half-protectors (racesafe motionlite) for hacking as I recognise unpredictable things could happen.
My risk assessment in the school is that as I have sensible horse and can mainly control anything unpredictable, no protector.
Jumping ….. full protector with added gaffer tape!
 
Only when forced to- I also find them restrictive and far too hot. That said, both of mine are 14.1, so I might take a different view if I was miles in the air!
I did wonder about an air jacket, but they're so expensive and I'd also forget to unclip and end up paying for far too many canisters each year 😆
 
Yes because I'm a nervous nelly and my pony can be sharp. My racesafe is really quite comfy. The only reason I don't have an air jacket is because I jump on and off a lot and would definitely forget to unclip.
 
Yes. Racesafe whenever riding at home but bizarrely get on him at a competition without. That is showing and dressage.
 
Don't ride now but haven’t got on a horse without an air jacket on for about ten years.
.
 
I used to wear one all the time when I first got my boy. He was a 4 year old Arab. He is now 21, our rides have toned down a teeney bit 😁. I would buy a newer model if jumping. And will reassess the back protectors available when I back my youngster in 3 years time.
 
Yes, I broke my back 2 years ago by falling off in a walk. When I restarted riding someone mentioned using a body protector and I couldn't fault the logic. Accidents happen at the stupidest of times.
I've been using a body protector plus air jacket for jumping.
Today for the first time I used just air jacket (riding 6.5hrs) as I didn't fancy protector for all that time
 
No, I never wear one. I don’t think I even own one any more come to think of it, certainly not one in the current safety standards. I used to have one when I did Eventing and cross country but that was the only time I wore it. I wore one as a child for jumping.
 
I've just dusted my body protector off to ride a very green TB at the riding school (she decked my instructor, so thought better safe than sorry) luckily haven't had to test it's padding yet but I don't think TB will be staying long, she's not RS material at all.
Before that I last put it on to hack out on an anglo-arab in company with his normal snaffle when I would have preferred a slightly stronger bit.
So basically I put it on when I estimate that the chances of me hitting the ground are high.
 
I bought one after riding in lessons for a year and wore it when hacking. I got so used to hacking in it that, after a fall in the school (group lesson with several falls, I began to wear it whenever I got on a horse. I still do. I dont know I am wearing it.
I look a mess when I ride (and at other times too). Our yard dont allow air jackets. Though I guess they might let me if I insisted
 
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