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 .
It's something I've been thinking about, I don't as I do find them restrictive unless I need too. But I'm often on my own, miles from home so have been thinking about something as I'm not getting any younger, especially with the ground being so hard - the Charles Owen Eclipse (or possibly the Shadow) might be contenders.
 
Skib said:
Our yard dont allow air jackets. Though I guess they might let me if I insisted
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That’s got to be one for the ‘random yard rules’ thread that was running!

I honestly don’t know who these people are who think they can dictate what safety gear you use! It’s like saying they don’t allow skull caps!
 
Identityincrisis said:
That’s got to be one for the ‘random yard rules’ thread that was running!

I honestly don’t know who these people are who think they can dictate what safety gear you use! It’s like saying they don’t allow skull caps!
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My RS won't let people jump now if they're not wearing a body protector. They introduced the rule about a year or so ago.
 
On the Hooligan then unless I'm schooling at home it's on - he's worked his way through my hat budget over the past 3 years so we have history!

Never wear it on the microcob though.
 
I wear a ti22 (only one I could get to fit my large chest😂)...... Won't get on a horse without it on. Yes, it's a bit bulky, but, you only get one back/set of ribs in this life!!
 
I wear a race safe every time I ride. I am an older rider and don’t bounce so well now. Had to many falls in the past.
 
I don't want to derail the thread but I need a new body protector.

If I buy a 2018 level it's going to be a while before they up the safety standard for competing again isn't it?

There's no 2020 level or anything like that out there that they'll make the new standard in a couple of years?
 
Penguin_Toes said:
I don't want to derail the thread but I need a new body protector.

If I buy a 2018 level it's going to be a while before they up the safety standard for competing again isn't it?

There's no 2020 level or anything like that out there that they'll make the new standard in a couple of years?
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I just looked into this and yes maybe a couple more years yet before a new one is out but in saying that, 9 years between 2009/2018 and 7 between 2018/2025 so probably expect one in 2027?
 
Nah.
I don't fall off terribly easily though. Of my current horses (all of whom I backed), I have fallen off one of them once, when I got lost at a SJ comp and missed her spectacularly into a fence, so 100% my fault and I was too distracted by my brain being useless to focus on staying in the plate.
Every BP that I've ever owned/tried I have found distracting or restrictive for one reason or another. I have one that I wear for xc but that's it.
 
Barton Bounty said:
I just looked into this and yes maybe a couple more years yet before a new one is out but in saying that, 9 years between 2009/2018 and 7 between 2018/2025 so probably expect one in 2027?
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That wouldn't be too bad then, and it would be a good few years before they'd insist everyone moved up again you'd hope!
 
ycbm said:
I've had a look at the Eclipse, I reckon that's going to cause a heck of a sweaty back in summer!
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I have a Champion Sculpt back protector and my back is definitely sweaty when I take it off after a summer ride but I don't feel any hotter whilst wearing it and don't even notice I have it on.

I tend to either land on my feet or back when I come off. I've broken 8 ribs in 3 falls and only one was at the front and that was when a horse came down on me, I then did 3 ribs and an elbow by having a seizure mid gallop and hitting the deck and the last 4 were joined by a spinal fracture from being thrown into a tree. I think I can say that my ribs are definitely my weak point and I land on them a lot 🙈
 
I only wear one for cross country or when backing a youngster.
I have a racesafe, it is comfortable but I get too hot to wear it all the time.
 
The other day my husband came out for a walk with me and my horse, for company and to get his steps in. I said, in front of him, “Hmmm just trying to figure out if it’s a body protector kind of day…” He sternly replied that every day should be a body protector day 😬

My horse is 5 next month and can be very on his toes at times. I have a Racesafe. It is warm but I know I should wear it every hack!!
 
I wear a Point Two air jacket and have done so for over a decade. I wear it all the time hacking, most of the time schooling and training but not for showing or dressage competitions.

I also have a Racesafe Provent for XC but I couldn’t wear it all the time as it’s too hot and uncomfortable.
 
I never used to, unless it was required for competition. Then having lost my horse, I started riding someone else's horse. He is very good, a lovely boy, but in view of my age and that he is a bit timid, I decided that I would find and wear my body protector, for the owner's sake as much as anything. It would not meet present day standards for competition, but it is better than nothing and as a bonus has shoulder protection.

It is reasonably comfortable to ride in, maybe slightly too long in the body, as I am mostly walking and trotting rather than standing up in the stirrups cantering across country.

A friend says her Racesafe is very comfortable, which she wears all the time and I witnessed its effectiveness when a pheasant flew up between her horse's front legs and she fell onto a stoney farm track.

I do remember that the last time I fell and was hurt was cantering alongside a stream, two ducks flew up, my horse shied and tripped and I flew off over his head. I broke a rib, which could have been my back, I realised later. I wasn't wearing a back protector then.
 
I think I need a different body protector I hate mine it’s so bulky and stiff I feel like I ride like a stick when I wear it
 
Identityincrisis said:
That’s got to be one for the ‘random yard rules’ thread that was running!

I honestly don’t know who these people are who think they can dictate what safety gear you use! It’s like saying they don’t allow skull caps!
Click to expand...
I think you'll find that Skib has a share of an RS horse. There are a good number of RS that won't allow air jackets.
 
Identityincrisis said:
That’s got to be one for the ‘random yard rules’ thread that was running!

I honestly don’t know who these people are who think they can dictate what safety gear you use! It’s like saying they don’t allow skull caps!
Click to expand...
The logic is that sharer riders may not attach anything to the horse. I guess in case the horse falls onto it.
 
All these replies are so interesting. I started wearing one this year (race safe) and I can honestly say it took a whole month for it to be comfortable but now I really don’t mind it. It’s lovely when you take them off though like taking your bra off! 🤣. I didn’t take it to Spain for my holidays as I thought it would be too hot! Ha ha. Freezing rain one day and 40mph winds! 🤣
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I think you'll find that Skib has a share of an RS horse. There are a good number of RS that won't allow air jackets.
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No. My share is at a sharing yard where the rules are different. As I posted. They dont allow air jackets. But that isnt a problem as I dont really want to wear one.
Our local RSs both allow air jackets because my OH used to wear one at both places.
 
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