Do you wear a Body Protector??

Do you wear a body protector?

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bonbeau

bonbeau

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Hello :)

I'm just interested to see how many people wear a body protector? And if it's a general thing or just for a particular activity?

And what kind? The standard type or a racesafe type? I'm not sure if there are any others?!

I've found the prices really vary and wonder if it's better to go for a more expensive one or if a cheaper one will be just as safe...and there's also the question of comfort!
 
I compete in a race safe and point two, sometimes XC school in them- depending on what I’m doing and what I’m on. If I didn’t have an air bag then ide prefer the Rodney Powell because there a little firmer on the spine esp if you get the newer one with the hardened bit down the spine but then I use mine for competition so feel it’s quite important, perhaps not so if just for hacking ..... But ever one is different; it’s very much personal preference!
 
Don't wear it on my cob as he is a total dude, but wear it on most other horses as got into the habit when breaking in a couple of youngsters earlier this year.
 
All the time I'm afraid.
Unfortunately the people I know who have had preventable injuries have had them schooling or hacking out. One had 3 months flat on her back in hospital after a fall in the school. She didn't put her back protector on because she 'was just doing flatwork'. Another it took us an hour of searching to find on the off road riding after her horse slipped on a manhole cover - she didn't wear it because she was just going for 'a walk'. Think she thought differently after lying there for an hour till we found her, and a trip to hospital in the air ambulance.
My horse is relatively safe, but they are flight animals and I can't guarantee that a bird won't fly out of the hedge in front of us, boy racers won't be coming round the next corner too fast, etc....

At the end of the day I can't afford to take the risk.
 
I wear one for mostly for jumping, always for XC. I have a Rodney Powell Elite Pro which cost £104 and I love it. It moulds to your body and you actually forget you are wearing it after 10 mins its that comfy. It has a zip fastening front too which I prefer. I also have a Airowear Reiver Elite which is a bit bulkier and not so comfy - I keep it as my back up and its about £60 I think. My daugher has a Airowear Zippa 2001 which seems to be nice a comfy for her - it also has a zip front and retails around £50
 
I always wear one now, used to be a bit naiive and only war one when jumping or out hacking, never for flatwork. Then had a nasty fall doing just flatwork, thankfully nothing too serious, but now i wear one whenever i ride.
I have a Harry Hall one which is quite good, i got that for about £70, which i thought was quite cheap in comparison to others, and as long is its up to the current safety standards which is quite important then they are just as good as the more expensiv ones.
 
I wear mine on endurance rides, for any form of jumping or if we take the box out for a hack. I honestly have no idea why I don't wear it for anything else, I couldn't even say it was because I find them uncomfortable or that my horses are safe (they are primarily but can be prone to spooking, slamming the brakes or rodeoing.)
 
Too be honest I have got a little lax with this I used to wear one everytime I jumped my old horse as he was unpredictable.

However new horse is so good I don't often wear one not even when jumping, but I should do especially as he is still only young and I am not getting any younger
 
I do when its compulsory and for XC schooling. Glad I do aswell, a few weeks ago silly cob decided to get stuck on a jump, front legs flailing around near me who was on the floor lol! I use one of the normal ones and find it quite comfy :)
 
A race safe all the time. It's just a virtuous habit I have got into. The way I see it, is that if I fell off & hurt myself then it would put a lot of people out looking after me, so it is selfish not to at least try and minimize the risk?
 
I only go hacking but bought my first body protector recently following what was not too bad a fall but still left me with a possible cracked rib. It was literally a pain plus so inconvenient not being able to do things for the next three weeks. I'm also of bus pass age and don't heal as fast and so now wear one every time I go out.
 
Yes always for fast work, jumping, young or unknown horses.

Generally no for hacking my old chap unless ground is like concrete...I've learnt from experience that falling off from walk onto a concrete surface hurts like hell and would have hurt a lot less if I'd been wearing one so I ought to wear one all the time.
 
I didn't until my mare collapsed on top of me one day (she developed narcolepsy). It was only on the yard and by pure fluke I wasn't hurt but it really made me think. I wear one all the time now even just for hacking. Doesn't make any difference wearing it and you never know what's round the corner.
 
I voted all of the time because it depends on the horse and what I am doing. I wear one on every horse I ride for hacking or jumping, but not for schooling on some horses. There are a couple of horses where I wear one all the time.
 
Almost all the time. wear mine everytime i hack and when jumping. always wear if ever riding on my own. the only time i dont is when i have lessons which is mainly improving position and posture as i have had issues with sitting in the saddle, especially in canter and BP doesn't help that!
 
I don't wear one as I find it too restricting, maybe not a good fit. I did buy at a reputable saddlers and was 'fitted'.

I do only hack these days and am aware that an accident can happen at any time.

Jane
 
gingerninja11 said:
All the time I'm afraid.
Unfortunately the people I know who have had preventable injuries have had them schooling or hacking out. One had 3 months flat on her back in hospital after a fall in the school. She didn't put her back protector on because she 'was just doing flatwork'. Another it took us an hour of searching to find on the off road riding after her horse slipped on a manhole cover - she didn't wear it because she was just going for 'a walk'. Think she thought differently after lying there for an hour till we found her, and a trip to hospital in the air ambulance.
My horse is relatively safe, but they are flight animals and I can't guarantee that a bird won't fly out of the hedge in front of us, boy racers won't be coming round the next corner too fast, etc....

At the end of the day I can't afford to take the risk.
Click to expand...

^ Totally that ^
Never used to until had a nasty fall "only doing flatwork in the school" and ended up airlifted to hospital with broken ribs and punctured lung. 4 months later still suffering the side effects and the bp really helps support the old injury and keeps me safe. Also only way I can dismount properly at moment at provides extra layer between ribs and saddle!! Still don't like them but have a Racesafe on order which I hope proves to be more inviting to keep wearing!!
 
I used to only wear it for xc, since my accident back before Easter that has left me with a limited right ARM and shoulder and a further big operation on Monday, I will always wear one!

My mare is safe and sturdy as they come hacking but slipped when cantering and flipped over. You can never tell!
 
I've got an aerowear outlyne one it's so comfortable you hardly know you're wearing it... Plus it makes me feel safer wearing it and boosts my confidence accordingly :) i'd recommend an outlyne to anyone.
 
I usually never wear one unless going xc or jumping away from the yard but after falling off my 4yr last week i think il wear it everytime I jump!!
 
All of the time. I have a Kanteq.

Not because of my horse but because of the very nature of dealing with a flight animal - you never know and I don't bounce as well now.

I had a nasty fall from a supposedly bombproof RS horse. Had it not been for my bp, I would have been hobbling around with cracked or broken ribs.
 
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