Do you wear a Body Protector??

Do you wear a body protector?

  • Total voters
    0
At the moment I only wear mine for jumping, unless I'm likely to be riding something a bit loopy. The amount of stories I've heard of accidents out hacking though I'm thinking of wearing mine when I go out, although it's not hugely comfortable and possibly doesn't fit me that well any more as I bought it when I was about 13 and I'm now 20! So you can imagine it's one of the older style ones, an Aerowear Reiver Elite I think, but it's a large childs one. I'd like one with a zip down the front as it'd be so much easier to wear! I was glad I was wearing mine when I was at a show on Sunday as it did make me feel more confident and safe. I should really learn because the first time I fell off I was in the school and bruised a vertebrae quite badly which still gives me pain today. Sadly at the moment I don't ride enough/have the money to warrant getting a new one.
 
Never!
I had one when I was younger, but never wore it as I found it so uncomfortable and touch wood I've never had any bad falls so i've never been shocked into wearing one.
But as I want my own horse / possibly a youngster in the future def will get one as I'll be doing alot more thus a higher risk of injuring myself def isn't worth not to wear one specially around young horses.
 
I wear mine every time I ride. There's an old man at the riding school I go to who had quite a nasty accident not so long a go. He has one of those body protectors that fill with air when you fall off, anyhow he was out on a hack when something spooked one of the horses, said horse galloped past the ride and set all the horses off. The horse he was on got really excited and bucked, old guy fell off and was unconscious, cant remember the incident at all. No doubt it was his body protector that prevented a serious injury.
 
I wear one at work because it is compulsory. It is a Racesafe one and so far, luckily, I have never actually needed it to protect me but it is always on. At home never. I like to be able to move and have full flexibility and yes the Racesafe ones are veryflexible and are pretty much like wearing a body warmer I still like to be able to feel my body. I break and school my own ponies, I reschool racehorses, I have hopped on other peoples horses - sane and problemtatic but I would never really consider wearing one for that.

I rarely jump and never go xc. Hacking is the same, a rarity for me on my own horses as I have over a mile of busy main road to deal with first and would always be on my own which just isn't feasable for youngsters.

It's funny working with racehorses as you have stringent rules - you must wear an up to standard, done up skull cap, correct riding boots and a body protector. I wear this every day riding out 3 or 4 horses a day. I go home and I never wear a body protector, I am usually in trainers and I rarely wear a hat. 2 sides of the coin in the space of a few hours.
 
To be honest i would find it hard to forgive myself if i had a fall, hurt myself somewhere my bp could have protected.
Occasionally when really hot in my rc i used to ride without one, but would always bring it as i wasn't sure which horse i was on!
I ride in a quiet area, so want to be extra careful. I school in a field most of the time (shared with only 2 others). Although there are a few trustworthy people who would help if i fell off, no one is really supervising me or in very close proximity most of the time. I also always carry a turned on mobile.

There have been time when i've though it dosen't matter, but my loan pony is also not bombproof/ easy at times so i'd rather not risk it. :) My parents would be probs be angry if anything happened that could have been prevented too.
My body protector is not great really, but anything is better than nothing. Eventually i want to get a new one.
Most body protectors have to go through the same tests (dependant on age), so think to an extent it's comfort which sets them apart, and being made in Britain etc. However, i wouldn't want to buy a really cheap one, unless i was desperate/not using it for xc etc.
 
:o noooooo even though i know i should:o i just don't find it comfortable, i get a pain in my lower ribs after about half hour so i stopped wearing it. i do make my daughter wear hers though !!
 
i do all of the time now i suffered an accident and damaged my kidneys , they said i wouldnt of done it if i had worn a body protector ... its a case of shutting the the gate after the horse has bolted but i always wear one now!
 
I wish to God now I was wearing mine when I rode last. All these people that say they dont wear one because their horse is safe, sane, never fall off etc... That doesnt stop an idiot driver hitting you out on the roads! Maybe my back would of been hurt when this happened to me, but if I was wearing one, it may not of been broken! And I have to live with that for the rest of my life!
 
Thanks everyone who has replied so far, a really interesting mix of answers and opinions. And also very sad to hear about accidents.
I haven't worn one for years, I've not really thought about it and it hasn't been my list of priorities, not because I think I won't have a fall but I just haven't thought about it and don't usually have spare money to think about buying extra things like that.
I'm definitely going to get one soon as I have a 2 year old and want to be extra safe when working with him and when I start riding him in the years to come.
I always remember when I was younger how uncomfortable my body protector was so I think I'll look into the racesafe ones as they just look a little more flexible and comfortable...
 
Nope. Last time I think was college when it was compulsory for jumping though whe I was a teenager my parents made it a rule I had to wear one. Had a racesafe one which fitted well, but I'm just not a fan of them anymore. I've not been pulled up XC without it yet. I think when I realised that when I go hunting [not wearing one], then it's a bit purposeless wearing it for normal day-to-day riding! Plus far too hot when you ride all day on various horses.



*Touch wood*
 
I generally only wear mine for xc and xc schooling although I always take it with me when I'm jumping and will put it on if my horse is being a pratt.
I did wear it all the time for jumping when he was younger and a bit green and also the first couple of times I had to ride him from box rest.
I never wear it for hacking, flatwork or jumping in the school at home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top