Dressage and Body protectors?!

[NW-K]

I just wondered if anyone wears a body protector when first taking youngsters to dressage?! I had a nasty fall at home a few years ago and fractured some vertebrae so am completely neurotic since then and have worn it for my youngsters first 2 (unaffiliated) outings as he has a tendancy to ping rather high when excited!

Haven't noticed anyone else wearing one and do look ridiculous in all photos but figured until I can trust him to keep his feet nearer the ground probably best but just wondered what everyone else thought?

 

[longdog]

Absolutely yes!!!!
Read my post on Extreme Dressage for reasons

 

[Fools Motto]

To keep you safe (r) and feeling more confident, in your situation, I would continue to wear one. May look rediculous, but it serves a very good purpose. Sadly they never look very 'photo friendly' on the flat, but you can't win it all.

Very well done for getting back on after such a nasty accident. People like you are an inspiration.

 

[ThePony]

I'd stick with it until your can trust your youngster not to ditch you! I wear a bp at home always and did for our first few outings until it stopped being so v v exciting and I felt we had a better chance of staying together! It helped me feel better about any sillies too so I was less likely to tense and add fuel to the situation.

Wouldn't worry about the pics/look, enjoying your outing and you both coming home in one piece is so much more important!

 

[NW-K]

Glad it's not just me - extreme dressage pretty much describes us too at the moment I think - he just finds it soooooo exciting!

Think I will definitely carry on wearing it at the moment and avoid all photos (he normally thinks the camera man is a scary monster anyway so no great loss)!

 

[YardGeek]

I do! I've even got a jacket one size bigger so I can fit it underneath so it doesn't look so obvious

 

[OneInAMillion]

Personally I think you should always wear a bp on unpredictable youngsters (though so many people don't) so yes, I would wear it

 

[BeckyD]

I have worn a BP for lots of tests! My old horse Ronnie was a bit exciteable and I wore a BP more often than not for dressage! I wasn't always the only one, either. Safety comes before style!

 

[Thistle]

I regulary see a very good para rider competing at a reasonable level, in a point 2

 

[monkeybum13]

In my local area its becoming more and more popular to wear BP's in dressage so you definitely won't look ridiculous

 

[Gorgeous George]

When I first got George I was terribly nervous so for a good year I wore my BP for everything including dressage comps. I don't remember anyone ever looking at me strangely I did though buy a bigger jacket so I could wear my BP under it, although I did look like the michelin woman in the pics!