EXO bodycage back protector

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kcourtil

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was just browsing some online shops to find a new body protector as mines rather old now plus i'm planning to BE later this year so need a new one to tackle those xc fences!

anyway, found this on one of the sites, the new bodycage from woof wear
http://www.stockleyonline.co.uk/Merchant...egory_Code=4227

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/391/125582.html

the main reason i was thinking of getting one was to protect me if i were to have a rotational fall which is my only fear xc, especially after the recent fatalities. i am, however, doubtfull that a relatively thin piece of metal is going to hold up to the force of a horse landing on you
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and what if the metal breaks and gets pushed into you?

just wondered what everyones opinions/views were and whether it's worth the money, as its quite pricy!!
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thanks xx
 
They look great.. there where worries at one point about them because of the way you take them off.. with a key attatched to the protector itself?

I think that BE events have spare keys now though which is a great idea!
 
I am sure this has been tested very thoroughly as I know it was some years in development with the risk of the rotational fall in mind. I think the metal used is an extremely strong one (is it poss. titanium?!) and would have been tested at high resistances / forces. I think they are a very good idea but the ones I have seen are very heavy which put me off. They feel literally like armour! Also I saw something recently in Eventing mag or similar that at BE events you now have to advise the organisers whether you are using an Exo protector as they have some unique opening device and a key that not everyone will be aware of. The report said all jump judges would be issued with a spare key but it beggars the question what would happen at Unaffiliated events where jump Judges / First Aiders may not have this knowledege nor a key if the riders one was displaced /lost.
 
I tried one on at burghley one year- it is quite a lot of metal and was a bit cumbersome at first but the demonstrator had me lie on the floor and he then stood and jumped up and down on me- obviously this is not the weight of a horse but I certainly wouldn't let anyone jump on my chest in a reqular body protector!
 
Definately worth getting one. The guy who invented it was at the same fence as me where Simon Long was killed at Burghley a few years ago. He used to rally drive apparently and invented the cage so as to provide similar roll cage protection you would find in a rally car. I believe they are tested at 3000lbs of weight so lots more than a horse. I am going to get one. Having tried it, you get used to the weight quite quickly.
 
Would def recommend it, I have one, when you first put it on it feels quite heavy but by the time you have started warming up you forget you have it on and it feels fine. Def worth the money IMO.
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I evented in one...the metal is magnesium and is designed in a way so that it shatters and takes the force of the horse on you away from your body-its like a buffer. it cant break and go into u, so dont worry about that bcos it is designed to break in a special way and is also a super lightweight metal. it is really easy to undo as there is a big patch on it with a first aid cross on it if anyone needs the key to take it off. personally i wouldnt go XC without one, but that is my own, personal opinion now. anyone can have a fall and i wanted to try and give myself the best possible protection for going XC-especially as there have been so many tragic accidents (again my personal opinion).
i did bramham 3* and advanced tracks in it and it was brilliant. it took me about one schooling session to get used to it. once u get used to it it is fine...it is not heavy at all as the straps are designed to take the weight from u...it doesnt touch u...i guess the best way to think of it would be like a car crash zone....
not sure if any of that helps...but i would 100% recommend it to anyone
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(again my own opinion from having competed in one-maybe others would disagree i dont know, but i love mine)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think the metal used is an extremely strong one (is it poss. titanium?!)

[/ QUOTE ]
Titanium is no stronger than steel, but is approx. half the weight for the same UTS (Ultimate Tensile Strength). 900 MPa (6/4 Al/V alloy) Vs. approx 500 MPa (depending on choice of alloy and heat/compressive stress treatment).

The designer appears to have designed a "crumple zone" by making the metal cage collapsable to absorb the momentum. That is the same way that helmets and conventional BPs work, hence why you are advertised to replace after a major fall.

If the designer tried to prove the effectiveness by jumping up and down on it, he is a charlatan. Basic physics (conservation of momentum) shows he is flanelling!
 
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