EXO OR racesafe?

[fingers_crossed]

Firstly anybody know if anywhere at badminton has an exo to try? Secondly - getting a new body protector for my birthday narrowed it down to racesafe or exo . Between these two ONLY - which would you choose and pros/cons for both.
To go with my new xc colours

Black with yellow stars!!

Thankies

 

[toomanyhorses26]

Haven't ridden in an exo but the racesafe are the comfiest and most secure of 'normal' body protectors and have brilliant customer service

 

[Golden_Match_II]

I love my Racesafe, as it's so comfy, and it feels like it's not even there!
I think the Exo is a bit too beefy for my likings - could get a bit claustrophobic!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Oh dear I am going to sound very dogmatic here but IMHO it all boils down to - do you want to live or not?

A rider wearing an Exo Cage suffered a rotational fall at (I think) Spring Hill last season and lived. Far too many others have had rotational falls and have tragically been taken from their family and friends

The choice is simple for me

 

[Nic]

The EXO doesn't however protect you from crush injuries and internal damage to the pelvis area, which can still cause death. Not slating it, if it saves one life it's worth it, just saying that it is fallible.

Sorry meandered slightly, I have neither but I will be trying an EXO when looking for a replacement at the end of the year.

I also think that a new BETA 09 standard is being brought out at the end of the year for BPs?

 

[wellyboot]

Exo, I have one and find it very comfortable to ride in.

re the pelvis area not being protected. Yes, it is not covered by the cage but unless a horse landed across your pelvis and not on any part of the body protector it would still offer protection to your pelvis as it would absorb the impact and hold the horse away from you.

 

[Nic]

Did you try it while riding or could you only try on in a store? I'm keen to try one but don't know if I could make a decision without riding in it.

 

[wellyboot]

Tried it in the store but it's alot easier to ride in than stand in and move about.

I notice it less when riding than my Rodney Powell

 

[hotellie]

how much does the exo weigh, just out of interest, it doesnt really bother me i just wanted a figure really?

 

[OldGit]

Going off on a tangent, if you had an involuntary dismount when wearing an air bag and wanted to continue, you'd have to do a double quick strip job to lose your air bag!

 

[kerilli]

I totally agree with Splotchy above. the Exo will protect you against chest crush injuries. nothing else will.
Nic01, it won't protect your pelvis, no, and nor will it protect your head, but a lot of riders have died because their chests were crushed.
i have an Exo for riding xc and a RP which i use for backing youngsters.
the Exo is heavier than the others but tbh considering that eventers used to have to carry weight, and all coped with it fine, I am not putting my personal safety below my horse having to carry an extra
1/2 a stone... which she probably won't notice anyway!
if i was on a tiny horse I might be a bit more worried about it.
the Exos are very comfy. it takes a few goes to get used to clicking the sides into place, but once you've got the knack, it's easy.

 

[lannerch]

Then why do you use your rodney powell at all!

If it is so comfy and easy, and as it does offer the best level of safty, why have the other body protector at all?

 

[SpottedCat]

I guess because there is no chance of a rotational on a horse which is not jumping fixed fences - or at least the risk is very, very much lower. I know I don't wear a BP at all when doing dressage or SJing or hacking or doing fast work - so if I ever find anyone with an exo in the right size for me, I will keep my other BP for just what K is using hers for - getting on baby horses when the risk of bruising injuries is very much greater than the risk of crush injuries. Even if I buy one I won't use it for dressage or SJ, but I might use a 'normal' one for the first pole sessions on a baby horse.

 

[kerilli]

Exactly SC!
i am 99.9% sure i'm not going to have a rotational on a young horse i'm backing or riding around the arena. also, for leaning across young horses, the RP is more malleable, obviously.
llanerch, it's also for simplicity, the Exo stays in the horsebox, the RP stays in my tackroom, so there's no danger of driving to an event having forgotten to put Exo in lorry...!

 

[daisycrazy]

I was wearing a racesafe when my horse fell last year and my ribs, or rather the muscles in between, are still hurting. The RS didn't give any support to my ribcage and minimal impact distribution. I am in the process of obtaining an EXO. Whilst the RS is comfy, frankly I would rather have the complete protection of an EXO. You can be as sure as you like that you won't have a rotational fall or a really bad fall - but they don't happen when you expect them to and if real protection is available in the form of the EXO then I think it is foolish not to have it.

ETA - there is definitely a WW stand at Badminton with Exos to try, unfortunately I haven't been able to go otherwise I would have been able to buy one this weekend.

 

[kerilli]

daisycrazy, if you get hold of your local stockist from WW, and then ask stockist to get a couple in your closest sizes for you to try (guaranteed sale of whichever fits) and WW rep to drop them off on sale or return, they will do this - my local stockist did.
i'm wearing one from now on, for the same reasons you state.

 

[daisycrazy]

Thanks Kerilli - my local saddlery said they would but it hasn't happened yet. Will be chasing again today.