Health and Safety gone too far?

ladyt25 said:
Hmm, I am sort of on the fence on this one as I personally don't see why people feel the need to where them for doing general riding (ie not jumping etc) as i think if that person is so concerned about the possibility of falling off and injuring themselves then maybe horse riding is not the right sport for them?

I guess many of us are from the era of riding bareback, riding without hats etc etc and have also probably fallen off many a time and not been seriously injured so do not see the need to try and prevent every possibly likelihood of injury. In my mind it's a risk you take every time you get on a horse.

Times do change I guess and people are made to consider safety ALL the time now and sadly I think it's turned us in to a nation of paranoid people who are always wondering about the 'what ifs' in life. I just don't think that is a healthy way to live. Plus of course these days there is no such thing as an 'accident' is there - there's always someone who can be found accountable for it seemingly. Very sad indeed.

I think the day i feel i need to wear a BP to ride a horse in a dressage test or indeed just out hacking is the day i should maybe give up riding to be honest!
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^^^ Agree with this 100%

Edited to add:

I've also had far more serious injuries from being kicked/knocked over/trodden on etc, than I ever have falling off. It doesn't make me want to wear a BP to handle my horse.
 
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SirenaXVI said:
See I don't have a problem with BPs in general and actually think they are a very good thing XC, it is people wearing them in dressage tests, in particular walk/trot ones that I take issue with :)
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Why? It's not harming you, nobody is making you wear one, so what's the issue?

I think it's amazing how the equestrian world pays so little attention to taking safety precautions. Those that do, i.e. BPs in walk and trot tests, High Viz on the roads, etc., tend often to get slated.

I've always participated in 'dangerous sports' and the equestrian world has the worst take up of overall protection.

Barking mad.

But, each to their own. Just so long as someone reading your post isn't made to feel a complete idiot for wearing a BP in their next walk and trot test; people are vulnerable to critiscm and will make decisions based on it - I'd rather someone improved their chances of being safe based on something I'd said, rather than went the other way.
 
I think that BP's for dressage tests are a bit daft - but I disagree that people wearing them is 'ealth and safety... H&S is what the state imposes - which sucks and is over the top imho - but if people make their own choice to wear a BP, that's their outlook, no?
 
You get far more serious injuries crashing a car on the motorway at 70mph. Doesnt mean that its ok to drive your car down the shops without wearing a seatbelt.

Theres a risk everytime you are near a horse, just as there is getting in a car. I dont see anything wrong with trying to minimse the risk- its a personal choice and people shouldnt be belittled for wearing a BP if thats what makes them enjoy their sport a bit more by feeling more confident.
 
MrsMozart said:
Why? It's not harming you, nobody is making you wear one, so what's the issue?

I think it's amazing how the equestrian world pays so little attention to taking safety precautions. Those that do, i.e. BPs in walk and trot tests, High Viz on the roads, etc., tend often to get slated.

I've always participated in 'dangerous sports' and the equestrian world has the worst take up of overall protection.

Barking mad.

But, each to their own. Just so long as someone reading your post isn't made to feel a complete idiot for wearing a BP in their next walk and trot test; people are vulnerable to critiscm and will make decisions based on it - I'd rather someone improved their chances of being safe based on something I'd said, rather than went the other way.
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I actually disagree with that. I think there is an element to knowing your own horses, and making decisions based on that.
I know someone will hit me back with the "horses are unpredictable animals" line, but I think I'm capable of deciding how best to equip myself to ride my own horses.
This whole "crash skulls compulsary for dressage" and hype on BPs doesn't really thrill me. Yep, its great if you want to wear them, but don't make ME wear them if I don't want to.
I wear what I see fit for the job in hand.
 
teddyt said:
You get far more serious injuries crashing a car on the motorway at 70mph. Doesnt mean that its ok to drive your car down the shops without wearing a seatbelt.

Theres a risk everytime you are near a horse, just as there is getting in a car. I dont see anything wrong with trying to minimse the risk- its a personal choice and people shouldnt be belittled for wearing a BP if thats what makes them enjoy their sport a bit more by feeling more confident.
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I agree. Everyone has different levels of comfort and if it helps to make you feel less stressed then it can only be a good thing can't it? I do hate this thing in the horseworld of looking down on the people who are more risk averse. Ultimately bravery is relative and if you do something despite being scared that makes you a braver person than someone who just takes it all in their stride.
 
So long as it isn't made compulsory then I don't really understand how it affects or annoys others?
I wear mine pretty much all the time. It fits me well and is comfortable so I don't really see the need not to tbh! My mare is very good but super green, may as well wear safety stuff as well as not. That said, I choose not to wear mine when competing on the flat - it is total vanity as I look like the hunchback of notre dame in it! Doesn't bother me a bit if others choose to, up to them - it's their own body they would harm, so their decision to take depending how comfortable they are with the risk.
 
SirenaXVI said:
This may be a little contentious but I am absolutely amazed at the number of adults wearing body protectors for a walk/trot test! Now if they were on scatty youngsters then I could perhaps understand this, but no, the majority are on sensible looking horses (who look half asleep actually). If you are THAT worried that you need to wear a BP in an Intro dressage test, why ride?

As an aside, dressage is as much about body movement and BPs seriously restrict body aids.

I suspect I will be lambasted for this post but I really don't give a monkeys backside!
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I'm not going to lambast you, just disagree ;)

If they are in a walk trot test then it would follow reasonably that most of them would be either novice or nervous riders, or on novice horses. Either way, I don't see why one would object to them wearing a BP. Yes, dressage does include body movement but you're not completely immobilised in a BP, and its the most basic dressage test you can get, its not like a Grand Prix test where the riders seemingly don't move a muscle because its all done from the core ;)

I know a lady who wears a BP all the time, regardless of horse or activity. She shows to a high level in one. When I rode with her I got into the habit too, but they are a bit stiff and hot for me so I've stashed it away in a drawer somewhere :o If someone would invent one which allowed me full range of movement and wasn't too darn hot I'd wear one more often - most, if not all of my falls have been when I least expected them!

I think its unhelpful to comment negatively on those who choose to wear extra safety gear. If this post was about wearing high viz on the roads would you feel differently?

I say live and let live, it doesn't bother me if you wear one or not ;)
 
RunToEarth said:
I actually disagree with that. I think there is an element to knowing your own horses, and making decisions based on that.
I know someone will hit me back with the "horses are unpredictable animals" line, but I think I'm capable of deciding how best to equip myself to ride my own horses.
This whole "crash skulls compulsary for dressage" and hype on BPs doesn't really thrill me. Yep, its great if you want to wear them, but don't make ME wear them if I don't want to.
I wear what I see fit for the job in hand.
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What do you disagree with? I said in my opinion barking mad, but each to their own. I don't care one hoot what you wear; I have my opinion, but it's up to you. I hope never to read a sad post about you (or anyone) that could have been prevented by wearing some of this gear, but again, that's my view and thoughts, you do what you wish. Just don't make those that choose to protect themselves feel foolish.
 
Run to Earth, you are totally capable of deciding how to equip yourself to ride your own horses, so are the people that decide to equip themselves with a body protector for the walk and trot tests that the OP is talking about... Its just a personal decision for each of us. Thats what most people are trying to say on this thread. (not a personal attack by the way - your post just made me smile - like you can decide what to wear yourself, but those who decide to wear a BP can't..)

I totally agree with whoever said they're great for holding your boobs still! Thats the only good thing about wearing one - my 34Es never move!
 
I own a BP and only wear it when I have to. It surprises me how many people wear them all the time. Even when well fitted they are hot and restrictive and it surprises me that people choose to wear them for schooling in an indoor arena on a surface on a quiet horse. But if they want to fine, just don't make me wear one!

I do think it affects the way you ride and your position and not for the better. It is particularly noticeable with skinny teenagers, they ride with the BP "propping them up" with no proper core strength.

Personally I think I am more likely to fall off in a sticky situation wearing a BP than not. They affect the ability of the torso to flex and move. On more than one occasion I have been pinged out of the saddle by a not particularly massive buck which I could have sat without my BP.

I hope that they won't be made compulsory for anything else.

Having said that I am completely the opposite about hats. I don't think they have any detrimental effect upon your riding and the only negative is that they can be a bit hot and make your hair look daft! The absolutely catastrophic affects even a minor head injury can have on your life and the life of those around me makes me believe that we should always wear hats whenever we are riding. I guess that is my own personal risk assessment.

I have no actual problem with people wearing a BP whenever they want to for whatever tasks they like, it just surprises me sometimes.

Obviously I completely understand that if you have a back injury or something then you might be more vulnerable to injury and as such may wear a BP more often.
 
My daughter wears an Exo cage. Certainly doesn't prop her up lol. Need core strength to hold it up :D

I used to ride loony horses for a living, to make them calm and sane for others. I took a lot of falls, landing on all sorts of surfaces. If BPs had been around then I wouldn't have spent so much of my life in pain from a bashed back.
 
Body protectors for some horse riders allow them to feel secure and safe when they ride. So what if they only do a walk trot test?

What one may percieve as being dead from the neck down is still a free-thinking, unpredictable animal and doing a walk trot test doesnt mean the horse cannot spook, bolt or act up. So it i the rider's choice whether or not to wear one.

Yes they dont look the most attractive/flattering things in the world, but riders shouldnt feel pressured into taking them off when they are happy wearing them.

I understand your concerns, should H&S come in and make them compulsory for certain disciplines, but may I suggest we hold off on bashing horses and riders that make wearing BP a choice.
 
I wear my BP everytime I ride now - never used to own one until a couple of years ago when my horse kept bronc'ing me off and I hurt my back - my new horse is a saint and sometimes looks like he is asleep but I still wear my BP because I remember the pain of before and you just never know what could happen!
 
arizonahoney said:
Wow, that Exo Cage thing looks hardcore - and a very good idea if I ever graduate from pootling around over little jumps.
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I am paranoid about rotational falls, why I don't know, but there y'go :D

D1 does all her riding in it (as far as I'm aware ;)). She rides all sorts of horses, from, as she did, her wee Little Cob to ex-race horses, to a cob who hasn't heard of what the stereotype of a cob it (or if he has, he's ignoring it lol), to my DWB, to the NFA (New Forest with Attitude lol), and anything else going :D. She hacks, jumps, schools in it :)
 
you say they are restrictive yet all the top eventers seem to manage just fine x-countrying and hardly appear "rigid and stiff".
i never wear a body protector unless compulsory, but i would never criticise someone who did wear one.
a man from the point 2 air jacket told me that most accidents occur schooling and hacking and not in competition. I said i would probably consider it if i could afford it.
Why shouldnt you ride a dressage test if you wear a body protector?! and how does it stop it being fun??
a half dead horse can be more dangerous than a highly strung one-at least your ready for any broncing and naughtiness. if your suddenly lazy horse trips/spooks and your not ready for it it could cause more damage.
as for banning walk and trot tests, i think they are a great introduction for riders and horses into competition and shouldnt we be encouraging this? people are obviously entering these with a hope to get advice and improve both themselves and their horse.

Just because people chose to wear body protectors doesnt make them wimps, they are probably a lot smarter than the people that dont wear one....myself included!
 
Can they honestly make it compulsory for us to have to wear one at home? I wouldn't think so. It certainly can't be monitored and also it's freedom of choice. God this nanny state is getting ridiculous. Grrr - get's my goat!!! I'd say excessive to wear a back protector for a walk and a walk trot test! I chuckle when you see children going for lessons and they are in the car driven by Mum with their hat, back protector and seat belt on. Doesn't say much for Mum's driving!!!!!
 
Each to their own!

I just think it's a shame that people who choose to wear them, for whatever reason in whatever discipline may be looked down upon, critisized or made to feel like they are in some way an inadequate or a **** rider just because they choose to take precautions. It's a side of the horseworld that I absolutely hate.
 
Ruthnmeg said:
Yep, Iam with you too. Adults / big teens wearing bp over their hacking jackets also look wrong to me. (I've been slated for that before but my Iam sticking with my opinion).

I do appriciate why if scatty youngsters or naughty horses, but as you say most are the opposite.
H&S has gone way over the top, look back 15 years + and it wasn't like it is now!
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But at the same time should a nervous or green rider really be riding a young scatty horse? I have always said if your scared of your horse then nows the time to sell and buy a new one. Your ment to enjoy riding them not be scared of riding them
 
Definently H&S gone mad.

IMO BP's were orginally designed to provide protection to those who may fall during hard fast work (jockies, xc,ptop ect), I'm sure someone on here would like to "correct" me though. Not for added "bouce" when bronk'oed off (although those new inflatable ones look like they might). I actually had a very bad injury when schooling a horse that bronko'ed with me and I fell off in a why that the BP was actually counter productive. I will now never wear one unless I have too for xc.
 
I don't see that it's anyone elses business if someone choses to wear a BP no matter what the activity - any horse can trip.

If anyone is reading this who feels safer wearing a BP at all times please don't let this thread influence you otherwise. It's your choice, & you should do whatever makes you feel most secure. This is certainly the first time I've heard/seen commenta of this nature regarding people who chose to wear one all the time.

As for the 'they prevent you from doing a proper tuck & roll & cause injury that way' comments, well we heard all of those kind of arguments when seatbelts were made compulsory in cars didn't we? Health & Safety is in the main about risk assessment. In a very tiny minority of cases wearing a BP may lead to injuries different to those which might have been incurred in the normal course of a straightforward fall. On balance then it has been proved that there is a far greater chance of injury when not wearing a BP than there is when wearing one.
 
Health and Safety legislation applies to the working environment and the employees of that organisation and any visitors to their premises or where they are operating.

Current Health and Safety Legislation would require the organisation to carry out a 'Health and Safety Risk Assesment' which should be documented and dated and this includes Riding Schools, Trecking Centres, Livery Yards and anyone else that employs anyone to work on their yard or ride their horses. It would be wise to review the Health and Safety Risk Assesment annually and again document it.

Therefore anyone who is working within the environment of a Yard or even a private person needs to be protected from injury and I would suggest that their employer would be wise to ensure that they wear appropriate hard hats, back protectors, footwear and Hi-Viz. to the approprate standard. i.e A back protector for jockies would not provide sufficient protection for other types of equine activities including excercising and hacking.

Failing to ensure that the employee wears these could result in serious financial consequences should an accident occur and a claim be made as te employer would be deamed responsible.

Make absolurtely sure that if you employ someone who is handling or riding a horse that you not only do this but that you have a specific insurance policy that will cover an accident and injury to someone you employ.
 
I wear one no matter what when riding one of my horses, even in a W&T test where he did a rather large buck. I don't give a dolly blue about what anyone else thinks, my body an all. :D

I do agree that you don't get the same 'feel' in a body protector but I'd rather have the confidence to feel that little bit safer, than be caught out.

I personally don't have a problem with people not wearing BP's doing dressage, so I don't see why people should have a problem with me or anyone else wearing one, should I choose to.

I was at a dressage competition last Sunday and a lady that was outside the arena on the hard standing, came off, not sure what happened as the horse appeared to be stood still but she'd didn't half go with thump and she didn't get up straight away, she was curled up on the floor, so even at dressage competitions the unexpected can happen to even the best of riders and the 'quieter type horses' so if someone wants to be that bit too cautious then I don't think it's anything to be laughted at (not meaning you personally OP) I just mean those that stand at the side of the ring mocking people because they choose to wear one, I think that's quite cruel of people.
 
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Do you know what? I'm really surprised by the amount of derogatory comments about this matter. It might be personal opinion, and that's fine, but to brand us all wimps is a little nasty. :mad:

I am a qualified instructor, I do flat, sj and xc and at the moment only ride my own, so I know what I'm sitting on through and through. But I still wear my BP. It doesn't restrict me in any way and certainly doesn't 'hold me' in position.

I am strong minded, and usually don't care what others think, but the way some people have worded their answers on this thread has got to me, and actually had me wondering if I was being stupid wearing it. :rolleyes: Luckily, I read all the way through and took notice of the ones who support those who want to wear them. I am still quite upset that it made me feel like this.

I choose to wear it for my own reasons and do not expect to made to feel a numpty for it. As someone said, this is the downside of the horseworld. :mad:

My son, husband and parents love me the way I am, fully functioning.
 
FattyBoomBoom said:
Each to their own!

I just think it's a shame that people who choose to wear them, for whatever reason in whatever discipline may be looked down upon, critisized or made to feel like they are in some way an inadequate or a **** rider just because they choose to take precautions. It's a side of the horseworld that I absolutely hate.
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Right on.
 
I've never worn one. I'm 50, ride a young ex-racer, have broken my back in one fall and messed up a leg in another. I'm probably an idiot for NOT wearing one but I don't.

It does seem odd to me that someone would wear one in a w/t dressage test. That does seem to be taking safety precautions to the extreme. It is, of course, their choice just as it is mine to forego wearing one.

It does go both ways, too. I have been harshly criticized for not wearing a hat. I almost always do but every now and then for reasons I don't have to articulate :D I don't. So the Righteously Sanctimonious come on both sides of the coin.
 
But what difference does it make what test your riding should you choose to wear one?

My horse is not going to think, ''well seen as it's only a W&T test, I won't do anything too drastic, I'll save that for the P18 instead!''

:confused:

someone explain :D
 
Not 'Righteously Sanctimonious', just been in situations where if I hadn't been wearing a hat then I wouldn't be here (won't bore everyone with the picture of my brain again lol); and if I hadn't had a BP when I broke my back the other week, I'd be in a far worse state than I am now.

I just dread the day I see a post on here where someone is hurt/dead because they weren't wearing protective gear.
 
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