I need a new BP - RP, racesafe or info on exo's?

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

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as this year iwill finally be veturing into the eventing world again (yay!) I need to get myself a new body protector.

my current one is a rodney powell (in bright yellow wont be making that mistake again!) and is about 7 years old and has had a fair few prangs.

So.... do I go for a rodney powell again? I quite like mine but the flexibility of the racesafe ones looks appealing.

or, does anyone on here have an exo bodycage? do they still make them and what are they like to ride in?

thanks!
 
I like the racesafe ones- they're really comfy and you can actually move in them!
Plus you can get them in your colours
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i've got an Exo and really rate it, it's fine to ride in, once it's on i forget about it. can link to footage of me riding xc in it if you want. they are still being manufactured afaik but Woof aren't promoting them for some reason. i rang Woof to find nearest stockist and then rang stockist to find out whether they had the right size in stock (size chart is on website).
or, i have a Kan for riding youngsters at home, which is made of sort of next generation "smartfoam" which hardens against an impact and then relaxes back again (there's an old post explaining how this works if you want to know, i didn't understand how that could work, so had to have it explained to me!) and which doesn't lose its protectivity within 3-5 yrs. it is super-comfy.
 
Ooo yes i'de like to see a link for that please.

It does seem odd given the exos claims that it never really took off even with pro riders? yes they are expensive but then again you see all sorts of people out and about in point 2 jackets which again, are pricey. Surely the weight issue is negligible given the protection they offer and back in the day people ad to carry weights anyway?

I racesafe ones do look lovely and look much more flexible than the rodney powell ones. although this time i think im not going to bother with xc colours (the yellow peril RP was a bugger to keep clean!) going to go for safe old navy and get a bright top instead!
 
EXO all the way! Most people who die eventing die from rotational falls when they are crushed by the horse falling on them. The EXO will protect your organs (and some spine) if that happens. The foam ones just can't do that.

People are very negative about the cage (though Kitty Boggis I think uses one). I think this is because it looks big and bulky. Also, they come off over your head. Therefore if you have a spinal injury, they need to be unscrewed and lifted off you (like a sandwich!). They come with their own keys for this.

I think it's the weight/bulk/fact they are rigid that puts people off. But you don't notice any of these things when you are on and, frankly, if I am going to risk over 1/2 a tonne of horse falling on me at 15 mph from a height of four feet, I'd feel better risking it whilst wrapped up in my cage!

Top tip: make sure you have lost the Christmas excess by the first March event - if you lose the Battle Of The Bulge, there is not much leeway inside a cage.
 
this is me riding in mine last year, i think you can see that it doesn't affect the rider at all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKjJBFh7sbE

i think there was some scaremongering about them which was very unhelpful.
i was told that Woof was taken over by another company and told to divert advertising ££s to other areas.
the weight was a bit off-putting to me initially but then as you say, we all used to carry lead to reach 11 stone 11. my mare certainly did not notice the additional weight at all, and i think it's worth it for the superior protection.
 
Kerilli, what was the scaremongering? I have never been entirely sure why I get such a negative reaction about mine and so it would be interesting to know! Even event seccies (you know you have to declare you're wearing one) tut tut at me as I tell them.
 
no, kitty doesn't wear one, she had a Point2 on at Burghley when she came off at the arena fence when going so well.
i agree with HotToTrot.
there was a long thread about Exos ages ago and we had a few paramedics post on it. iirc one said that the whole thing about not being able to get them off fast enough was a bit of a red herring - they'd only need to get to your chest like that if you've had a heart attack, which isn't what happens to fit youngish people who fall off horses. you wouldn't be crushed so no need to take it off because of those sort of injuries. the back part of the cage acts as a 'backboard' to take you to hospital on, no need to take you off it.
i know a paramedic who covers quite a few horsetrials and he rates the Exo, and the Kan.
of course, they can't protect you against everything, but nothing can.
 
imho the scaremongering was in the wording of the sign that's put up in the Secretary's (wording which was okayed by Woof, amazingly!), saying that you must tell the sec you're going to be wearing one, so that they can tell the paramedics and fence judges when you're going round, and tell the TA and TD because s/he has another key for it, yadda yadda yadda.
i've been fence judging when the call has gone around from fence to fence "everyone get ready, someone wearing an Exo is about to start on course..." jeeeez. the fence judges were all rather bewildered by all the fuss about it i thought. it was as if it was someone with Ebola going round!
tbh fence judges have very little to do with first aid etc anyway, in the event of a serious fall the Paramedics and/or Doctor get there amazingly fast.
 
Rodney Powell!! But then I suppose I am a bit biased! However, if you seriously take a look at the majority of the Pro's you will notice that this is what they are wearing. All the British Teams have them in GBR colours too. They also sponsor a fair few events and classes, so I think its nice to pick a product who support us. Mine has lasted me ages, and is really comfy, the Medical Card slot in the shoulder pads also mean youll never have a last minute panic at the XC start thinking youve forgotten it!!
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Like my RP with shoulder guards, felt like a walking michelin women when I first wore it but now don't even notice I've got it on. Would get another when I need to replace this one
 
I'd suggest trying as many different makes as you can.

I have a Racesafe and find it extremely comfy, but when my OH was in the market, she could not get the Racesafe to fit. She also tried a Kan, but despite the shop having a good range, again she could not get the right fit around her boobs. Poor soul ended up with a nasty pinch mark
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She finally settled on a Rodney Powell that fits like a glove.

Try a few with help from a trained fitter, then get the one which feels best.
 
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