No hat or body protector

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stacey222

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It amazes me that people school horses with no hat and go XC schooling with no body protector, you only get one head, one body, one chance, protect it!!
 
I've always worm a hat, but body protectors didn't exist last time I rode. I really didn't want one - it felt like planning to fall of and taking away my freedom to move. But I know it's a matter of when rather than if I come off my horse so I bit the bullet and got one in the end. but I can see why people don't want them.

Paula
 
I generally always wear a hat, hardly ever a body protector.

I can't ride n the flippin' things. They make me more likely to fall off and I'm not as supple, relaxed, and flexible in them.
 
stacey222 said:
It amazes me that people school horses with no hat and go XC schooling with no body protector, you only get one head, one body, one chance, protect it!!
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This is the same on my yard too, each to there own, I personally would never ride without a hat, I will admit though I only ride in my body protector if im required too.

The same applies to those who wear Hi Viz on the roads and those who dont bother, I dont care if im a little ott :D I would rather been seen than not at all.

At the end of the day it is down to an individuals preference, its their choice :)
 
Helmets always provoke similar discussions on skiing forums - I thought most riders wore these by default though. These days I would tend to advocate BPs, based on my own experience. I think the use of BP 20 years ago would have prevented my broken back - I've never mounted a horse since without one. FWIW - I've never done anything so excruitiatingly painful as to have broken my back before or since (and that include having 2 kids), I wouldn't recommend the experience.

Also, I've since fallen whilst wearing a BP and don't underestimate what they can do for you either. A fall is a MUCH easier thing to take and get up from if you are wearing one. Esp. those fall on your back and knock the stuffing out of yourselves falls. If you are liable to come off of a horse - and show me someone that's ridden for a decent while that's never come off and I'll show you someone who must be in a minority - I would recommend that a BP is a worthwhile thing to try. After I'd come off the first time wearing one I couldn't work out why I hadn't been wearing one for years - if you want easier 'falls' then a BP is def. the way forwards IMO.
 
Always used to wear a hat, and hi vis when we were hacking. I wish to God now I was wearing a BP when I had my accident and broke my back.
 
I always wear a hat and always wear a bp and my point2 for xc, I feel naked if I don't have my point2 on
I know someone who since the age of 12 has never worn a hat even to go out hacking or jumping when she was 16 she got a 4 year old that was broken, when she was breaking her in she still didn't wear a hat, In her words a hat is so uncool and even yesterday when I past her out hacking on the 4 year olds first hack she didn't have a hat on
 
I never wear a body protector but then i never go cross country, i occasionally jump the odd log or ditch while out on a hack so iam hardly doing 5 star events and therefore dont see the need for a body protector.

With the majority of my own horses I dont normally wear a hat when riding at home but thats because i feel i know those horses well enough to be comfortable with the risk of not wearing one. When i school other peoples horses, breaking in youngsters or riding horses i dont know then i always wear a hat.

I will be learning to trick ride this winter though and wont be wearing a hat as it impairs your vision while doing tricks, hence why trick riders never wear hats! lol
 
Always worn a hat, though I'd be lying if I said I'd never got on without, especially in my teens. Only worn a bp when rules say so though. Imo, unlike hats, bps only reduce the injury. In the scheme of things, learning to fall is of greater benefit than a bp. 7yr old daughter doesn't wear a bp as standard either, only for certain stuff.
 
Growing up in Belgium, no one wore hats except for competing and there is a lot to say for galloping along with the wind in your hair!

When I moved to England, I started to wear a hat although was occasionally guilty of not wearing one when schooling in the manege at home.

I then started working with high level spinal cord and acquired brain injury clients.

I never ride without a hat now and always wear my BP when jumping. I also have a Point 2 jacket having seen the effect of a spinal cord injury. It's great to wear out hacking without a BP underneath but will wear both when leaving the ground. I won't ski without a helmet either after getting clunked on the head having been pushed off a chairlift by a bl**dy snowboarder!

I was actually complimented by the paramedic at a show on Sunday as I was the only person wearing a BP apart from my daughter who was also armoured up. We weren't jumping high but the ground was firm. I kept my BP on for a showing class, but them I am riding a baby who is rather high off the ground.

I usually laugh at H&S however as I get older, I bounce a lot less and seem much more aware of my mortality!
 
N.B. 12 and 10 Yr old kids are only just setting out - at a walk and trot in a menage I couldn't see the need to absorb the cost of a BP on top of everything they had cost me for their kit. 2 mths on and they started to do stuff that needed one I splashed for them. Now they have them I won't let them ride without them. The same as I will not ride without on.

I think if you won't wear one well then OK, but surely if you have one then wear it every time you ride? The day you fall and injure youself is bound to be the day you weren't wearing it - would you really want to turn around afterwards and say I wish I'd been wearing it?

[incentive]Honestly, it makes coming off so much easier to deal with.[/incentive]
 
I always wear a hat. And wear a body protector for xc, and while breaking a youngster and also jumping if the horse is green, a baby or unpredictable! I do find bps restricting tho!
I've been shocked at the number of photos I've seen on Facebook of young riders with no hat on and even more worrying with no hat on standing up on their ponies back....
 
Well aware that hats are a big thing in the UK, not so much in other countries. So now body protectors are being added to the 'tut tut' list?
 
Backridingagain- because with a bp we all have our own reasons I imagine. I find they hinder ability to fall & roll out of danger. And certainly hinder ability to learn to fall safely. With modern ones, not so much, but can add a few seconds still. Therefore when my daughter rides, I judge the situation & decide whether protection, or an ability to fall safe & clear is most important in the individual circumstances. And ime, my ability to fall has saved me on more occasions than a bp. Hats are different entirely, but with bps I think its each to their own.
 
I was coming up to a busy crossroads on the A27 at 4.45pm the other day and there were two riders waiting to cross on pretty lively horses. One rider had a hat on the other did not. It amazes me that people ride without hats I know its their choice and all that, but what about the folks/children at home who have to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong.
 
i personally think some of depends when you learnt to ride

my dad- in his late 50's would happily get on a horse with no hat- this was quite the norm when he learnt to ride.

myself - in my 30's wouldnt dream of riding without a hat, as when i learnt to ride we always had to wear hats

my daughter aged 8- always wears hat and bp, the riding school she learnt at insisted upon it and its much the norm now- in fact the other week when was very hot i offered her to ride without her bp ( on her well bahved trusted pony) and she said no she'd feel odd getting on without.
 
Wearing a hat on a horse is automatic to me and I would feel strange without one but I'm another one who tends only to wear a BP if jumping, although when I think back over the last ten years, all my falls have been when not jumping! However, I don't wear a hat (or gloves) for handling although am aware that received wisdom now says I should! I'd be interested to know how many on here wear their hats when on the floor.
 
moleskinsmum said:
Wearing a hat on a horse is automatic to me and I would feel strange without one but I'm another one who tends only to wear a BP if jumping, although when I think back over the last ten years, all my falls have been when not jumping! However, I don't wear a hat (or gloves) for handling although am aware that received wisdom now says I should! I'd be interested to know how many on here wear their hats when on the floor.
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I understand that the BHS now advises people to wear hats whenever turning out or bringing in, am I correct in thinking this? I do understand people being risk averse, but honestly, how wimpy has everyone become?
 
moleskinsmum said:
Wearing a hat on a horse is automatic to me and I would feel strange without one but I'm another one who tends only to wear a BP if jumping, although when I think back over the last ten years, all my falls have been when not jumping! However, I don't wear a hat (or gloves) for handling although am aware that received wisdom now says I should! I'd be interested to know how many on here wear their hats when on the floor.
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I do (wear a hat that is while handling). Started wearing one a few years ago following a thread on here that got me thinking that I've had more accidents handling than riding. As luck would have it a youngster reared up and clobbered me on the head a couple of weeks later - completely broke my brand new hat!

I try to wear a BP all of the time, but I do find it impossible in the heat. It makes me a lot hotter and more likely to feel dizzy.
 
MY two pennies, those that say they find BPs uncomfortable or hard to roll in have not find a correctly fitting BP in my opinion (though I am sure there are people who will maintain they have triwed them all and all are uncomfortable), I am top heavy short backed etc, my racesafe is well fitted and flexible enough for me to safely roll in and I have never seriously hurt myself while wearing it, including when I landed on a paralel fence when my super reliable school master caught his front foot in it.

I have only once got on without a hat and that was because I had a cap on and thought I had it on, jumped off quickly enough when my friend pointed it out.

Personally never tut, each to their own but the mind boggles why parents would allow children (when they are there) or parents would risk themselves when they have dependents

Sorry ofr awful spelling, typing quick at work!
 
Health And Safety knows no bounds!

I admit I don't wear a hat much at home when riding my lot but I trust them. I wouldn't ever hack out without one and I wouldn't jump my TB's without one. I break ponies in and will always wear one for that.

I never, ever wear a body protector at home. I never have, never will. I don't go xc so it will never be compulsory and it just looks bloody ridiculous in the show ring. I don't wear them for breaking either as I like my flexibility and as has already been said - I find it easier to fall and get out the of the way without one of them on. I have been chucked around the yard at work by the lads a few times so know what it's like falling and then trying to get back up again in one and it's damn nigh impossible! And that's just from humans.

Work however is a very different story all together. It is compulsory for us to wear hat, bp and proper boots and to be honest it would feel utterly bizarre getting on a work horse without the kit on. My bp at work would, in all honesty, be about as much use as a chocolate fireguard if I ever came a cropper. It's the lowest level you can get and to be fair it doesn't feel like your wearing one, plus it helps that mine fits properly. I still feel slightly restricted in it though.

To be fair I turnout box-rest horses at work with a hat and gloves on because I know I will be in for a rough 5mins but I never even dream of it at home with my lot - I may be a 5ft4" midget but even the shetlands can't reach that high ;)
 
I only wear a hat on the ground once in a blue moon. Except for exams when I had to, there's probably been a handful of situations where I have chosen to wear one myself. I wear gloves for lunging, & if I think the situation requires it, but not as habit. Then again, I have crap circulation & wear gloves for warmth oct-April anyway. I'd also be lying if I said my child walks about the yard with ours permanently wearing a hat.
 
I understand riding with a hat the whole time (don't normally lead with one on), have ridden without one once or twice for just the one off pictures, yet a body protector all the time...not so sure.I have had more damaging effects with a BP on than off! Plus, I am more likely to fall off with a BP on...it's bad luck for me. Im not against BP's altogether, however I am against my own one since it's stiff as a board and restricted.
 
I think the poster who mentioned the time you learned to ride is probably correct - my father would also happily ride without a hat.

I must admit I don't tend to wear a hat religiously when on foot around horses unless I am in my riding school's yard where it is insisted upon (and I think for H&S probably rightly so as it is a business). Though a lot of time I'll be wearing one anyway if I'm getting ready ride.

As another angle, although I wouldn't ride without a hat, I do wonder when you fall how many times you would actually have hurt your head? Normally, arms, legs, backs seem to hit the ground first and break the fall. Perhaps BP's should be the norm when riding and hats the norm on the ground? where I take the point that rearing, and kicking could be more hazardous to your head - though of course a BP would also protect the rest of the body.

Mind you its an interesting thread :)
 
I've just ridden my tb with a hat and wellies on - I bloomin HATE riding in wellies but my boots are at the yard and it's too muddy to wear my trainers - and I know I lean forward but I didn't realise just how much I slouch. I am now thinking of bringing my BP home from work, flipping the tail flap down (it annoys me greatly!) which should thus at least straighten my back even if it doesn't stop me leaning forwards.

I will try it tomorrow and get back to you with the results!

P.S. I also find it incredibly weird now to ride in a snaffle without a martingale but put on double reins and I am grand?! Some habbits are hard to break!
 
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