PointTwo or a Dressage Saddle? (Also in CR)

Eventer96

Eventer96

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Now my birthday is approaching (well in about 3 weeks time) and my father has asked me what I would like. He was keen on the idea of me getting P2 as he is very 'pro' any piece of safety equipment that may save me from injury.

However we are currently eventing in a GP saddle. So I was thinking would a cheap dressage saddle be an idea?


Basically the question I am asking if you were given the choice between a P2 and a cheap dressage saddle, which would you go for?

Ideas on a postcard please, :D
 
Personally I'd go for a dressage saddle but then thats just me!

I had a very nasty fall recently that a P2 wouldn't have helped in the slightest with.

I suppose the question really is what level are you eventing at and how likely are you to have a rotational fall?
 
absolute diva said:
I suppose the question really is what level are you eventing at and how likely are you to have a rotational fall?
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I'm not sure the rotational fall element of the question is terribly relevant - a P2 won't help much if half a tonne of horse falls on you at pace, not least because you probably won't get far enough away from the saddle for the lanyard to trigger and it to inflate!
 
SpottedCat said:
I'm not sure the rotational fall element of the question is terribly relevant - a P2 won't help much if half a tonne of horse falls on you at pace, not least because you probably won't get far enough away from the saddle for the lanyard to trigger and it to inflate!
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My apologies, I'm showing my ignorance. I thought that was the marketing point of a p2?

What are they trying to do that a normal body protector doesn't in that case?
 
If I was you, I would go for the Point Two jacket, however if it was me, I would go for neither, and get a jumping saddle. Having jumped in my GP for years, I am now well and truly loving jumping in a proper jumping saddle, it makes so much difference. :D
 
oops - you and me both absolute diva.

I only read about the Oli Townend fall, which I thought was a rotational (sorry if I got that bit wrong) and heard him say he didn't think he'd be here today without his point 2.

Think I must have got the wrong end of the stick because I too thought that the point 2 was promoted as helping prevent serious injury / death in these types of falls.

Can someone shed some light on this one please, really interested in whether people think these jackets are worth it for normal riding / low level competition.
 
I hope I'm not ducking the question by suggesting a search (when you have a LOT of time and a cup of tea or something stronger!) in Competition Riders - they've been debated to death in there, but I think these responses prove that the marketing works. I don't particularly want to get drawn into a massive debate, but suffice to say that if I was worried about falling off a horse and bruising stopping me working - particularly if I were a professional rider or backing youngsters etc - anything where being thrown clear hard and fast was an issue - then I'd buy a point 2. If, however, I could live with the bruising/fractured ribs/broken collar bone etc, and was more worried about a rotational fall, no I would not buy one. They are an airbag, there is nothing structural in them to hold a horse off you in a rotational fall, and that's assuming you get far enough away from the saddle for the lanyard to trigger the gas cylinder. Since from the pics etc I've seen Oli was landed on mostly on the head by his horse's flank, I would have thought his hat should be getting more of the credit, but maybe I am missing something - as I say all I've seen is pictures:

_47711390_townend1_ap.jpg
 
That picture is horrendous! I'd not seen any pictures of it up to now, just heard what happened.

Definitely not one to let OH or my mother see!
 
He was damn, damn lucky that he did not break his neck - just a bit further back and it does not bear thinking about. Although the horse rolls on him (search youtube for the vid!), it doesn't come directly down on him as per your classic rotational - he's thrown clear then the horse lands and rolls over him.
 
I'd go for the P2. Saddle isnt much help if you end up paralysed. If you have the money (or daddy does, lol!) then I think you'd be silly not to go for the safety item xxx
 
Have to go with flamehead here and say go with P2 which is more likely to be of more help if the worst happens and then save for the dressage saddle, plus don't really think you could get a decent dressage saddle for the same price as the P2 but I could be speaking out of turn here
 
Letslip said:
Have to go with flamehead here and say go with P2 which is more likely to be of more help if the worst happens and then save for the dressage saddle, plus don't really think you could get a decent dressage saddle for the same price as the P2 but I could be speaking out of turn here
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If we were going to get a dresage saddle it would be of higher balue then the P2, but still cheap (for a dressage saddle anyway). :o
 
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