Recommendations - Body Protectors and Riding boots

Pikachu

Pikachu

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Right, cheating a little and putting 2 topics in one post and due to the search thingy disappearing, I’m having to post!

Could anyone recommend a decent body protector as mine doesn't fit me much anymore. I wear mine all the time as not got the greatest confidence, although its on the up, so its kind of my safety blanket. Currently have a Rodney Powell but was looking at the Racesafe ones as look more flexible. I have 2 main issues with BP's, 1. I can't do them up on my own due to boob size (have to squige it all in while someone zips it up) and 2. I can't dismount with one on (i have to take it off first or i get stuck on the front of saddle).

So where a tabard style one would be better for boobs, the zip is needed i think to take it off a bit easier - So any recommendations or info on the racesafe ones?

Secondly - short riding boots, i brought some mountain horse lace up ones (can't remember the name) back in July and due to circumstances had not got round to riding in them till this weekend and i didn't like them one bit. Couldn't feel anything in them, stirrups, sides of horse etc. So any recommendations for short boots - other issue with this is that i take a size 9 so limited in some ways. Also my instructor is trying to get me to go out and do some dressage so some i can use at home and in comps would be nce.

Sorry for the rambles etc
Thanks
 
I have the Charles Owen body protector and have found it to be very comfy so far. Had one fall (hit a wooden railway sleeper with my back) and didn't really feel it, so seems fairly protective. It's a tabard-design I think, so no zip problem. You can buy different size front and backs to piece together, so you should be able to find a suitable fit (go to a proper fitter).
 
The Racesafe RS2000 (think thats the right name) is amazing, its all in seperate panels so it is so confortable completely different feeling to anything else
 
OMG - have exactly the same probs as you do with a body protector - mine is Rodney powell also. this gets spooky, because I was thinking of the racesafe because of the flexibility - my RP makes me lean forwards.

I also take a size 9!!!!!!!!!!! My boots are Ariats, teamed with a pair of 'English Gaiter Company' gaiters which are smart enough to compete in. (and they also do a a vast range of calf sizes whic is rather useful to me)
http://www.fodenibex.co.uk/
 
Ooh spooky. My big riding issue is that i lean forward.....maybe it isn't me after all but the body protector (well i can try and put most of the blame on that
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). Mine keeps riding up at the shoulders and if i lean forward to check girth etc then the top of it catches me in the throat. Think i will have to try and find someone local who stocks the racesafe ones so that i can try them on and move about and look a pratt
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Yeah have heard good things about the english gaiter comp. Was looking at Tredstep as they have different inner sole thingys which seem comfy! Will investigate the Ariats but didn't think they did size 9, well my collection of catalogues don't seem to
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The devon Pro's are pricey but worth it! They go up to Mens sizes but are generous fitting. I take a 9, but am wearing a 8.5. If your feet are not as wide as mine, then you might get away with the cheaper heritage range.

My last pair of Devon Pro's lasted me 5 years, worn every day, and polished up for showing. they also have the technical bits in the soles.
 
Thanks, that is the prob with men's sizes, they tend to be rather spacey as a lot wider, not sure if id get into a 8.5. Im tempted to go up to York for a weekend so that i can raid Rideaway and try everything on as i don't have a large saddlery that stocks lots of different stuff locally to me.
 
I've got the Racesafe RS2000 BP too & it's the best one i've ever owned.
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Very comfortable & flexible. I've never had trouble getting it on/off before. I've had a couple of falls in it & it's done its job well, hardly even felt them. Tend to use mine with the shoulder pads too, which are easy enough to fit & remove. I dont think i'd go back to wearing any other makes after having this one.
 
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