Returning to riding after 30 years and body protectors

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sharonmaskell

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I have started riding again after 30 years, and am thoroughly enjoying my lessons. However, I cantered for the first time in all those years today and the horse tanked off with me a bit. I must admit I panicked for about 30 secs an then we got everything back in control. Unfortunately it happened again (I am quite small and not that strong so probably my fault!), but this time I was ready for it and all went well. It did make me realise however that at 56 I am not likely to bounce if I hit the deck, so really wanted your opinion on body protectors. 30 years ago we did not have them, so really want to know if they are comfortable to ride in, and are they only intended for people who compete at say cross-country or showjumping.
 
Most people don't tend to wear them for flatwork unless they are jumping later, but that's no reason to say you shouldn't. At our RS it's compulsory to wear them when jumping, whether competing or not. I also wear mine out hacking, because I don't fancy coming off on the road without protection! Many others don't and I do sometimes feel a bit out of place when I'm the only one, but like you I'm over 50, don't bounce as well as I did and don't want to be wise after the event.

I have a Racesafe, which is more comfortable than some. Once you start riding you don't notice it, but you do get a lot hotter!
 
I always wear my body protector when riding after a near miss. I don't notice it anymore but at first it was very stiff and did feel like I was wearing a cardboard box when riding. I have a Mark Todd one which is good, but I think something like a Racesafe would be more comfortable
 
I'm 25 and I wear one for hacking and jumping, as I have a big daft youngster! I'm the only person on my yard who wears one but that doesn't bother me - I like my spine. I have an Airowear Outlyne which I find comfortable. Best thing to do is put it on before you tack up, so by the time you get on it will have heated up and won't be stiff.
 
I've got the Racesafe one and it's the most comfy one I've ever worn. I was very glad of it when I had a fall a couple of weeks ago, as I am getting on a bit and also don't bounce like I used to :)
 
I am over 60 and I wear a back protector whenever I am on a horse. Make sure you buy a purple labelled back protector to Catagory 3 as these have the highest level of protective.
 
soooo, this might not be approved of but....I ride (my horse!) with a dainese motorcycle one (it's sortof a series of plates on almost a rucksack arrangement of over should and around waist elastic strapping). I found it considerably better designed (choice of lengths, chest sizes etc), it's more flexible, covers my coccyx without looking like a nappy. Plus it is really well ventilated. I can fit it under clothing with minimal problems.
I think a lot of riding specific ones are a bit behind the times. Obviously you can't wear it for competition, but maybe worth a look for hacking etc.
Having come off a bike at more speeds than my horse is capable of I've err road tested them.
 
Racesafe is comfy I think.

I came back to riding almost 2 yrs ago after 10+ years break.

I got Racesafe after few months.

I pretty much wore it for everything and is only in last couple months I don't for flatwork sessions as I am starting to do some dressage shows and don't wear for that.

I prefer not to wear it for flatwork as I can sit in deeper and better without it. I did for a good while though as my chap could be naughty so I felt more confident with it on lol!

I do wear for jumping and xc as if I am going to fall off it is pretty much going to be one of those and I am glad I have had it on!

I don't bounce too well these days either so it gives great protection.

I think knowing you are a bit more protected helps you relax more too which helps my riding.
 
I always wear either a BP or my hitair jacket when i ride. For comfort id recommend an air jacket as they aren’t as heavy and restrictive as a bp, they also come up to protect your neck and lower down your back than a bp. Of course is you go jumping you need to wear it with a bp but there is no reason they cant be used alone. Competition rules state you must wear both incase the air jacket should fail - there is more room for user error, eg forgetting to clip on the lanyard and in some falls eg a rotational where the horse falls with/on you it may not have time to go off. For me, wearing my hitair for hacking and schooling is far preferable now to wearing my BP. The comfiest BP I have ever tried on is the danaise balios.. streets ahead of any of the others.
 
Thank you all for your advice. I think I will get one as I feel it could help my confidence a bit! I am not as brave as I was 30 years ago!!
 
I don't get on without one. I am also a returned-after-long-gap rider and 8 definitely do not bounce like I used to.

I have a Airowear Outlyne. It feels stiff when it is first on but after 5 minutes I forget it is there.
 
after my last fall i am thinking of getting a new one. i did have one new earlier this year, professionally fitted, but it just remained too uncomfy for my liking. i saw an airjacket on monday and liked it. I had not thought about motorcycle wear as mentioned above. does anybody have any thoughts on using these? they must surely be good as you tend to come off a motorbike at greater speed than a horse.
 
I'm only 28 but wear mine all the time after and accident that damaged my shoulder badly. I originally had a Kan but found it was pressing on my plate and pins, so off I headed to badminton to try them all on. I have to say the Rodney Powell wasn't bad but the racesafe was by far the most comfortable! I now wear it all the time!
 
bakewell said:
soooo, this might not be approved of but....I ride (my horse!) with a dainese motorcycle one (it's sortof a series of plates on almost a rucksack arrangement of over should and around waist elastic strapping). I found it considerably better designed (choice of lengths, chest sizes etc), it's more flexible, covers my coccyx without looking like a nappy. Plus it is really well ventilated. I can fit it under clothing with minimal problems.
I think a lot of riding specific ones are a bit behind the times. Obviously you can't wear it for competition, but maybe worth a look for hacking etc.
Having come off a bike at more speeds than my horse is capable of I've err road tested them.
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SNAP! I don't even ride a motorbike, but can't stand the heat of a horse BP. I use the Dainese MC one for my jumpng lessons, but the rules say I must wear a level 3 for SJ or not at all. If it is cool I use a level 3, but if steaming hot I leave it off. Wish I could wear my MC one for SJ. Don't know why not when I am allowed to jump with nothing??????

BTW I think Dainese are now selling horse BPs too.....
 
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Love my Racesafe, very comfy so I forget its on. Its probably the neatest fitting of all the protectors as well. You can wear it for whatever you like, I know some people who never get on a horse without one. Personally, I only use mine for XC or if riding something not quite trustworthy yet - like I'm still wearing mine daily at home on my horse I've just backed and will continue to while I start her jumping to begin with. Just adds a bit of safety to the unknown :)
 
Red-1 said:
SNAP! I don't even ride a motorbike, but can't stand the heat of a horse BP. I use the Dainese MC one for my jumpng lessons, but the rules say I must wear a level 3 for SJ or not at all. If it is cool I use a level 3, but if steaming hot I leave it off. Wish I could wear my MC one for SJ. Don't know why not when I am allowed to jump with nothing??????

BTW I think Dainese are now selling horse BPs too.....
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Dainese make equestrian (rather expensive jodhpurs), and some winter pursuit stuff. One of my main issues with riding specific body protectors is I do not need my breasts covered in sweaty padding! I hate hate sweaty underboob. Also I think the way the shoulders are arranged in mc ones encourages good posture without being restrictive. I've even worn it for side-saddle without feeling like an immersion heater.

Plus I just swish it around in the bath with some baby shampoo if it gets pongy (usually of horse) and it dries in a few hours.

Interestingly the dainese mc ones are generally a level three. I'm not sure how that stands on the rules.
 
Don't fall into the trap of starting to feel like you are indestructible when you are wearing it.

I only wear one for breaking horses, fast competitions and jumping work (where the risks are higher). I would never wear one for hacking and certainly never for hunting.
 
bakewell said:
Dainese make equestrian (rather expensive jodhpurs), and some winter pursuit stuff. One of my main issues with riding specific body protectors is I do not need my breasts covered in sweaty padding! I hate hate sweaty underboob. Also I think the way the shoulders are arranged in mc ones encourages good posture without being restrictive. I've even worn it for side-saddle without feeling like an immersion heater.

Plus I just swish it around in the bath with some baby shampoo if it gets pongy (usually of horse) and it dries in a few hours.

Interestingly the dainese mc ones are generally a level three. I'm not sure how that stands on the rules.
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would you mind posting a link to the one you use? :)
 
NeverSayNever said:
would you mind posting a link to the one you use? :)
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http://www.dainese.me.uk/dainese-manis.html

This one. Makes me feel like a superhero. Admittedly it doesn't have the same coverage as most riding ones, but it does encourage me to wear it all the time. For me a major benefit was being able to wear it under formal riding clothes (vanity or sanity?!). I think it is an excellent quality of product for the price point.
 
bakewell said:
http://www.dainese.me.uk/dainese-manis.html

This one. Makes me feel like a superhero. Admittedly it doesn't have the same coverage as most riding ones, but it does encourage me to wear it all the time. For me a major benefit was being able to wear it under formal riding clothes (vanity or sanity?!). I think it is an excellent quality of product for the price point.
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That is similar to mine too. I wear it when I would not wear another, but due to middle aged spread it does not fit under my jacket, and I am not "allowed" to wear it for competing, so if it is hot competing (I am talking over 25 degrees) then I don't wear one.

I don't think the level one ones are allowed in competition either,a pity as I once had a Racesafe level 1 protector which was lightweight and perforated, which I could wear in the heat, but again was not allowed for competition.

Is it right that BS have changed their rules again re air jackets? Once you could just wear an air jacket (yay), then they changed the rules to say you could wear an air jacket, but only with a level 3 underneath (phew), and now I believe they may have changed the rules again? When I updated my air jacket (got a decent discount from Point 2 as my previous fitting cracked- but it was after 4 years so I did not expect a discount) there was more padding under the air cylinder. Perhaps that is why you now can use them without a level 3 protector underneath?

Sounds like I need to revisit the rule books!

*goes off to rummage in the "to file" pile of papers on the side unit*
 
Houndman said:
Don't fall into the trap of starting to feel like you are indestructible when you are wearing it.

.
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True but I've tested mine when the horse I was on spooked and lost his footing on Tarmac and slammed me onto the ground. The only part that didn't even feel the impact was my ribcage. It's quite an odd feeling. Didn't help my bruised, cut and strained limbs of course :(


Welcome back to riding OP and hope you find a BP that suits you. From what I gear they're a lot better than they used to be. I'm an Aerowear Outlyne wearer ..jumping and hacking, and I love it
 
Hi Great thread thanks, I too am the wrong side of 40 and restarting riding. I have come off my cob recently and rode out today with my BP. I had just come on to H&H to see if anyone else wore their BP most of the time, so I am glad to see this thread. I shall wear mine more often and hope not to fall off too often!
 
I never ride without one (58 and a bit) and have had several over the last 10 years or so. For my latest, I really wanted the Dianese one, but I ordered one and when it arrived it just wasn't right for me. I tried the Racesafe, which also looked super, but that didn't feel right either. I now have an aero wear Outlyne and it is just great. So I'd say just try on as many as you can an go with the one that suits you best. It might cost a few quid in return postage (no tack shops seem to have a great range to try) but it will be worth it to find the right one for you. Good luck!
 
Well done OP on getting back into riding! And cantering already! I too came back after a 25 year gap and now I am over 50 I definitely don't bounce, so I always wear my BP even when it is really hot. After a while you don't notice it but you will be very very sweaty underneath… a small price to pay though really. I also have a Hit Air but don't really wear it as I worry that if I do come off I will then have to stop as you can't ride with them inflated! Did wear it when I went hunting though. Good luck and enjoy your riding. (oh and mine is a Racesafe, have had it for about 10 years!)
 
Also the wrong side of 40 and took on a youngster in December. She is now ready to hack out so I've bought myself a point 2 air jacket because I no longer bounce or bend, I break badly. Trouble is I'm now more terrified of forgetting to unclip than riding!
 
I bought a Kan when we were backing our youngster, I like it a lot but for the last year I've been wearing my Joy Riderz jacket... I like that I can zip off the arms to make it cooler, and that I have pockets. Hope I'm not tempting fate... Haven't fallen off wheilst wearing it yet! Link http://www.joy-riderz.co.uk I think mine was cheaper bought via the FB page, I have both inner and outer jackets and two sets of pads.
 
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