Rotational Fall Protection Body Protectors?

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FluffyCat

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Evening all,

I'm in the market for a new body protector.
Having not purchased one for a number of years, I currently have it narrowed down to a Kanteq or a Racesafe (my previous one is a Racesafe but sadly no longer fits). However before committing to buy are there any bps out there which offer any protection from crushing injuries?

BPs seem to have come a long way in recent years with air vests etc becoming very mainstream, but the only one I can recall offering anything in the crushing protection department was the Exo which is now discontinued.

Any info or suggestions greatly appreciated :-)
 
You can still pick up Exos second hand, though infrequently and unfortunately they're set to be unsuitable for BE next year when the new standards come in. I love mine and am dreading having to give it up. I will still always wear it for xc schooling
 
Thank you for the reply :-). Funnily enough what prompted me to write this thread was that I was offered a second hand Exo through a friend of a friend but wasn't quick enough!! Am now wishing I'd snapped it up and it does appear to be the only thing of its kind :-/.
Would LOVE to get hold of one regardless of BE exclusions.
 
I own a Kanteq and love it! I don't see them very often on anyone else, but I really like mine. I am quite an awkward shape to fit in BPs so love how you can customise the fit. They do feel heavy when you're not wearing them (in contrast to the racesafes) but I have never felt it was too heavy when it was on!

I did have the unfortunate circumstance to test mine in a nasty rotational fall (wearing it in conjunction with an air jacket, which did go off) and I don't know if it was the BP, the air jacket or the combination but I walked away unhurt except a few bruises (horse was not so lucky :( )
 
New racesafe provent is amazing, much more comfortable than older racesafe, I have the ladies fit, would never wear body protector b4 but more than happy to wear this, in don't even notice it!
 
TheMule said:
You can still pick up Exos second hand, though infrequently and unfortunately they're set to be unsuitable for BE next year when the new standards come in. I love mine and am dreading having to give it up. I will still always wear it for xc schooling
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Same here, I love my Exo and am gutted they will be out of date next year.I have just bought a new Airoware one to compete in, but it doesnt feel half as protective as the exo, so I will continue to wear that for as long as I can
Such a shame they can't be rebadged to meet the new standards as I can't imagine they wouldn't meet the requirements :-(
 
I have an Airowear Outlyne and I really like it. I wear it with a HitAir jacket.

I don't think there is much that can protect from rotational fall type injuries, but I think having both a body protector and air jacket is the best I can do for now.
 
The old prolite - now marketed as helite - has proven safety testing to be effective in some types of crush injury arising from a rotational fall. That's not to say other air jackets are not as effective - they just haven't done the formal testing.

Anything is better than nothing of course. But also nothing will be 100% effective against 3/4 tonne or so landing on you.

Exos are significantly out of current standard so I am forced to assume that they no longer meet modern standards. If they did I presume they would have re-submitted for testing.
 
The thing that is special about the Exo is the metal cage. Is it possible to use the metal cage over a standard body protector of you strip it of all its padding and covers? maybe one of the thinner ones like the Racesafe? If you love it, I'd give it a try.

From a psychological point of view it might be dangerous to school in one and then not wear it for competing. Subconsciously, you will know you have not got it on, and that could affect your riding or the horse.
 
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ycbm said:
The thing that is special about the Exo is the metal cage. Is it possible to use the metal cage over a standard body protector of you strip it of all its padding and covers? maybe one of the thinner ones like the Racesafe? If you love it, I'd give it a try.

From a psychological point of view it might be dangerous to school in one and then not wear it for competing. Subconsciously, you will know you have not got it on, and that could affect your riding or the horse.
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That is something I have been considering, especially that at the time of highest risk-xc competition would be the time I couldnt wear it. I may give it a try. As the exo sits off your body slightly I think there would be room - will trial and report back
 
Shay said:
The old prolite - now marketed as helite - has proven safety testing to be effective in some types of crush injury arising from a rotational fall. That's not to say other air jackets are not as effective - they just haven't done the formal testing.

Anything is better than nothing of course. But also nothing will be 100% effective against 3/4 tonne or so landing on you.

Exos are significantly out of current standard so I am forced to assume that they no longer meet modern standards. If they did I presume they would have re-submitted for testing.
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When I asked woof wear this, they said they couldnt be resubmitted as they are not in production any more
 
ycbm said:
The thing that is special about the Exo is the metal cage. Is it possible to use the metal cage over a standard body protector of you strip it of all its padding and covers? maybe one of the thinner ones like the Racesafe? If you love it, I'd give it a try.

From a psychological point of view it might be dangerous to school in one and then not wear it for competing. Subconsciously, you will know you have not got it on, and that could affect your riding or the horse.
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You wouldnt be able to compete in one though!
 
popsdosh said:
As from next year the paramedics at BE events will not have keys for them as they are not approved.
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They are not banned as far as I can tell. Carry your own key in a prominent place in a bright red holder with a big key symbol on it.
 
No but what ycbm is saying is that it is not used as a standard bodyprotector it is used as an auxillary piece of equipment in addition to your reg. bodyprotector. personally I can't see it quite working but I get the theory :)
 
ester said:
No but what ycbm is saying is that it is not used as a standard bodyprotector it is used as an auxillary piece of equipment in addition to your reg. bodyprotector. personally I can't see it quite working but I get the theory :)
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Yes I am fully aware but my point is you need a key to unlock them and BE have had issues with this even when they were allowed
 
popsdosh said:
Yes I am fully aware but my point is you need a key to unlock them and BE have had issues with this even when they were allowed
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Your point in post 17, your last post, was that they didn't meet the standard. Neither do air bags but they are worn over a standard BP. I can't see anything in the rules which prevents any rider wearing the metal cage over a standard BP if they choose. The cage has never met the required BP standard, it was the BP inside the cage that was up to standard. The issue of the key is up to the rider if they wish to take that risk of a slower access to heart compression in the case of an accident. And I can see why they would, because they drastically reduce the chance that compression will ever be needed! Unless the use of the cage itself is banned, this is the current situation.
 
As far as Kantech I don't think they would meet current BE/BRC/PC standards so essential that you check for a BETA purple label level 3 with 2009 year on it - don't buy one with the year 2000 one unless just using it for non-competitive reasons

The Exo body cages seem to remember that schedules always used to state that you need to alert the secretary if you rode with one, presumable so you gave them the key?

I have never used either tbh as I love my racesafe and upgraded to the provent one
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. Out of interest, does anyone know where I can get hold of an Exo these days? The US have some of the tiny sizes in stock but not my size and I can't seem to find one second hand anywhere (other than the one I missed out on mentioned in original post!).
I can't seem to find anything non-horsey that would double up as doing the same job either.
 
A point a lot of people never seemed to get was that the Exo has 2 keys with it, under the big green patch with a + on and without looking I think it says emergancy, you just need to cut/ rip a tiny hole in the lining to get it out so I've never understood giving a key to someone as the key would then be not where its needed?
I have seen them come up on ebay occasionally, maybe with the rule change there will be more around?
 
catherine22 said:
A point a lot of people never seemed to get was that the Exo has 2 keys with it, under the big green patch with a + on and without looking I think it says emergancy, you just need to cut/ rip a tiny hole in the lining to get it out so I've never understood giving a key to someone as the key would then be not where its needed?
I have seen them come up on ebay occasionally, maybe with the rule change there will be more around?
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The issue BE safety committee had with them and why they never caught on in eventing was the amount you had to move an injured rider to remove them as all other BPs could be cut off. Its great having a key on it but what if you have to move them to get at it. The paramedics hated them!
 
The Kanteq ones do meet the standard, they are certified BS EN 13158:2009. I don't believe they have BETA label, but I have never had any issues using it at PC, BE or RC competitions, training, rallies etc.
 
iknowmyvalue said:
The Kanteq ones do meet the standard, they are certified BS EN 13158:2009. I don't believe they have BETA label, but I have never had any issues using it at PC, BE or RC competitions, training, rallies etc.
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Next year they wont! They must a Beta label or they could not be used at the moment
 
catherine22 said:
That is something I have been considering, especially that at the time of highest risk-xc competition would be the time I couldnt wear it. I may give it a try. As the exo sits off your body slightly I think there would be room - will trial and report back
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As far as im aware you can still buy new ones the original producer is still supplying them !
http://www.kanteq.com/

However this may explain more why they are not labelled

http://www.kanteq.com/category/news/
 
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Just incase someone achieves this thread like I have kanteqs now do have the beta 2009 standard labelling required to compete in BE next year.
 
I really doubt BE would let you ride with a cage over a BP, surely if its a cage then it has gaps in it (which a horse could effecively get its feet caught in?). Sounds crazy IMO to do something DIY like this. I have always worn a Racesafe and will be buying their Provent soon.

Why dont you just get one of the new standard BP's and get an air vest which some people believe helps in a rotational?
 
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