Shoulder protectors

monkeybum13

monkeybum13

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I was looking and get a new BP and thought I might get some shoulder protectors too
but am i missing something (ie there are more bad than good points) or are they simply "out of fashion" as there seems to be fewer people wearing them??

thanks in advance
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We're thinking of buying some for Alice now she's jumping harder courses (fingers crossed). She broke her collarbone badly 10 weeks ago, and has been advised no more contact sports (used to be a fab rugby player) so we think we will. I will be reading these replies with interest because at £50 a pop they aren't cheap! Don't think fashion should ever come into it, btw- I know A would rather be considered a bit uncool and avoid the ache she still gets from intensive schooling sessions...
 
My mum thought she'd get me some now that I will be riding a baby horse and also doing bigger courses. I broke my collar bone whilst wearing a BP so I'm hoping these will prevent that happening again as my left clavicle (the one i broke) is more prominent than my right one. £50 seems a lot but as my mum says - you can't put a price on safety
 
Indeed- A's cb is so prominent now- and she hates it. Had a lesson the other night on her 'littlies' and ended up doing a shorter second lesson because it was aching. It was a nasty break first time round, so if it happened again (with a fairly normal fall that was pretty much a freak accident) it could end up with some more nasty repercussions.
 
how did she fall?
mine was really stupid - 2 strides after a fence pony tripped on ground, and i came out the side door!!

if they're only good for keeping a card in and won't stop a broken collar bone then i might not bother. I'm not sure about the point 2 yet
 
They WON'T prevent a collarbone break - although they might cushion the initial impact - which MAY go some way to stopping the bone actually breaking.

They are more designed to prevent bruising and scrapes if you are thrown into a jump, or along the ground at speed.

Because there is no 'bracing' effect between the shoulder pad and back protector, if you fall very hard on the point of your shoulder, the collar bone is inclined to snap!!!

In normal circumstances, a simple collar bone break is not too serious - takes a few weeks to mend and you might be left with some unsightly lumps.

If you are unlucky (as I was) it does not mend, and needs to be pinned with metal and .........another story!!

There is no way you can prevent it with body protection ... it happens ....or it doesn't!!

Ask the NH racing jockeys!!!
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However, it would have prevented such a nasty break where her cb was very displaced.
She fell when her pony went to chip in to a skinny from a tight dogs leg at Stratford Hills BE100 and slipped on takeoff and only just managed to remain on all 4 feet afterwards, rocketing A straight out the side door onto the point of her cb. She was very annoyed as she was flying round clear, had done the only fence she'd been worried about and was in line fore her first BE placing despite fireworks in the dressage!
 
After fracturing my arm just below my shoulder when for one rare occassion I was not wearing the shoulder pads, I would now always wear them! Had I been wearing them, the chance of the fracture would have been much less likely and so would not have missed the entire summer and much less frustration!!
 
My point is just that --- it won't prevent a break!! I also had a VERY displaced break. The broken ends overlapped by a couple of inches - caused by the speed of impact (ie pushed the shoulder into the ground at speed)

Shoulder pads cannot alter this - as they are not rigid, and are only attached loosely to the BP. Maybe the skin round the shoulder was less bruised from the fall, but the pads didn't stop the crumpling of the bone with the impact speed and weight of shoulder meeting ground at high speed! Nothing can - unless you are wearing rigid armour!!!
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However, I and daughter both wear the pads - better than nothing!!!
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I have the Aerowear Zippa Plus specifically because the shoulders were attached (and the shape suits me). I'm sure it won't save me from a nasty injury, but I hope it will reduce the nasty injury!!
I did try one of the ones where you get the shoulders separately, but they felt heavy and wobbly, I didn't like it.
So far they've only saved me from nasty grazes when being barged against rough walls, or attacked by branches/brambles out hacking... long may that continue.
 
I used to have a Rodney Powell with shoulder pads, but have now upgraded to a Kan Teq. If you want to protect your collar bone and shoulder joint then the traditional shoulder pads won't really help with that because the way they cover the shoulder joint allows for a weakness where the shoulder pad joins the main body.

See here...
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Where they clip onto the body, the joint is not 100% covered, imho it will really only help with stopping bruises and abrasions to the upper arm if you fall on it.

My new Kan teq which I tested out last night has sort of 'shoulder pad' looking shoulder protectors which don't allow for any weakness point over the joint giving it full protection

See here.... See the round sort of cap on top of each shoulder, these parts act sort of like 'knee caps for your shoulders'
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much better joint protection, but still gives you loads of freedom with the arms. I know I am biased towards Kans now being a fan but I would really recommend trying one out, it fits like a hug, and for me as an asthmatic its design lets your chest expand to breath so I don't feel trapped or restricted.

I hope that's helpful, the only issue I have with my Kan is that it doesn't come in green......yet
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I didn't know that about the Kan, interesting as i am an asthmatic who has had a few attacks whilst wearing a BP due to the restriction!
 
Yes Saratoga I sound the same as you, I have allergy (dust/grass/cats/feathers!!!!) and exercise enduced asthma (not ideal for a dusty stable yard!) and at the end of all my XC's to date (in my old BP) I feel like the first thing I need to do is unzip and get my BP off asap, I went hacking out in my Kan last night parctising my r&t and it was mega didn't feel restricted or tight chested at all, and when I got off had it on for a further 20 mins whilst I sorted the horse and untacked, but if that was my old one first respose would have been to get off and get BP off.

Also (sorry bit full of 'Kan love' atm!) it's really supportive of your boobs and lower back, no need for a sports bra coz I fits like a hug, and I have quite a long back, and often get an achy lower back after xc, but my Kan is moulded into the small of my back so didn't get any of that!

Sorry for kan-tastic post can you tell I'm happy with my new BP!
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I'm the same, i tend to upzip it as soon as my feet touch the ground! I need a new body protector for next year and was convinced i was going to get a racesafe, but now i think i might try the Kan! I also have lower back problems (have to wear a back brace whilst mucking out, pooh picking etc) so if it's more supportive to the lower back as well as not restricting the breathing it sounds a fab option all round.

Do you wear yours under or over a top? Not a major prob but my XC colours are turquoise and white, so a blk protector would look a bit odd, can you wear them underneath a top?
 
Ignore my last sentence, i can see from your pics what you do!!! Blonde....

Do you think you could wear it under a top, or is it too bulky do you think?
 
I know being a bit of a 'Barbie goes eventing' type I was disappointed that they only come in black and navy atm but in the future custom colours will be made. I wear mine underneath, and think with the black bib on you really won't see that much of it anyway. I guess if you had a v stretchy top you could wear it over the top, but my base layer is tight as it's supposed to be close ot the skin to work best.

The lady who designed the Kan has a scoliosis (sp?) of the spine so designed them specifically with spinal support in mind. If you email Wendy (Kan lady) with your specific questions relating to your issues I'm sure she can give you a more details explanation, and examples of riders it works for.

If it's good enough for Jeanette Brakewell it's good enough for me!
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Hello all. Just to add....I also have a Kan which I wear loads. I'm not that fussy about my colours and have a Kan in black. To be honest, the number bib covers everything up anyway.....

I have to echo the points made above - I can breathe well in it, it is definitely better at taking an impact than my older bp.... Also, I've worn mine show jumping over my black jacket and it looks really smart.

I did a lot of research into buying my Kan and what I liked was that it uses stuff developed from motorbikes. Plus the shoulder pads (which are really good at collar bone protection which is what its all about) come as standard you aren't forking out yet more ££.

Definitely worth buying!!! I asked the kan people loads of questions which they were happy to answer so suggest you phone or email the Kan lady.

Happy riding everyone!!!!
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