Strappy tops....

D

DipseyDeb

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 January 2008
Messages
3,656
Location
Essex
Visit site
Now after 30 years of riding, you make think this answer would be obvious to me, but I just cant work out what is the feasable answer to why you shouldn't ride in them!!! I s'pose if you fall off you would graze u'r shoulders (!) but is there a more sensible answer that I'm not bright enough to work out? Just dropped daughter off at stabless and her friend was wearing one, the Yo was quite adamant that she couldn't ride like that and would have to borrow a top with longer sleeves!! Please, can someone enlighten me!! or have I just developed bad habits over the years!!
crazy.gif
 
I wear them at home, however at uni it was very hot and alot of us went to the yard in strappy tops (just to do the mucking out duty). We were not allowed on the yard so had to wear fleeces/jumpers instead.
We felt VERY ill afterwards, it was also NOT written in the rules over not being able to wear them. No idea why we were not allowed to wear them, some of us were not even near the horses (ie - I was on sweeping duty and had no contact with the horses) yet we were yelled at for having a strappy top on instead of a normal t shirt.
 
I think it stems from not being allowed to go XC in short sleeves/sleeveless (I think that's a rule? Not entirely sure...)
I try to wear sleeves out hacking if I can, especially if I don't trust the horse not to ditch me! TBH it's so darned hot at the moment though that I couldn't imagine riding in anything with sleeves, and I'd certainly be happier schooling sleeveless! I do the attractive "rolling up of the sleeves onto the shoulders" look with my polo shirts - it's a really good look
smirk.gif
grin.gif
 
My friend fell off her horse and was dragged whilst wearing a strappy top, it was not a pretty sight...all of the skin was taken off the back of her shoulder...
 
Other than the obvious grazes if you fall off, sunburn, or possibly (?!) injuries from getting bitten - can't think of any other reason. You'd probably still get some injuries with falling off/getting bitten with sleeves on though!

I know for Pony Club you have to have sleeves below your elbows for XC, and Riding Club rules say you have to have sleeves!

No idea why - sorry.
 
I'd be interested to know if these yards who ban strappy top also insist on people riding out in high vis. Very bizarre not allowing them, the only risk is grazes and (if you don't put suncream on) sunburn. I've ridden out in shorts before (and chaps), what a great look that was!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd be interested to know if these yards who ban strappy top also insist on people riding out in high vis. Very bizarre not allowing them, the only risk is grazes and (if you don't put suncream on) sunburn. I've ridden out in shorts before (and chaps), what a great look that was!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes our yard bans strappy tops and also insists we ride out in high viz.
 
I don't think that's an actual rule about it - think it's just for safety reasons. Like Silmarillion says, it probably stems from competition clothing regulations.
 
I would feel very exposed, I know some of the horses I have worked with like to rub their heads and bridles on my arm when I'm leading them, it could be quite painful on bare skin.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Surely this is just Health & Safety imposing their recommendations?

Goodness knows how I got to live to be this old, considering how irresponsible people used to be 30yrs ago.

confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Well this was my thought, then I just wondered if I was missing something....but obviously not!!
grin.gif
 
I always ride in a top with sleeves to minimise horse fly bites, getting swiped by branches on a hack and when I was jumping once I fell off having nasty sand burns on my arms and shoulders.

Its entirely up to the individual, but its not something I do, also I do not think it would be 'contained' at a trot!!
 
I was always taught to riding in long sleeves, although i don't always follow it i do always have some sort of sleeve. Mainly do do all reasons cited already, grazes, sunburn, fly bites etc. Don't see why not on the yard, personal choice but alot of flesh on show could be unprofessional on a bit yard
 
I can remember that we had to wear t-shirts with sleeves at the riding school i used to ride at when i was younger and i know at the yard at college you are not allowed to ride in strappy tops.

Most likely to do with health and safety. Perhaps it has something to do with insurance but i dunno? I would wear strappy tops for hacking or schooling but not for XC.
 
Think it's out of riding etiquette which is still quite old-fashioned compared to other areas of life. Hairnets, stocks, etc are from a different age. So showing too much flesh would frighten the horses or peasants or something.
 
I do usually wear a t-shirt, but sometimes a strappy top. If I'm jumping I wear a t-shirt as I usually wear a body protector and that will rub!
 
I have a livery and Riding Centre - I advise the liveries against strappy tops for riding but do not ban them as it is up to them to look after themselves and their children, but for the riding centre then they are strictly not allowed. I must do everything to make my clients safe and keep them safe and sleeveless tops in a fall can cause very nasty skin grazes / grass burns and in the worst case scenorio a lot of lost skin ! which can lead to infection and is not only painful but can cause scarring. It's modern day health and safety !! sorry folks!!!! Everyone has to wear approved hats correctly fastened at all times when mounted and leading horses and must always wear Hi Viz items when riding out!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Surely this is just Health & Safety imposing their recommendations?

Goodness knows how I got to live to be this old, considering how irresponsible people used to be 30yrs ago.

confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
He heee, my thought exactly
shocked.gif
When are they banning horses from our lives for being such DANGEROUS animals
confused.gif
crazy.gif
Unless wearing an armor around them becomes mandatory.
Honest, when I remember what I had to go through to learn how to ride... My instructors would have been sued and jailed today
mad.gif
so if the strappy top is an issue I'm as good as dead, Jiffy
grin.gif
 
I would be moving my horse if I was told what I could and couldn't wear! I've hacked out all week in a strappy top, shorts and trainers! And I was bareback
tongue.gif
 
I wore a strappy top once to ride, ended up dumped on the road by a pony who reacted badly to a wasp sting, pony is normaly a saint. I ended up with gravel rash down my right arm, and from my right shoulder to my left hip, i ended up in hospital haveing to have gravel SCRUBBED out of what was essentialy an open wound (they used nail brush type things).
I can tell you that it was absolute agony having it cleaned out, it was so bad that in the end i couldnt take anymore and they put me under a general anasthetic to finnish cleaning it (which was a big risk as last time i was under GA i stopped breathing).
I had bandages round my torso for nearly a month, got an infection because one small piece of gravel had been missed, ive got HUGE scars from the gravel rash.

Here is a picture of my arm after 3 days of healing when we were changing the dressing

hat004.jpg


So yes it is a safety thing and whilst i will ride in tshirts i will not ride in strappy tops as the material is to thin, they ride up (hence the gravel rash right accross my back) and believe me the shoulders are the most painful part to get gravel rash on.
Oh and a friend of mine did a similar thing when riding on grass and ended up with wounds almost as bad as mine so its not just on the roads that you can do yourself a very bad injury.
 
I personally don't wear strappy tops but to give you food for thought. Flesh & bone disintegrates at an inch a second at 30mph in a bike accident. A horse say can travel at 20mph and may drag you shall be say for 50m at worst? Either way a polo shirt is going to give you a few extra seconds and save your skin that you put so much time and effort into preserving?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top