wearing a point 2 jacket for hunting - does anyone

[PorkChop]

I know people that wear Point Two's out hunting, in black, as said for the best protection it should be worn over a BP.

 

[Bernster]

We can all take your opinion. No-one has told you that you should not have given your opinion. All we have done is give OUR opinions that your opinion is a bit daft.[/QUOTE]

Ah, this forum never ceases to make me smile Much better fun than working !

 

[superwibble]

After Fracturing my neck I always wear my point 2 hunting (not always over a bp either as my bp is really uncomfortable) I must have been lucky as ever since I have worn it (8 weeks to the day of hurting my neck) I have only had positive comments or questions about it. I have sewn my blue hunt coat's buttons on with elastic so I can wear it underneath. I like looking smart but I cannot afford to be off work becuase I was feeling a bit vain. Equally I respect the right of those who dont wear anything. I love being turned out correctly but not at any cost.

I am probably jinxing myself but not once in 3 years of ownership have I forgotten to unclip, its like an automatic action, I had a rein snap on me and whilst trying to slow down with one rein, I unclipped and jumped off without thinking about it. It takes seconds and despite being on a 17hh am often jumping off to pick up others dropped gloves etc as I can get on from the ground okay.

I have yet to hunt side saddle although I have ahow jumped ss but dont wear any bp for that. I do wear a bowler in the show ring but a normal riding hat at all other times

 

[jsr]

Even if I wore an expensive fitted jacket with a Patey tilted on my head I'd still look like a red faced slightly overweight middle aged woman on her bouncing hairy coblet and not the beautifully slim demure and striking woman on her calm shiney steed that I'd so like to be, so I might as well squash all the wobbly bits in a BP and tuck in the double chin and mad frizzy hair into a secure hat and be safe while unelegant and unattractive.

Couldn't really care less what 'men' like Hunter think, I'm more bothered than at the end of a FUN day out I go home in one piece. So glad I hunt with people who are there to enjoy the day and not comment or sneer.

 

[NinjaPony]

Why is it, on here, people can't take the truth? yes I do wear a Patey, oh and quite often a top hat (shock)

My preference is that, just that.. I don't jump anything I do not think my mount will carry me safely over & no I rarely fall. I produce horses to the highest standard and am known as a 'nagsman'. We are a rare breed these days and with all the 'health and safety' no doubt we will become rarer to the extent that no one will be riding soon!

I think that those in back protectors aged over 25 look like numpties & that's my opinion (oh and many others) so like it or lump it!

You are entitled to your opinion, however I think scoffing at other people with more common sense than you is stupid. If your hunt is the kind of hunt to laugh at people taking their safety seriously, then it's not surprising some people feel nervous about joining a hunt in dear of snobbyness and sneering.
Even the best horseman can fall.

 

[RunToEarth]

Wear whatever safety measures you feel you need to, as long as you and horse look smart, there should be no issues. We all have different opinions, I don't say anything about BPs being silly, and I don't expect anyone to jump on me for having a patey on.

 

[VOM]

Why is it, on here, people can't take the truth? yes I do wear a Patey, oh and quite often a top hat (shock)

My preference is that, just that.. I don't jump anything I do not think my mount will carry me safely over & no I rarely fall. I produce horses to the highest standard and am known as a 'nagsman'. We are a rare breed these days and with all the 'health and safety' no doubt we will become rarer to the extent that no one will be riding soon!

I think that those in back protectors aged over 25 look like numpties & that's my opinion (oh and many others) so like it or lump it!

Fair play to Hunters for sticking with his own opinion. Remember everyone is entitled to one.

Personally I couldn't care less if someone wears a body protector so long as they have made an effort to look smart everywhere else.

 

[meesha]

jsr - you made me laugh, priceless (I know exactly what you mean) ..... I havent thought about wearing my bp hunting but I would definately consider it - have seen many worn the few times I have been and from a distance you cant even tell. The first time I was out there were 2 fallers and have spoken to many since (off back of rearing horse seems a favorite)

 

[Hunters]

VOM I'm with you - I couldn't really care less what people wear out hunting. I hunt in a patey or top hat and that's my choice!

My opinion is my opinion. I like to be turned out 'correctly' for hunting and for old fashioned hunting 'protocol' to be adhered to. A lot of today's hunting lot wouldn't even know correct protocol.

I enjoy the buzz and adrenaline a fast pack like the Heythrop give me and yes I do wear a seatbelt in the car (although quite what that has got to do with hunting..?)

I rode a 'chopper' bike when I was a child and survived that too. I could be killed by a bus (although not that likely in the Cotswolds) tomorrow. I have 'produced' and judged at the highest level and I prefer my ways be they right or wrong.

What does annoy me is the 'personal attacks' on my opinions, if you can't take debate then 'b@g off.

 

[Hunters]

Run To Earth - You look very smart and correctly dressed (in my opinion) - although your poppy is on the wrong side for a lady. Left handside for a lady - right for a man. But then what do I know apparently my opinions are daft.... Long live the dying breed of correct protocol!!

 

[Fools Motto]

To answer the question, personally I wouldn't wear a P2. In fact. I've been out hunting a few times (but not a regular, far from it) and it's never even occurred to me to wear any form of BP. I am not totally against it, but I never did before, so I guess old habits die hard and I won't now.
I can imagin a P2 out hunting, if activated, to be a pain to sort out before you get going again?? By then, the rest if the field has buggered off some 10 miles away and you find yourself snookered anyway! Now THAT would annoy me.
I do wear the right head gear, and like to think I know my abilities regarding the type of fences I can or can't negotiate thus limiting a possible tumble. Don't get me wrong, I have taken a few tumbles out hunting and actually grateful I didn't have a bp on, I can't flex well in one of them to remount!

 

[emmab13]

I wear a Patey, and that's it. I accept that my vanity will make me look very stupid if I fall off and hurt myself. I hunt dealing horses 3 times a week that I'm lucky to have sat on once before they go out, and although I'm not the technically the greatest of riders over a course of showjumps, out hunting I'm in my element.
I actually DON'T CARE what anyone else wears. Come out in one of those Zorbing bubbles if you want, if you're friendly, happy to be out, and don't mind when one of my 4 year olds starts doing some mad leaping near you, crack on.
After all, in times like these, the more the merrier.

 

[VoR]

Not being one for all this Health & Safety, nanny-state nonsense we get nowadays, surely the answer to all this is;

We should all take responsibility for our own safety and if we choose to wear or not wear BP's, P2's, chin straps, etc, etc, then we do so in the knowledge that we are putting ourselves at some risk, IF however, the person next to us in the field is wearing protective gear, regardless of their age, then we shouldn't look down on them or sneer, we should respect that they have considered their safety and are doing something about it.

To be so 'above-ones-self' to believe anyone can sit on any horse and be immune from falling, whether we make a mistake or the horse does or just plain bad luck is preposterous surely!

 

[becca1305]

I dont have any issues with anyone wearing a BP out hunting & would probably do it on a youngster at least for the first time out myself i would NOT however wear a point2 as i would imagine them to be more of a danger than a saviour on the hunt field ; imagine if the worst should happen and you fell off over a hedge the best thing would be to tuck and roll if you could to avoid being landed on by horses following. I cant see how this would be possible in an inflated air jacket myself. I see the benefit of them in eventing etc my only issue is with not being able to get out of the way quickly from following horses!

Ps. I think it is ridiculous to turn your nose up at someone wearing a BP. I dont discriminate against anyone just wearing a chinless hat strap its their choice, similarily its their choice to wear a BP. Everyone deems them 'acceptable' for children to wear so why not adults? They may well be protecting themselves as well as possible because they have children and want to take as fewer 'risks' as possible for their sake, or simply dont want the ouch factor! Or alternatively gives them more confidence as they dont feel 'naked' I would imagine to some not wearing a BP would feel the same naked nervousness that I would feel if I didnt have a hat/chinstrap on & went hunting each to their own.

so to answer your question OP i would stick to your BP for safety reasons IMO. If you are worried about 'the look' then get a more fitted BP eg racesafe and wear it underneath

 

[natalia]

A lesson to be learnt- I was out cubbing (in my Patey) on an unknown horse. I hit a tree over a fence, the hat flew off and I broke my cheekbone. I have just come out of hospital having had it plated and have a huge hamster like face and very sore. I have now invested in a HS1 hat with trendy velvet cover which won't fly off, and a P2 for big hedge days. Days before the cheekbone, my horse had an bad accident in a big hedge, he misjudged the width and put down too early, sending us both flying. Had I a P2 on I wouldn't have been half as sore as I was. I have no problem with people wearing any sort of safety gear out hunting, this has taught me that at I really can't afford to lose time out of my work and its been a bit of a pain to say the least. Any thing that helps isn't a bad thing!

 

[woodlandswow]

ok here goes

Hunters: i can easily accept your opinion; after all hunting is a very traditional occasion,- as is wearing a nice patey/top hat and smart jacket.
i will hopefully be eventing next year to a standard of wearing either a top hat or a patey (fingers crossed!) and i understand they are not the safest of protection, however tradition is tradition.

However; i also am very concious of is horses are horsees.. my boy (who i ride bearback around the paddock at home) is like a lethal wepon out hunting; (i have tried! - he is young ) and if i can have the best protection possible, i will wear it - (im 18)
i will never forget the day i walked downstairs one morning and my parents said despite being at BE90 level, safety is important (you only have one neck) (it didnt help my mum worked on a spinal unit) so out we popped to get an air jacket (as you do- you cant put a price on safety and if protection is being offered i think go for it) (obviously we dont all have generous parents!)
who knows if the horse will have a heart attack underneath you, if it will trip over an unseen peice of wire, or if the horse infront does the unthinkable.. however well trained the horse is you cannot prepare them for that

so, back to the origional post

i will go out in my BP and take my P2, after 1 meet i will see if i will brave it - that is with my hunt
my hunt however do not do much jumping,
i am due to go out with my friend who likes.... big hedge.... big hedge..... big hedge.... big hedge...
I will definatly take it then - thaanks to some of you who have told me people do go with them

Last point - i cant remember who first pointed this out, but as they said (sorry!) it was only BE who made it cumpolsary to jump with a BP underneath. my friend reguarly hacks out (expensive if it blows, yes!) wearing just a point two.. and that was basically what i was asking
thanks for all the help and veiws!

 

[lauraandjack]

I hunt in a BP under my jacket. Does look a bit bulky but the majority of folks don't notice unless it comes up in conversation, and then i get "oh, do you hunt in a BP?"

My body, my choice.

I work full time in a job which requires a fair degree of physical capability. I live alone, a long distance from my family, in a village not quite in the middle of nowhere. My horse is on DIY livery 7 miles away. Therefore, if I crock myself, I will be very reliant on the goodwill of friends to look after my horse and dog, do my shopping, take me places etc. As I choose to partake in a potentially dangerous sport, I feel that I should do the best I can to make it as safe as possible, which for me is a skull cap and BP for hunting.

Hunters, you are of course entitled to your opinion. But please don't look down on those of us who make different choices to you! I'm over 25 and certainly not a novice rider, and I've no intention of "going back to RC." Tradition of course has it's place, but so does technology and the 2 are definitely not mutually exclusive!

As long as people are smartly turned out, I don't see that it matters whether their hat has a chin strap or they wear a BP. In all honesty I think overly traditional attitudes only serve to contribute to the general public's negative image of hunting being the sport of toffs and people with too much time on their hands.

 

[Ella19]

Well I will be "one of the numpties" out in a bp this year and a kan with big shoulder pass at that, over my jacket.

I had a very bad accident in April, its left me with a clear cut choice, I ride with a body protector at all times now ( never worn one before) or I don't ride at all. I have been told in no uncertain terms that due to the nature of my injuries should I fall and break that collar none again the plate wi shift straight through my main artery and kill me. Now some will say I shouldn't ride but I too am of the thought of "I could be hut by a bus", however I will do everything I can to protect myself whilst riding.

Hunter should I be penalised and destined to a life of hacking and dressage because I have to wear a bp?

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

OH proudly wears his BP & P2 and he is the hunt secretary
link to pic on our hunt home page- he is on the grey in the middle of the pic:

http://kimblewickhunt.co.uk/

he broke his back in 2009 and is only riding, even walking due to experimental but ultimately sucessful surgery. The will to walk/ride/hunt again was what kept him going so whats the problem? since he has started wearing his, so many other people have also felt the confidence to wear theirs and anything that makes you safer cant be a bad thing.

FWIW 2 weeks ago i "lost" my days hunting as i was sat with a lady whose horse had come down on the road and she was near enough knocked out by the impact aswell as lower back/hip pain. I spent over an hour keeping her company/warm/upbeat waiting for the air ambulance to arrive. If she hadnt been wearing her HS1 (which had a nasty crack in it) she might not have "got away" with a nasty concussion..

personal choice has to be the way forwards- as long as it is discreet as i dont think anyone wants to see hunting pink refering to bright pink BP!

 

[Goldenstar]

It's really down to personal choice I have recently had the should you wear a 2point discussion with my husband I would rather give up than wear a bp all day and decided that I get off and on too much for gates (small horse easy to get on) a disaster would defiantly occur if I wore a 2 point might be ok for drag hunting but for our country in the hills I would be inflating all the time!! I have however ditched the Patey in favour of a velvet hat with a harness OH asked me too and really could not think of a good reason to say not too except vanity.

 

[cptrayes]

I agree with you about the gates, Goldenstar but hills are no problem. We regularly ford rivers with almost verticle 15 ft banks to scramble up and down. Also agree that drag hunting is probably easier because you will get a check where you can wait for the jacket to go down if you need to, or if you get left behind it gives you time to catch up.

Congrats on overcoming the vanity with the hat, it was my OH that made me wear the jacket!

 

[Goldenstar]

I expressed my self badly the hills are not problem I just mean it's not country you are crossing very quickly jumping hedges you are going though gates not are noy used much and you are on and off all the time.
still miss the patey though.

 

[RunToEarth]

Run To Earth - You look very smart and correctly dressed (in my opinion) - although your poppy is on the wrong side for a lady. Left handside for a lady - right for a man. But then what do I know apparently my opinions are daft.... Long live the dying breed of correct protocol!!

really? This does interest me actually, as it is this time of year again. I have just googled and BBC informs me it is an ongoing debate. I was always taught men wear them on the left, ladies on the right. My OH believes everyone wears them on the left, over the heart, where medals are worn. I believe some think only the Royal family should correctly wear them on the right. I am coming round to OHs way of thinking.

 

[posie_honey]

tbh i love tradition - and i cared about it a lot when i was a hunt hirling nanny and wore very correct dress - no i did not think about safety - yes i now suffer back pain and hip pain every day from falls that were sometimes errors - sometimes simply unfortunate

now days i nod towards tradition - but have swapped to a jockey skull cap etc - yes it does not look as smart - do i care? no - i'd rather be safe and couldnt give a fig what anyone else thinks

 

[Hunters]

I have moved within royal circles at the highest level. Trust me, the BBC do not know everything. Etiquette donates 'ladies on the left - gentlemen on the right (for poppies at hunts)

 

[MilosDad]

Well thats good to know. At least I shall now have my poppy on the correct side, Id have worn it on the left where my medals go at formal dos!

 

[Scoutie]

I was that lady that Darkly Dreaming Dex was helping (thank you again!), and as she pointed out my accident happened when my horse fell on a road, not going over a jump. Both my horse and I were very lucky to escape serious injury; apparently she also managed to escape capture for 3.5 miles.

I luckily cannot remember much about the accident (nor the subsequent helicopter and ambulance ride) but if the bruises on my back had happened to my head I would not be typing this now. I chose not to wear a BP but I do always wear the highest safety I can on my head (my hat was replaced before I rode again). It is a personnel choice, only you can evaluate what risks you are prepared to take and no one should pass comment on your decision.

 

[Goldenstar]

hunters Thanks for that about the poppies you learn something everyday!

 

[Herne]

I can't be bothered to type this all out again...

If you want to wear your body protector, then wear it - and don't worry about people who might look down their noses at you. They are the stupid ones not you - you only get one body, so look after it.

I speak as someone who doesn't wear a body protector or a BS Standard Hat, but that is my choice. I have properly considered the merits of the various options and I have made an informed choice not to wear them - and a damned silly choice it is, too. Wearing proper effective safety clothing is just plain sensible, so if you want to do it, do it, and don't give a stuff about people who say you are "wrong". It is they who are wrong.

People have a misconception that Hunting Dress is set in stone. It isn't. Hunting dress is worn, come rain or shine, sun or snow, two, three or four days a week, so above all else it needs to be practical and it changes, in order to be practical, over the years. The things we wear are worn because, at the time they were introduced they were the best option and over time they are changed as better things come along.

50 years ago, no one except professional Hunt Staff wore "Patey-style” caps. Everyone wore toppers or bowlers. Gradually that changed as people realised that Patey-style was safer - and the front-runners were sniffed at then as people wearing BS-Style caps are sometimes now.

In 50 years time, everyone will wear BS-style caps as the norm and someone in a Patey-style will be as unusual as a top hat is now.

Likewise, the style of coats has changed over the years. My grandfather wore a swallowtail coat, my father wore a coat with massive "skirts" because that was the fashion then, and I wear a coat with modern cut and a Gore-Tex lining - because that is what is practical and sensible now.

In 50 years time, everyone will be wearing body protectors out hunting as standard and will be looking down their noses at the "young upstarts" who are daring to come out hunting in the new anti-gravity vests.

Times change. As long as you make the effort to be smart and well-presented, feel entirely free to move with them.

And I also speak as someone who has been a Master of Foxhounds for 16 seasons and whose father and both Grand-Fathers were also Masters or Chairmen of Foxhounds.

 

[Herne]

I have moved within royal circles at the highest level. Trust me, the BBC do not know everything. Etiquette donates 'ladies on the left - gentlemen on the right (for poppies at hunts)

One learns something new every day. I did not even know that there was a special ettiquette for poppies.

However, if you are correct, then I am extremely surpised that this man is not aware of it...

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/FS5u...ers+Their+First+Meet/Sjr_0We7Vqg/Ian+Farquhar