Wearing rings while riding?!

[SuperHorse]

Ok, this is a bit of a random question and not technically related to competing - but I'm just wondering, for those of you who are engaged/married - what do you do with your ring when you ride? Leave it on, take it off, put it on a chain around your neck? And if you leave it on, are you allowed to wear it when eventing? (I seem to vaguely recall something in the rules saying you're not allowed to wear rings....)
I just got engaged (yay!

) and my fiance wants to buy me a chain to put the ring on when I'm riding, but I'm not sure that's any safer than leaving it on my hand (he's convinced my gloves won't fit over it!). Any suggestions woukd be much appreciated!

 

[MandyMoo]

my mum leaves her on when she rides

dont know about eventing rules though.

i DEFINITLEY would NOT put it on a chain around your neck - horrifically dangerous...could easily get caught on something etc

congratulations on getting engaged by the way

xxx

 

[kerilli]

i wear rings, but nothing that sticks up, all mine are gypsy-set (stone set flush). i wear them for eventing (with gloves over the top) and no-one has ever said anything. if your ring has a stone that sticks up (typical Tiffany type) then i would put it on a chain around your neck for riding.

 

[Fanatical]

I'm not engaged or married but I do have a ring that I never take off. My gloves go over it fine and I keep it on no matter what I'm doing. I did find at first that riding with it on gave me a blister but the skin soon hardened to it and it's fine now.

 

[kirkton]

I have a 'sizeable' square diamond ring. I used to wear it 100% of the time, twice whilst riding without gloves the reins made it rotate round slightly and I cut my other finger on the corner - ouch!.

Generally eventing you will have gloves on whilst riding - have to for dressage and strongly advised to for jumping - nothing worse than sweaty horse making reins slippy. So if you have gloves on it's fine and stays in place.

I know 2 people who have put theirs on a chain and lost them. Think about tugging off hats and back protector at end of xc etc.

TBH, now days I keep on my wedding ring and leave the rock at home. Safer for me and the rock!

Well done on engagement!

 

[FigJam]

I always keep my wedding ring on, it's just a plain platinum band. For normal day-to-day riding at home, I also leave my engagement ring on (it's a square solitaire diamond that does "stick out" quite a bit) but I always wear gloves to ride so that (mostly) helps prevent the problem poopies mentioned of it turning round and cutting or digging into the other finger, that is sore!

I take off my engagement ring when out competing. I have a zip pocket in my purse (separate to any other part of it that I use for coins etc) that I zip it into and then my purse is hidden away in the glovebox of my car and car locked! (PS- if it goes missing at my next comp, I'll be hunting down any HHO-ers...!

)

It is safer wedged on my finger than left lying around in random places (which is why I always stick to the one, same hiding spot!) and I definitely wouldn't leave it on a chain around my neck, chains break so easily and it would be gone before you realised.

(one of my yard mates lost her engagement ring at the yard after "taking it off to keep it safe". She'd only been engaged a few months, has never found it.

)

PC rules say wedding bands are allowed but other jewellery not if that helps.

 

[Alibear]

Always wear my rings when riding, I also always wear gloves over the top and never have a problem.
But then I don't do an affiliated stuff.

 

[Leg_end]

I take my engagement ring off everytime I go to the horse and I rarely wear any jewellery when I go. TBH I'm more worried about losing it and getting it dirty than safety!! Mine is a solitaire and is quite sticky uppy!

 

[kick_On]

First congrats

I never remove my wedding band but never wear my engagement ring riding as i've lost to many stones from my ring!!!

Personnelly if I were you and you get to a choice a ring, I would try and get a setting where your gems will fall out!! and i would also go for chain option for normal ride but not competing i just wouldn't wear.

 

[H_J]

Im surprised you all ride and do horsey things in rings eeeeek! I dont wear any jewellery bar some little studs, ive seen too many injuries and seen a particuarly common injury in lorry drivers...(which some of us are at the weekend!) which is called de-gloving, the ring gets caught on somethin and literally de gloves the finger of the skin around it ewww!! ive seen pics too so that put me off for life wearing rings anywhere but when i go out!!

 

[Baileyhoss]

Congratulations!!! What kind of ROCK are you getting that won't fit under your gloves

I def wouldn't consider putting it on a chain, as others say, it's too easily broken/lost.

I have a plain solitaire with a rolled over setting, partly chosen because it doesn't have claws and wouldn't catch on anything (I am exceptionally clumsy). I have never had any problems with it, altough the band has got a little scratched, but it's made for wearing. It's still safer on my finger than taking it off and on to 'keep it safe'. If I'm clipping or lifting mats or something REALLY grots, then I'll take it off, and either leave it in it's box at home or in my zippy purse. Otherwise it's on my finger.

I compete in mine as well and never been pulled up. they don't ask you to take your gloves off at BE tack checks to see if you are wearing any rings.

 

[vallin]

I always wear my ring (granted it's not as grand as some of ours-but it's equally important to me!) and its fine, I rarely where gloves and I've yet to have a problem!

 

[FigJam]

[ QUOTE ]
ive seen too many injuries and seen a particuarly common injury in lorry drivers...(which some of us are at the weekend!) which is called de-gloving, the ring gets caught on somethin and literally de gloves the finger of the skin around it ewww!! ive seen pics too so that put me off for life wearing rings anywhere but when i go out!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I've seen those photos on first aid training courses! Not pretty, think the ones I saw were from a rock climber.

I couldn't imagine taking my wedding band off though.

Happy to take the "rock" off and leave it in it's "safe place" as feel it has more chance of getting caught on something due to sticking up.

 

[kirkton]

I did hear of someone who lost most of their finger when the horse they were holding with a lead rope buggered off and somehow her wedding ring got caught and she was 'de gloved'

Gosh, this is cheery stuff!

 

[SpottedCat]

I don't wear mine - it stays at home when I go to the yard. However I also have a v outdoorsy job and I don't wear it when I am surveying either, it would get filthy, get in the way and probably get lost. I don't wear any jewelery for riding/other sports at all - no earrings, no necklaces, no rings. I also climb, surf, snowboard etc and the jewelery stays home!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

not engaged or married (yet!) but i do keep on one ring all the time-its only a slim band with a small sapphire set flush so minimal possibilities for catching on things/cutting my other fingers.

its too tight to keep taking on and off!

 

[FigJam]

[ QUOTE ]
I did hear of someone who lost most of their finger when the horse they were holding with a lead rope buggered off and somehow her wedding ring got caught and she was 'de gloved'

Gosh, this is cheery stuff!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks poopies!!

I guess it's like everything- always a risk, it's up to you whether it's an acceptable one (given likelihood of it happening) or not.

 

[hmk101]

I always wear my wedding band, engagement ring (discreet rock) and another couple that my well trained hubby bought me ( one for production of small child, another for 5yrs married) and ride in them and do all yard jobs in them.But I always ride with gloves. When I go eventing I tape them under my gloves- its become another of my funny rituals.

 

[SuperHorse]

Thanks everyone!

The ring is a square ("princess cut") soitaire diamond - it sticks up a bit but not excessively. I guess I'll try riding in it (with gloves on) and see how it goes - otherwise I guess I'll have to leave it at home (if I take it off at an event I'm guaranteed to lose it!).

 

[Santa_Claus]

First congrats

I have only been engaged myself a month and although at firt I took mine off that was mainly as was one size too big and I was a bit nervous of it slipping off. Now it is sized correctly I leave it on.

OH was very clever choosing the ring and the diamond is set flush so nothing to 'catch' when riding etc and it hasn't got traditional claws so the likelyhood of losing the stone is very slim. Must add I love the design and it suits me to tee

I always wear gloves anyway when riding so its covered to further protect it, I actually wear another ring on my other hand and again it doesn't come off.

The only times I do take my engagement ring off is normally doing stuff like cleaning etc so it doesn't get damaged by the chemicals! (although i know i should wear gloves then too i never do

)

 

[Halfstep]

I wear rings. I had my wedding/engagement ring made especially with a "rubover" setting for the diamond so it doesn't stick up and is very secure. But I also have a big ring on my other hand which is shaped like a frog with sapphires in its eyes - it is an antique and I inherited it. It doesn't bother me to ride with but I always wear gloves.

 

[TableDancer]

[ QUOTE ]
I wear rings. I had my wedding/engagement ring made especially with a "rubover" setting for the diamond so it doesn't stick up and is very secure. But I also have a big ring on my other hand which is shaped like a frog with sapphires in its eyes - it is an antique and I inherited it. It doesn't bother me to ride with but I always wear gloves.

[/ QUOTE ]

Almost exactly same situation for me (not a frog but inherited antique which is very lumpy

I wouldn't worry

And congratulations

 

[catembi]

I wear my rings 'out' i.e. to work, shops, social gatherings, but the rest of the time they're in a pot in the kitchen. I find they rub if riding, dog walking etc.

 

[Chloe_GHE]

I am not engaged or married

but it don't ride in any rings because my Dad always tells me this horrific story about when he was younger on the farm and they had a guy helping with the bales. They had one of those bale escalator things that carry bales up to the top of the stack, and their farm hand got his wedding ring caught on it and it ripped his finger off!!!!!!!! Bluuuuuuuuuurgh

Congratulations on the rock, if it's too big to go under gloves then he deffo sounds like a keeper

hahaha

 

[Nic]

Lol at Chloe!

I never wear any jewellery when I'm riding. I rarely remember to wear it when I'm not. Defo can't ride with rings on though, drives me mad!

 

[Hullabaloo]

I broke the knuckle of my little finger in a fall doing xc a few years back (snapped it with the reins on the way down I think). I got back on and finished the course by which time my hand was very swollen. Luckily I didn't have a ring on that hand as I would have had to have it cut off very quickly. I do still wear rings for day to day riding but take them off for jumping if I remember (which I quite often don't

)

 

[Gamebird]

Wear both my wedding and engagement rings all the time. Can't remember the last time I took them off. Ride in gloves 99% of the time but the main problem is from mucking out/sweeping up. I have got huge calluses either side of my rings on the palm side and a definite groove where the rings fit. This makes them quite hard to take off anyway!

I do remember being checked for rings in the start box at a BRC Hunter Trial qualifier once, though luckily before I was married. I'd have had fun trying to get my rings off my fingers and into the fob pocket of my breeches whilst being counted down on a horse doing kangaroo impressions....

 

[hedgehog1]

not an engagement ring but the diamonds in it are flat - so not sticking up if that makes sense?
i never take it off, i do horses full time. i dont even notice its there - id never take it off as i know i would lose it!

 

[humph]

I am hopeless and always forget to take mine off. Recently I had my engagement ring cleaned and the jeweller had a real go at me for wearing it all the time (i mentioned something about wearing it to the pub for lunch with my mother - imagine how appalled he'd have been if I told him I mucked out in it!). So I stopped wearing it apart from on smart social occasions. I then felt sad and bereft without it and decided that the point of engagement rings is more the love of hte ring and the person than the value of hte ring so I've started wearing it again. That said, I think for competing I'd take it off and leave it at home. I've lost loads of necklaces out riding so would be v anxious about having it on a chain around my neck.

Congratulations!

 

[FigJam]

[ QUOTE ]
Recently I had my engagement ring cleaned and the jeweller had a real go at me for wearing it all the time (i mentioned something about wearing it to the pub for lunch with my mother - imagine how appalled he'd have been if I told him I mucked out in it!). So I stopped wearing it apart from on smart social occasions. I then felt sad and bereft without it and decided that the point of engagement rings is more the love of hte ring and the person than the value of hte ring so I've started wearing it again.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree with the last part of this quote, definitely not the first!

I can't imagine keeping it locked away and only being brought out now and then.

They are definitely for wearing. I spent the first month or so grinning every time I caught sight of it sparkling on my finger!

(this is why Mr FigJam opted for platinum, not white gold- he knew a softer metal would disintegrate within a year or two due to the wear and tear it would have to suffer!

Platinum is much more hard-wearing and the metal will displace when scratched, rather than be lost completely, so although mine looks rather "brushed" not shiny, it could easily be polished up like new.)