What injuries do body protectors prevent?

M

Mitchyden

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 February 2009
Messages
445
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
I've worn a body protector everytime I've ridden since 1996 but for some strange reason I forgot to put it on today when I went out!

I've never really found them uncomfortable to wear until today. I was riding along feeling free and unrestricted but a bit nervous once I realised I'd forgotten to put it on!

So basically my question is - what injuries do they prevent? They obviously wouldn't stop me breaking my back or getting crushed if my horse fell on me. Do they just prevent bruising because if so, I might start riding without one and risk a few bruises as it definitely felt more comfortable?
 
My mum made me ride with one all the time when I was younger! I'm now 21 and refuse to wear it except for cross-country/new horses/young horses!

I hate mine, I can't move the same in it!

And if I fall off when wearing one, the only thing it stopped was surface injuries from landing on stones/bad ground! And I don't care if I get those, so mines been removed too! :)
 
Collar bone fractures I think are reduced a lot by BP I broke my back wearing one so don't have a huge amount of trust in them .
 
I hate bp's, they're restrictive, uncomfortable, if they arent the right size and hit the cantle, they tip you forward. you can't move with the horse properly. I only wear one for xc and hacking on my new one (very spooky at times, others not- but unpredictable) eugh! They make.you hot on a summer day, they look awful. My list goes on... can you tell I hate them? Lol
 
my sister has a race safe she says is very comfy and doesn't restrict her......on her tb she wears it out hacking, xc and jumping if she remembers but isn't wearing as much schooling.

my brother and I are getting one each this week as we have just brought two new nags and we don't know them that well. but on our others we don't.
 
Goldenstar said:
Collar bone fractures I think are reduced a lot by BP I broke my back wearing one so don't have a huge amount of trust in them .
Click to expand...

I knew a girl who was told by her doc her BP saved her from a broken collar bone in a fall she had. Hope your back is ok.

I always used to ride in mine, then slowly stopped.

I have just bought a new horse, and got a new BP for my birthday. Haven't worn it yet. My old one was so comfortable, so hoping this one will be too (Aerowear outlyne).

ETS: one year at pony camp, there was a girl whose horse slipped, landed on her, then trod on her when it got up. Apart from presumably being a bit sore, she was fine. She'd been wearing a BP.
 
A friend of mine always rides in hers. The one time she didn't, as the roof had leaked and it was wet, she fell off and broke her back - now it's impossible to say whether if she'd been wearing it she wouldn't of but that is seriously bad luck :(
 
Mitchyden said:
So basically my question is - what injuries do they prevent? They obviously wouldn't stop me breaking my back or getting crushed if my horse fell on me. Do they just prevent bruising because if so, I might start riding without one and risk a few bruises as it definitely felt more comfortable?
Click to expand...

Well, it really depends on how you fall...
I broke my back twice over the years. BP would have helped on only one occasion. Now I don't wear BP at all. If I do fall, I try to dissipate the energy by rolling if possible. Like everything else, a BP is an insurance policy...
 
I had an accident a year ago where a horse I was on bolted and slipped. He fell on top of me and I was knocked unconscious. I wasn't wearing a body protector and although somehow I managed not to break anything I tore my intercostal muscles on one side and was bruised pretty much all over my body. My hat was split in two.

Its a good question but for me, after that, anywhere other than the magege I always wear my body protector (silly as accidents can happen anywhere). Maybe it is just a psychological thing but I feel safer when wearing it. I don't feel restricted in mine at all.

At the end of the day any form of horse riding has potential dangers so anything I can do to increase my safety I will do.
 
I'm another one that hates them, and will only wear under sufferance :o In the past 8 years, I've only worn one once - and only because it was compulsory for Trec.

When I do fall, I tend to target limbs anyway :o so a BP wouldn't have been much help.
 
You could always get an air jacket so have protection but not bulk?

I havent had a bad fall yet - just unexpected dismounting so mine hasnt really played a roll yet but I do use it for XC and did with horswe after box rest when it was windy etc ect. Oh and when trying new horses.
 
You're getting a very one- sided view point on here so far. If you use the search function on here and look for Kanteq or Kan body protector there is a thread that a girl posted from her hospital bed after falling from her horse in the school. It was pretty interesting reading, I know she definitely felt that the bp had saved her from much more serious injuries.

At the end of the day, riding is a risky sport, even at walk on a surface horrible accidents can happen ( Courtney Dye King ) I think wearing a bp and hat are both things we can do to mitigate that risk. There are styles and fabrics available which mean they shouldn't be uncomfortable to wear.
 
If it's not comfortable it either doesn't fit, or you're not wearing a brand/style that suits your body.

I've been saves for some bad injuries from wearing mine. Admittedly, it only gets worn for fast work and jumping, but haven't fallen off doing flatwork for ages!
 
I have a racesafe that fits really well so doesn't feel cumbersome to wear, but really only use it for xc, and touch wood haven't fallen off with it so can't tell how effective it is...I never put on the shoulder attachments but imagine they help with shoulder and collar bone injuries?

Tbh every time I fall off I tend to land on my arse, but doubt they could invent anything to protect that!!!!!
 
When I came off over a jump, I landed on my feet. Being a plank I kept hold of the Dizz and was therefore facing backwards and flying through the air. Not a good plan.

Hitting the ground and sliding across it at on my back at some speed was painful.

I didn't know that when I landed on my feet I had broken my back at L2 (compression fracture). If I hadn't been wearing a BP, I'd probably be paralysed now from the flying across the school part.

If someone feels that bad wearing a BP then it proably isn't the right one/size for them.

Another time, when the Dizz slipped on the road, she hit the ground as did I. The BP saved my ribs from (probably) being broken on the edge of the kerbstone. I hit the ground hard enough to crack my elbow.
 
I wear a body protector every time i hack out, and even though i am not sure what it will 'save me' from it gives me confidence which in my opinion is worth loads
 
As a rider ( for 30 years, although I only admit to 18, as I really can't be that old ) and a nurse working in A/E, whose OH is an A/E doctor who works on the air ambulance - I have experienced a lot of falls, from various viewpoints.

I wear a Kanteq whenever I am working my youngster, and when I ride the older lad on his own. If I ride older lad, and lead youngster, I don't feel I have the same flexibility to twist and get on/off in a hurry, but I only ever go walking around quiet lanes, and always have someone walking alongside that I can chuck youngsters lead rein at if needed. I do agree with the " if you feel restricted it probably doesn't fit comment though - and riding+leading does mean your arms do funny things, which a BP doesn't really like. As soon as youngster is more predictable, I will be back in the BP.

I have seen a rider wearing a top class BP, and still die after a fall. A 600 kg horse landing on you from 6-8 feet, at 25-30mph is not going to be helped by a BP.

They can help reduce the severity of injuries, and the impact - breaks can become bruises, bruises can become a mild discomfort that a long soak in the bath will sort.

They won't protect your neck. If you land awkwardly, you do - it is a risk of riding.

Or legs. Or arms. But damage in these areas is rarely life threatening.

Who can put a price/value on the psychological benefit ? To me, wearing it is the equivalent of putting my Brave Pants on. I don't kid myself that I am invincible while in it - it doesn't have a large " S " on the front, and nor are my Brave Pants on the outside of my jods, but they help - and every little thing helps with confidence.
 
A body protector will hopefully reduce the effects of an impact in the event of a fall. Equestrian Back Protectors are designed to absorb the destructive energy at the point of impact and transmit it to the rest of the protector so as to minimise the destructive effect of the impact.
The British Equestrian Traders Association have been instrumental in creating a British Standard for Equestrian Back Protectors (Under the umbrella of the Personal protective Equipment Committee PH 7/3 of the British Standards Institute) and have worked closely with a number of experts on the subject such as Dr Rodderick Woods who is an expert in the subject of developing tests for the testing of protective devices.
Unfortunately some very severe and permanent injuries can be the result of a horse riding accidents so riders are well advised to wear a body protector of the highest of standards which is Level 3 (Purple).
(Anyone doubting severity of injuries should look at the web site of the International Spinal Injuries Research Trust).
http://www.spinal-research.org/
 
Love the brave pants comment! :-) Totally agree, if it gives you a more confident ride then that's fewer nervous vibes being picked up by your horse!! I always wear my Racesafe regardless of what I am doing, it's no different to me than wearing a hat, boots & gloves.
 
Just to clarify, my body protector was fitted for me and I've never found them uncomfortable in the 17 years I've been wearing them - today however, I felt totally free and lightweight and most of all, cool without it!!
One of my issues with them is how hot I get as I compete at endurance and trust me when you're riding in excess of 16kmph for 80kms, you get very hot.
I suppose I was hoping that they only really protect from bruising which I am prepared to cope with but if they do protect from breaks then that's a different matter.
 
I never used to ride with one, but my other half was a bit worried about me riding without one, so he got me one, I rode in it and bud chucked me off so I landed on my ribcage on top of a fence post. I got a bruised
 
I broke a wooden fence on impact at speed when I came off last year. doc said I would have fractured ribs and potentially worse if I hadn't been wearing my back protector.
 
Silly phone * I got a really nasty bruise still even with the body protector. I didn't break anything though. I was extremely lucky and im certain that if I wasn't wearing my body protector it would have been nasty. I have a lovely Rodney Powell one with the extra spinal protection. I can't remember the entire model name though. It's really comfy, and I don't feel restricted in it at all after putting it in the airing cupboard for 24 hours then walking around in it at home for a few days! I know it feels like you're more free without one, but I love mine now, and certainly wouldn't ride without it now
 
They can help with the severity of most falls, as they provide a layer that compresses and therefore reduces the impact on your body.

Shoulder pads can do the same for collarbones in falls where the impact is directly on the collarbone. If you've stuck your arm out and land down on it, a shoulder pad will do **** all :D

I would never go XC or ride a young or unpredictable horse without one, and my sister is the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top