body protector

[lindiak007]

should students wear it all the time?
i do not do. i was told to wear it while jumping....

[Keket]

I've messed up my back from a previous fall. I'd prefer not to mess it up further. I don't wear it if I'm just working on walk and trot. If I'm cantering or jumping though, I wear it. It doesn't stop all injuries, but it stops some of the worst ones. It stops you from twisting your spine, and it does absorb some impact. Make sure it's fitted properly though. Not all body protectors suit all body types.

[Bertie]

I think it's a personal choice thing, I have a naturally over arched back so it helps especially when schooling to have mine on as stops me over bending my back. I have also started to wear it whilst out hacking my new share as she is no where near as predictable as my last one and think it's a nice safety net so to speak :)

Some people hate them but I know a couple of people that have been saved from serious injuries because of BP's.

[Bay Mare]

I wear mine for jumping and xc but not for flatwork. I find it comfortable enough to jump in but it annoys me on the flat!

[Bobbin]

On Bry I'll only wear mine for xc and possibly funrides but normally I don't wear it. I'm not saying you shouldn't, I probably should as you never know what can happen.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

i wear mine for all hacking. wouldnt go out without it.

[chunky monkey]

I never used to. I'm too good a rider and all that blah, blah blah. lol

Well I have to say I've changed my tune. Since getting back on last month I have ridden with one every time. No matter what kind of ride I do. The one day I didn't, it was the fourth ride I did, the horse must have known, cos he bucked me off. Only hurt my elbow, and it was my first fall, but it has made me realise how unpredictable these things can be, cos he has never bucked at all before.

I have been borrowing a body protector, but just this weekend I have decided to buy one of my own as the one I've been using knocks on the back of the saddle and its the older style so I'm told, which is starting to break up, so if I did have an accident I'm not sure how good it would be in a fall.

The daft thing is I am fairly small for a adult, but the tack shop is only allowed to keep the short bp's in stock so in order for me to have one they need to order me in the next size up. How bizarre is that, only being able to keep stock of small ones, which are only really suitable for children. I can't believe that all adults that want to buy a body protector will have to wait for them to order one in especially in order to try it. Complete madness if you ask me. Still hopefully it will only take a week to come in.

What really gets me is, I saw a friend of mine in the shop getting one for her kiddy, but I know for a fact that when she's out riding she doesn't wear one at all. Its like parents get there kids to wear a cycle helmet on there bicycle, but the parents cycling along with them don't wear one. lol My little rant over.

Getting back to the point though I would love to know what's the difference between a horse in the sand school bucking you off and a horse out on a hack bucking you off. Sand is softer I know, but when you get trampled as well, seriously whats the difference.

[Showjumper]

I always wear one - even if I'm just jumping on to ride in walk from the yard to the field. Ditto a hard hat!

[lindiak007]

I will start to wear it, but now, when the temperature is around 90 degrees Farenheit, later it can be easily 100 degrees Farenheit in New York in summer and it's sooo humnid here...ugh...to wear additional thing....I do not know....also I haven't seen anybody in our stable to wear it;-(
Well, when it is more than 90 degrees, lessons are usually cancelled.

Any good , quality brand for a protector?

[Bobbin]

Get a racesafe, they are lightweight and will be better if you live in a warm climate, it's been on my wish list for years, unfortunatly the £120 price tag means thats where it stays.

[Daffy Dilly]

I rarely wear mine. Popped it on the other day as it's a month short of 3 years old, and I need to decide whether or not I will replace it. I really feel no different with it than I do without, it's comfortable enough, I just don't wear it - it no longer gives me a confidence boost, which tbh is what I originally wore it for. I will probably put a new one on my xmas list, as I imagine I'd want it for drag hunting, and until then the current one will stay at the yard and be used if I do any xc.

I know BP's can save lives, but they can also take them if fitted incorrectly, so unless those of you planning to buy them have them properly fitted or can properly fit it yourself, I wouldn't bother.

[Trewsers]

Personal preference! I used to only wear mine for hacking out on roads and occasional jumping. Now I wear it for whatever type of riding I'm doing - even tho I don't hack on tarmac anymore or do any jumping (lack of school and flat surface!) I still wear it. I wouldn't feel safe cantering in the school (if I had one) without it just yet - its my safety blanket!!!

[Trewsers]

Chunky monkey - you mentioned getting a bp that doesn't knock the back of the saddle - OH's knocks his - because his saddle is a dressage one and comes up higher at the back - I'm looking for another bp for him - one that is cut differently. Tho they have to be a certain length to offer full protection (so I'm told!). What kind of saddle do you ride on?

[Anvil83]

I despise wearing a bp, but I'm trying to wear it all the time now. I've loosened the velcro straps so much but I still can't expand my chest enough to breathe deeply, I end up taking short breaths & getting really tense.

Not sure if it's supposed to be loose though, the lady at the saddlery told me it should be adjusted so that it's quite tight.

The main thing I really don't like about bp's is how much I sweat from wearing one, my t-shirt is absolutely soaked afterwards. But I guess that's a small price to pay for something that could well reduce the severe-ness of injuries from horse riding.

[coss]

i have a rodney powell and i have worn a bp for about 11 years :eek: had a bad (well bad as far as my parents were concerned) fall when i was 7 where it knocked the wind out me and i ached for ages so they made me wear one, you get used to it and you find some nice cotton t-shirts to wear when its hot and get used to getting sweaty :rolleyes: i have occasionally ridden without when someone has offered me a one off ride and i'll only be on a short time. if it was a naughty unpredictable horse i would be more cautious and i'll only do it if i've seen them ride first.
I feel odd riding without one! i have the frame of mind that the day i don't wear one will be the day i would have a bad fall :rolleyes: they become a second skin after a while :p

[horse__obsessed]

I do if:

im on a new/unpredictable horse
if im jumping
for xc
if im in a new place

and ALWAYS on chancer excpet bareback to and from the field as i dont trust him not to rear

[Skib]

Trewsers, I too bought my OH a body protector. He has lessons like me in a dressage saddle and it doesnt hit the saddle. We do a lot of sitting work.
He wore it to trail ride in the USA and found it did occasionally hit the cantle of a Western saddle but they are higher.
The woman in one shop did say that these days bps are cut shorter than they used to be. I suppose one has to compromise - to get most of one's spine covered, but not to prevent one sitting deep in the saddle.

He has an airowear, same as me these days. The fitter in the shop tried one or two on him and then ordered it in for him, in the right size and length. Also the gents' model which is cut differently from the women's. The Racesafe didnt fit him.

When we rode last week in Montana the temperature was 108 degrees. We rode for 2 hours and afterwards our shirts under the bps were soaking wet with sweat. But it didnt feel that hot while we were moving. We were riding up a steep and rocky hillside and I was glad we had them on.

[eventerbabe]

Every time i get on a horse i have my Rodney Powell BP on. It's in need of replacement soon so i'm hoping my OH will fork out for an exocage for me (fastens using an allen key, so is literally a cage!). I had my bp made to measure so it fits well and is the right length.

[Abserd]

I've got an Airowear one which is ok. But like Anvil83 i too have problems breathing and this tenses me up. I've started using a very light support sports bra which makes it more comfortable and it does keep my back from overbending, but......mine also catches on the back of the saddles (different RS horses have different saddles so it's not always a problem) but my main difficulty is mounting and dismounting with it on! I have to throw myself off so i don't catch the BP on the saddle! Which has happened quite a lot ;) When we've gone out on a hack (when i've been expecting a lesson) and therefore had no BP, i've been so much more comfortable. Daft thing is when i know i'm going hacking i worry about the roads and spend ages deciding whether to take BP or not. I'd love to get a bespoke one made as i'm short and large in the chest area! Bet they're well expensive tho :(

[~*sugarlump*~]

i wear them and i don't think twice about it, it fits perfectly, and *ahem* holds everything in without the need for a sports bra :D:rolleyes:
I'm still fairly new to riding, and the only riding i have the chance to do is lessons, and we usually always jump

[Snowyboy]

our daughter has a rodney powell and she HAS to wear it

our lass that rides sno for us, always wears hers even tho he's as bombproof as you can get!




Over 20 years ago, I came off and cracked my spine

my daughter will NEVER get on her pony without it as long as I can control her


IF I were to ever get back on a horse again, I would never ever get on without one


BUT I hurt my back very badly so I am paranoid!

None of the adults on our yard wear one, even when jumping

[lindiak007]

well....this is me the starter of this thread.

Ha ha ha, I fall down yesterday...such a stupid fall. My teacher said "I can't believe you fall down"....so you can imagine how embarrassed I was.

Well, so I bought today the body protector!
The fall was stupid, but my back looks all red and blue. I can not turn to one side.
This was my second fall. My first one so way more dangerous and I didn't have a bruise at all, just a bit of a body shock. So, it is really tricky!

So my protector is TIPPERRARY, was around 280 $. I guess the brands you have suggested guys, were more European? I haven't seen them in the store here in New York. Ha ha ha, there is only one Horse store (saddlery) on Manhattan. How bad;-(

So, now on, the protector is really my friend.:) My teacher said, she tries with me more and more crazy horses, so I really have to be more carefull.
Thank you for all you opinions

[Keket]

I've got a Tipperary too. It's as comfortable as a body protector can get I figure, because it's more flexible then the other ones I found. The Racesafe is very similar to the Tipperary.

[chunky monkey]

Trewsers sorry I tried to PM but your box is full- Sorry haven't been browsing too much in the last few days, so I've just seen your reply on the BP thread.

The saddle I have is a wintec, I assume general purpose but I'm not sure cos it came with the horse when I brought him. He's not used for competing or anything.

I was told last week in the shop that when you wear the bp it should be approx 4 finger width from the bottom of the bp to a seat if you site down. Hope that makes sense. I hope that when I get my new one it doesn't knock on the saddle or I'll not be very happy. The one I current use has been borrowed so it might well be a bit long. Mind I haven't had a phone call yet to say that the one I ordered is in so I hope there's not a problem.

There are different lengths of bp so it might be worth your OH going to the local tack shop and getting fitted for a new one. If there very helpful and you know the staff take the one he currently uses and ask them if they think its too long. Course they might try to sell you a new one automatically but if there a good shop they should be happy to give you advice without doing a sales pitch.

[Shootingstar]

I only wear a BP when jumping larger jumps or riding particulary difficult horses.

Even after being bucked off multiple times, on the same pony, in the same lesson (I was sore for days), I don't beleve a BP is nesacerry for every day riding, and saying that it is a requirement for a beginner in the school will only induce a nervous state of mind where the rider fears the worst (in this case, falling off).

Both of which I never do, so I don't yet own a BP :P

[Moomin]

i think its your personal choice, isn't it. I do wear mine most of the time, always when hacking out and most times in the school. I once had a nastly fall on the road where I landed flat on my back and there was an imprint of me in the body protector, it still hurt (a lot!!) but I'm sure I wouldn't be walking today if I hadn't had my BP on. So with that in mind I wear it. Mine is a made to measure Rodney Powell (they do that for no extra cost if you can't be fitted from their range) in pretty colours. I come under child size too, so its not too expensive! I think if you're going to get one you MUST get it fitted properly as otherwise it could do you more harm than good.

[lindiak007]

thank you all for far. They fitted the bp properly in the store. They didn't allow me to buy any other size of the bp except my size. That was cool:cool:

I really have to wear it.I have every lesson some funky movements with horses and after a lesson with my stupid fall, I had a lesson where my teacher was bucked off:eek: and I finished twice on the side of the horse.

The bp...I think is good. The back part is pretty long but didn't hit the back of the saddle.also I thought I would be all sweaty in a heat, but it wasn't sooooo bad. Even while riding I felt comfortable and forgot about the fact that I was wearing my bp

[moomillie]

I have only just started to wear a body protector due to the fact that I'm going to have to wear one when I go riding in Shanghai and I was advised to get used to wearing it before I left. I had mine fitted at a local store and I was glad I did as there was only one type that fitted as I'm short in the back. I also didn't know that they have to fit a certain distance below the ribs.

Mine proved very useful today as I've just had my first fall!! Now I suppose I can call myself a 'real rider'!! :D The riding school horse that I was on spooked and bolted. It wasn't anybody's fault just something that happens with horses. Fortunately we were on a track through a field so the landing was soft and I'm fine. Mind you even though I'd relaxed and tried to roll as my back hit the ground I was still amazed at how my head managed to hit the ground hard enough to leave an imprint on my hat. So it's off to the shops tomorrow to replace my hat before I ride again on Friday. It just goes to show that you may never know when you need that protection.

[chunky monkey]

Hope your okay moomillie and no concusion.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but i belief you have to have somewhere between 7 and 10 falls before you can call yourself a real rider. So that could be at least 7 more hats you'll be needing to buy. :eek::eek:

[moomillie]

Yes, I'm fine thanks just a bit of stiffness in my neck due to whiplash but fortunatley no concussion. As for the rest of your post I won't tell that to my OH or kids!! My OH thinks I'm nuts as it is for riding horses and my son's comment was 'your hobby is more risky than mine!' He does extreme skating by the way. I did point out that, unlike him when he broke his wrist, I was wearing my protective gear. Actually I think that my son is rather chuffed that his old mum (I'm 52 but mentally still in my 20's) understands hobbies that have an element of risk. As for me I'll just have to keep waiting until I become a 'real rider'!:D

[lindiak007]

xixix
my OH thinks I am nuts too. I can't tell him already when I fell down, 'cause he shakes after
xixix

[Bacchus]

For 18 years I have always worn a body protector, sometimes they helped in a fall, especially when crashing into the wing of a jump, but sometimes I think they cause more aches and pains after the event from your body/back being held in position and your arms squashing against the sides on impact with the floor.
I have curvature of the spine and my upper spine is fused. I have been thrown off twice in the last year whilst attending a show (indoors) and in both cases the impact has been, in my opinion, lesser with not having the back protector on. I also now school at home in the menage most of the time without it. It is a matter of personal preference. I also find that it can catch the back of my saddle (dressage).
I am looking at present to get a new one as my current one needs replacing. If out on the farm ride or jumping I would not hesitate in waring it, but as someone else has said they don't stop injuries, and I find them very uncomfortable in hot weather. Also because my spine isn't straight I find them hard to fit. It doesn't protect my neck when my head hits the ground and I need four discs replacing in it. No doubt many will say why ride, but my response is I could fall down stairs like my friend did and she fractured her spine in three places. I've ridden since a child even when I had two metal rods clipped to my spine. I live for horses. All I can say is it is a matter of choice of the individual.:)

[Kittycat]

My hubby offered to buy me a new pair of jodhs, which I decided I don't really need (I can't believe I turned dwn the offer of shopping!) :eek::) My RI suggested he buy me a BP, she said it would be good for jumping (just started) and I will need it if I decide to do cross country. I doubt I will wear it for schooling but may wear it on fast hacks.

Your Horse mag has a piece on BPs this month, the Jack Ellis Pro 20 has a detatchable tail section (priced between £62-£100) so you can stop it catching on the saddle.

:)

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

I have the Rodney Powell BP in Navy. I have always found it really comfortable and its saved me from so many falls. I cant stress how impt it is you wear one, well anybody for a matter of fact. It could save your life.

[Dressage Diva]

I'll ride in it when I am riding my 5 yo when he is a bit jumpy and when I am jumping.Better be safe than sorry

[horsey1992devon]

I haven't got one but I want one, just can never be bothered with the fuss even though that sounds bad, and the cost...

[Mary Poppins]

I always wear one - and have had many falls which could have been worse if I hadn't had it on. I feel naked without mine and nervous that I could hurt myself should I fall. In my opinion it just isn't worth riding without one.

[XxXAmeyXxX]

I have never owned one in my 7-8 years of riding. I have never felt the need to wear one. I jump, hack and do small xc fences.