Body Protector????????

[Haflinger_Girl]

I'm thinking of buying a body protector but im not sure on what make or sort.
Does anyone know of the best brand of body protector to buy?

[Murphs]

as long as it's level 3 which is the highest level of protection then it's really down to best fit and personal choice (and money!). i have a caldene oyster and it's lovely, really comfy to wear and ride in. Hubby has just started riding and we've bought him the champion cobra (as worn by a lot of 3 day eventers) - that's also an excellent one good fit and comfortable - but very expensive. Try to find a tack shop with a variety in stock so that you can try different ones to see which will be best for you

[maverick927]

Charles Owen is good and in Rideaway you can now get a floresant cover for it which is pretty cool. I rarely wear a body protector (tut, tut), but i do like mine even though it is stage two. Its still far more protective than the one my cousin wore when she was competing (about 8 years ago) as hers is like a piece of foam!!

[Wally]

How much is a body protector going to protect you?

Just read the disclaimer on the box before you buy one.....it's amazing just how much they claim NOT to protect you against!

Unless you are doing high level X country or BIG showjumps, it is questionable just how valuable a body protector is.

It is not a route to invincability!

[Murphs]

he's just learning to ride and fell off in our schooling area (field) - couldn't hardly walk for 2 days and took over a week for the bruising to come out around his backside hips and back. He now has a champion cobra - has come off twice whilst wearing it and has got straight back up and back on. They are worth the investment in my opinion!

[Mossy]

Two schools of thought.
A They are v expensive lots of disclaimers and not really worth it.
B An essential piece of kit and would not be without one.
My humble opinion for what it' s worth is that it depends on how old you are and what you are doing. The chances of a child novice in a riding school being allowed, under H&S regs, to do something which would possible cause a body protector to be useful are remote. [All horses can shy and spook but riding school ponies tend to be bombproof]
Us older souls do not bounce so well when we do hit the deck, and are not likely to grow. I would not be without mine but I took ages to find one that fitted properly. Some friends never wear theirs as"they do not fit"
Basically it depends on what you do, where you do it and personal preference.

[ptaty2]

Hi

A woman at our stables fell off her 4 yr old after a series of bucking bronco hops and badly broke her collarbone. She is now looking to buy a body protector as once something gets hurt, all your life is put on hold... she has lots of dogs/cats and 3 horses which now are on 'field rest' whilst she recovers. I think it is sensible to wear one if you are riding a horse of questionable behaviour or temparament when hacking/schooling (although accidents can obviously happen on even the most bombproof of horse). If it helps to prevent even just bruising I think it would be worth it!

when my horse was going through a 'questionable' stage, and he threw me after a hair raising bolt, I bought one and wore it out on hacks. if anything, it made me feel a lot more comfortable about falling off if something drastic happened.

They are definately a necessity if jumping/cross country'ing! - as mentioned, a good level 3

good luck!

[amylou_84]

do u think a body protector is a good way to make u feel more confident in the saddle! i was asking because it cud make u feel more secure, but cud be a false sense of security? i only ride once a week and on riding school ponies, but like some people i am a nervous rider! do u think a body protector cud help this?

amy

ps i no it wudnt cure it but it might help!:D

[3 day eventer]

to be honest i only where body protectors during xc this is because i do not feel secure in a body protector. it makes you feel round and stiff and that u have no space 2 move this might just be me because im wierd but i have good balance on a horse anyway and hardly ever fall off even at the worst of times! so have a go and see how u feel in one!

[Wally]

There was an interestig study done with rugby players. Far more injuries were reported form those wearing body armour than those not wearing it.

Maybe it gives a false sense of security and you risk more while wearing body armour.

I doub't very much whether a broken collar bone would have been avoided while wearing body armour, neither would a broken arm or leg.

The only time I wore a back protector I fell in such a way that I broke the very base of my spine anyway. They are not a guarantee of being able to fall off scott free.
Folk want the buzz of riding a horse but the way things are going these days everything we do will be regulated so much that unless the risk is zero the powers that be will outlaw it.

I too feel they are too restricting, maybe give a false sense of security and add another level of potential legislation the BHS can foist onto us grown ups who are quite happy to go to Hell our own way!!:eek:

[Laetitia]

couldn't agree more. L

[Shady_Indigo]

At the pony club i go to we have to wear them when ever we jump, either cross country or showjumping...

[chapsi]

Perhaps this will help, but just a couple of weeks ago there was a discussion going in one of these forums about body protectors (I think that was on "older riders"). In any case, the most important thing is the protection level (3 is the best, purple label). Obviously they are not accident proof, but they can ease nasty consequences of riding hazards. I wear a trendy black laced Air-O-Wear, which reduces the "Michelin Man"'s look. Mine is a bit warm to wear here in Portugal, it makes me sweat quickly on warm days.

[amylou_84]

this is for the bigger chested ladies out there! do body protectors squash ** chest at all? im thinkin of gettin one but not sure as they are expensive! i need to be 100% sure il wear it.
ta

amy

[mikka]

Re: Chest squashing!

I recently tried on about eight different kinds of body protectors and because they have to be snug in fit, they sort of squish everything, including the chest, but not uncomfortably so. Haven't worn mine out yet, so maybe after an hour or so I'll have more, hmm, precise information.

[Crazyhorse]

Hi all

I bought a body protector last week. I have had a couple of falls in the last year and it's always there at the back of my mind. I think anything that makes you feel a little bit more secure and confident is a fantastic idea. After all we wear a hat to protect our head why not respect our body in the same way. Yes at first it may feel strange but I've been riding in mine for a couple lessons and to be honest don't notice it except for sweating a bit more ,but I'll be laughing when winter sets in!!!!!


Vicky:D