Body Protectors

Jessey

Jessey

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2004
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Suffolk, UK
I have always hated them, but after yesterday I think I am going to have to revisit it. The air vest going off just scares the crap out of Niko, and after loosing him for the second time I think I am going to need to do some sudden dismount training with him and I can't do that in the air vest but am not quite happy to do it with nothing as although it will be controlled, it isn't without risk.

So, which brands tend to suit short, broad shouldered, bustier women? Our local tack shops are somewhat lacking, at best they will probably only keep 1 or 2 styles, so I am going to have to call around and find out what each stocks and pick which to go to based on that - most are an hour away from me, in different directions, so I don't really want to go to all of them!
 
I hate all of them to ride in, but I would imagine your best bet is going to be something like the racesafe design.

I hope you're both ok 🤗
 
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I have ridden in a bp since my very first hack and dont know that I am wearing it. Mine is an airowear Outlyne which claim to fit busty women.
One or two points.
A bp softens as it warms up from one's body heat, so I always put my bp on before leaving for the yard.
The foam tends to harden after a few years so I replace mine about every 4 years.
My first bp, a Champion, was lovely to ride in but it laced up down the sides. I prefer one where one can fasten both at bust level and below, without needing to tighten both levels at the same time.
You need to wear the bp over your shirt, sweater or base layer but under your mac or jacket.
To measure for a bp you need to measure your bust, waist and over the shoulder waist to waist. I need OH to help with this.

I note they now sell back protectors. Most of my falls, I have indeed rolled onto my back. But last time, I fell sideways onto my right side and my elbow was caught under my ribs. I was glad my ribs were covered by the bp. However, since I had put on weight, there was a small gap and my ribs there were unprotected and bruised.

I am therefore wickedly waiting till I have lost some weight to get a new bp. I have narrow shoulders and find it impossible to get a bp that fits me.
 
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I don't like the air best because it's clipped to the horse.
If I need to jump off, I will forget to include and have a loose horse.

Have you considered the types that protect just your back?
I am looking into another so will watch this thread.
 
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I can tolerate my Racesafe the best out of any I've tried, so that would be my starting point.

I've never liked air vests for the reasons you've found as I ride a lot on my own and don't want the bang scaring a horse more than the fall would.

Hope you are OK.
 
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newforest said:
I don't like the air vest because it's clipped to the horse.
Click to expand...
The air vest is not clipped to the horse. The top of the canister of compresed air is clipped to the horse and it parts as one falls.
My OH wore an air vest towards the end of his riding life. We chose an airvest for OH as he was thin with a spikey spine and we bought it after he fell in a Racesafe BP and one of his vertebra was between two bocks of the Racesafe and thus not well protected.
He had two release cords with his airvest: one for a pony and one for his normal RS horse.

I still have OH's air vest in case my bones become fragile and I need it.
 
I like the air vest, but I can’t practice getting off at speed in an air vest.

A racesafe is actually the easiest for me to access as it’s stocked widely in Newmarket racing shops, which is only 20 minutes away.
 
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Skib said:
The air vest is not clipped to the horse. The top of the canister of compresed air is clipped to the horse and it parts as one falls.
My OH wore an air vest towards the end of his riding life. We chose an airvest for OH as he was thin with a spikey spine and we bought it after he fell in a Racesafe BP and one of his vertebra was between two bocks of the Racesafe and thus not well protected.
He had two release cords with his airvest: one for a pony and one for his normal RS horse.

I still have OH's air vest in case my bones become fragile and I need it.
Click to expand...

I think the point @newforest was making is that the air vest in some way (be that the material vest part or the cannister), attaches to the saddle and would possibly forget to unclip it when dismounting. The bang is a concern of mine as I'd A. frequently forget to undo it as I'm chatting away to the horse, loosening girth etc before getting off and B. I'm often a long from home on my own so don't want to give any encouragement to the horse to dissappear off at speed if I fell.

Air jackets can be great, no one is denying that and they work for lots of people, but they also come with their own set of risks too.

@Jessey I'm not sure how much protection you are looking for but this might be an option if you want to keep flexibility and ease of getting on and off? https://www.onlineforequine.co.uk/a...0=79&169=7911&adGroupId=142904712160&device=m

Obviously, not as much protection as a full body protector though.

It might be me but getting off quickly is one of the things I feel hampered by in a BP as it alters how easily I can get off without feeling like I might get caught on the saddle.
 
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Skib said:
The air vest is not clipped to the horse. The top of the canister of compresed air is clipped to the horse and it parts as one falls.
My OH wore an air vest towards the end of his riding life. We chose an airvest for
Click to expand...
The product is clipped to the horse in order to work.
Why do you feel the need to explain how, when I have said I would forget to unclip if I needed to dismount.
 
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Ive always just brought airowear. Velcro is easily adjustable They come in various lengths. When i replaced mine i went shorter in the back. It wasnt advised by the fitter but i wanted shorter as my old one was always hitting the back of the saddle which in turn also caused the base to bend out from my bottom. The shop had to order in for me but it wasnt any hassle.
 
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I would imagine a lot of the air vest profits are from replacement canisters when people forget to unclip and get off. Im
Sure I saw somewhere tha my the selling point was when they go off when you fall the horse will spook away from you and so improve safety. I’m not sure about that and would think a spooked horse disappearing would be more of a risk.

I have not worn a bp since the many years ago when minto and I did xc and I had to. I’m sure they are much more comfortable these days but my hate of them is ingrained.
 
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Jessey said:
short, broad shouldered, bustier women
Click to expand...
C'est moi.

To my surprise the best fit for me was a race safe short. It feels like an 18th century corset but is actually quite comfy once you get going. And when Sid dumped me at the ODE camp it did the job perfectly. I don't like it, but I can put up with it!
 
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I’m not your body type 🤣but I have had aeroware and racesafe. As skib says the aeroware has to warm up before it is properly flexible so if you try one give it five minutes if it’s not a hot day.
I found both reasonable comfortable but the racesafe has the edge. The big difference for me is that racesafe is considerably cooler when the hot days come along
 
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I did 3 counties today to try on, but no success.

The racesafe was the closest, but the bigger size comfortable for my boobs rises up as I move, the smaller size to fit my ribs, squishes my boobs and pulls the shoulders and back into the back of my neck.

I’m going to do some more research, but may end up talking to racesafe to see if a made to measure will be better for me.
 
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I want to look into the Shadow. It's looking like that will have to be a special order.
I might be able to source a company that stocks my size. I am short in the body.
 
newforest said:
I want to look into the Shadow. It's looking like that will have to be a special order.
I might be able to source a company that stocks my size. I am short in the body.
Click to expand...
I tried one today, it felt comfortable, but the zip kept unzipping itself because of my bust! If I can’t find a body protector to fit I will go for something along those lines.
 
To throw a curve ball in.
Is this for extra protection when hacking, or do you need something for competition as well?

I ask because I have a de badged ex police tabard without the inside. The inside can be got hold of easily though.
It might be something that would offer protection, albeit not aimed for horses, but they do use for the mounted branches.

It's got an decent velcro pocket plus it's windproof and waterproof. I use in the summer as I tend to wreck the horse hi viz horse ones!
 
No it’s just for hacking and schooling for now, I can worry about competing later if we go that route. Will you share a pic of what you mean? I’m struggling to envisage it. I have also thought about motorcycle jackets or shirts with the padding in, might be better than nothing.
 
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