Back protectors for DCs

[Raptorrethy]

Hello, I haven't posted here before so I'm sorry if this has been done before - I'm happy to be pointed at old threads!

My DCs are 6 and 8 and are learning to ride. They are very keen and I ammalsontaking much enjoyment from being around horses again as I was pony-mad from about 6 and rode a lot until I got pg with DD. So...it's been 8 years of me being 'out' of it all and I am now needing some advice about back protectors. I had thought I wouldn't get them until my DCs start doing faster stuff - at the moment they are walking & trotting in the ménage on very soft ground, and on small ponies. However, yesterday DS had his first fall. He is fine but...what's the consensus these days? Should kids wear back protectors? Is it totally a personal choice? Where could I find some sensible, unbiased research?

Many thanks for any thoughts on this. Of course they could just wear them - but they are bulky and heavy, not to mention hot, and so if there's no real evidence that they are necessary then perhaps I won't get them yet. (Ps I am definitely a more safety-conscious parent then relaxed...DCs always wear helmets on bikes and even on their scooters!)
Pps I live abroad, not sure if that's relevant, but here I'd say about 10% of the kids I see at the stables wear a back protector - a definite minority.

[Raptorrethy]

i have no idea what 'ammalsontaking' means 😳

[Raptorrethy]

Argh...maybe I should bow out now tried to use iPad emoticons which failed miserably.

[issyocean]

My D (6) wears one she is walking and trotting (and having the odd unscheduled canter) She has also started doing a little jumping.It makes me feel that she is safer so I relax which in turn helps her relax.

Most of the kids at her riding school wear them but it isn't compulsory except for cross country.

[mrslaughan]

I was very much of the camp, that they weren't necessary, then DS had a tumble after an un-scheduled canter, and fell under the pony. How the pony didn't catch him in the ribs with his hooves I do 't know. It involved some very gymnastic moves on the part of the pony.
He then had another fall, and lost his confidence. We then did get him a protector - did lots of research and got him a race safe.
It has given him a boost of confidence, he has had a fall in it, and he was so casual about it.
So it obviously did its job.

[bonzo77]

I'm not going to be that helpful but... As a kid no one wore one. Apart from me. As an adult "happy hacker" I still always wear one. I rarely see anyone else in one. The first few times I wore it it was awful, restrictive and I'm sure it made me fall off! But now I love it. I wish I'd had one as comfy as a kid. Mines an Airowear outline. My only regret is that I bought it 5 weeks after having a baby and its as tight as it can go and could be a bit tighter.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm firmly in the body protector camp. Ds and I both wear them non negotiably, and they aren't heavy.
They protect your ribs, spine, kidneys, and will take a lot of force out of a kick or a catch with a hoof if you fall

[DramaAlpaca]

I wouldn't let my DC on a horse without a helmet & a back protector.

[Butkin]

DD has a Rodney Powell one with a zip up the front and Velcro size adjusters on the back. She loves it and hacks out/schools in it all the time. The only time she doesn't wear a back protector is in the show ring.

[Raptorrethy]

Interesting - thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

mralaughlan that must have been frightening to see...it hadn't crossed my mind about one of my DCs falling under the pony...

[lovebeansontoast]

When my two were younger and riding my cob and various ponies, they wore body protectors. To me, if they're going to do a risky sport like riding, you minimise the risks. They fell off regularly, especially off my cob, and never sustained any real injuries, so I definitely thought it was worthwhile. I only started wearing one a couple of years ago, but now won't ride without it.

[mrslaughan]

I don't know if it was scary, it happened so fast and right in front of me - more sobering. DH had Wanted to get him one and I had said no - he's only riding in the arena or hacking out on a lead rein.....
Falling under , that was him hanging on for dear life, he had ridden up the long side of the arena in canter (unscheduled) perfectly, but saw the corner coming and panicked, wrapped himself around ponies neck and slipped around and under, how the pony didn't stand on him I don't know.
Anyway that's when we got it and he loves it. Hasn't complained about getting hot yet - not sure that's going to be a problem.

[Raptorrethy]

Thank you. Seems the consensus is pretty clear!