To be undecided about horse body protectors

[IjustGotmy2016diary]

I am really undecided about whether I should get obe or not. Does anyone have any experience with them? They are expensive but in the flip side it could save me from injury. Or wouldn't it?

I looked in The Tack Room but there is not much input there.

Are they uncomfortable to ride in?

Decisions decisions. ...

shockthemonkey do you have any evidence whatsoever for your claims? If not this quite silly stuff to be saying about a safety issue. BPs should not make any difference to your position of your ability to sit a buck - if they do they are very incorrectly fitted.

The something's gotta give theory is plain rubbish as BPs do not protect you from spinal injuries anyway.

A small number of horses may spook at the sound of air inflatable BPs that is a possible risk to weigh against the benefits.

Interesting point, sheep - I believe that courses have also become more technical than in the past.

A PP made the point that the increase in accidents is proportional to the increase in numbers of eventing: that may be so, but there are certainly far more fatalities than when I was a child, which was what my point related to. But then, as someone said, if they are working for jockeys - perhaps the variable is not the body protector, but something else, whether speed, angle or height of fence: it would be interesting to know how injuries compare between jump and flat jockeys in this instance.

It's certainly true they've become more comfortable - 25 odd years ago, they were wretched (and the bloody velcro was always coming undone, no matter if you wore them inside or out...): and it is probably also a habit thing too. The friend I referred to who broke his back was wearing a BP; conversely, my father had a horrendous fall out hunting, when his 17.3 heavyweight somersaulted over a post and rails and landed upside down on him - they both got up, and carried on for a while, but dad went home early. Horse perfectly fine (not even any stiffness); dad had two very broken arms. He would never dream of wearing a bp, hunts in a top hat and only wears an old velvet cap round and about: he grew up in the days when you didn't wear hat at Pony Club.

I wouldn't consider riding without a hat, as I've always done it (though I also hunt in a bowler - like my father's hat, though, it's made me for me, and neither of us have ever lost them, despite various crashing falls) but I just don't feel the same way about a bp. I wear one when it's compulsory, but I am also under no illusions about it. I've probably had injuries - mostly ribs - where one would have saved me some pain,but whereas I have definitely had hats that have saved my life, my bp has never done that.

OP - I think you're damned whether you do or not - have a serious accident without one, and rue the day you left it off; have a serious accident with one, and wonder why you bothered! I'd do what feels right and appropriate for you, given your skills, experience and background.

I must say I totally disagree about a BP affecting your ability to sit a buck. I had an amazing FEI pony as a teenager but during XC training he would buck like stink every time I pulled him up. At that point I rode in a horrid solid BP that had the strap between your legs and I still stayed on. Your seat and your balance is what will keep you in the plate.

The times that my air jacket has gone off, not from a fall I'll add just from being an idiot and dismounting without unclipping it, and it's not phased the horses at all.

There are more fatalities than when you were a child because there are moe people eventing. The proportion of people dying to people eventing has not changed, but as there are more people eventing there are more people dying. Eventing deaths are disproportionately caused by rotational falls which a standard BP would not save you from (the EXO probably would help prevent injuries and inflatable jackets might the jury is out on that one). Most recent safety innovations, e.g. fixed fences, frangible pins, are designed to reduce the risk of rotational falls.

BPs are not designed to prevent spinal injuries, your friend's injury while unfortunate is irrelevant.

Apologies my post above was in response to hefzi

I have a Racesafe, but only wear it for jumping/xc - I believe they are to help prevent injuries to the internal organs when hitting an obstacle, they won't prevent you breaking bones, that all depends how you land. I fell on the road without wearing one, got up and was absolutely fine - if that had been on a solid jump rather than flat tarmac I probably would have damaged something. Obviously you can never do the same fall twice to see how much better/worse you would land with or without one. My friend is very nervous and wears hers all the time - if it helps her feel more confident and relaxed, it's doing a great job even if she doesn't fall off. I will add though that I never ever get on a horse without wearing a riding hat.

There's an article in the current edition of horse and hound about air jackets. On reading it and on balance and bearing in mind what top riders in other countries do I won't be getting one.

My next door neighbour had a nasty fall this week off her horse on a main road and i held her hand in resus - it turned out to be severe concussion but was looking a lot worse so safety has been on my mind - but on balance i won't be going for the air jacket.

I think I'm going to have to go back to the shop. I tried the BP on again and after reading about them more, it seems really loose.

I can fit my whole hand down the front and I can lift it up to my chin.

Should there be that much movement?

Don't think so Cowgirl - I borrowed one once to go on a fun ride, which involved some really steep hills, and every time I leant forward to go uphill it nearly choked me to death! Make sure you try it while sitting on a saddle and lean forwards and backwards to make sure it doesn't touch the saddle.

Mine isn't loose and doesn't move around. I think you're right to go back and get it checked.

Went back and have got the next size down. Feel a lot happier now.

That's good Cowgirl

Racesafes have the lacing system down the side that you can alter for a better fit. It shouldn't move at all, or catch the cantle of your saddle, and allow your arms full movement. Some have quite small arm holes I've found that catches under your arms.

Wore it for the first time. Was comfy. Also came off so was put to the test! Body feels fine but hit my head hard.

Oops! Hope you're ok - you'll be needing a new hat now!

I would always wear one for x country or show jumping. I have never worn one whilst on the flat unless on a horse that has a good buck or is young and newly broken.

I fell off show jumping after a refusal into a straight jump and landed on the pole on my back. Dislocated a vertebrae but would have fractured without the bp.

Feeling a bit rough today. Not sure if it was the hit on the head or just feeling under the weather anyway.

Not riding for a couple of weeks now so will give me time to recover!

Was a most unfortunate fall. I had already changed horses as the one I was on was not playing ball even trotting. They got me a real ole plodder who was only 13h. As we were approaching a jump cantering, the school lights went out and we were plunged into darkness. He stopped dead....I did the jump alone...