Re: Showjumping & Body Protectors

[WillowKnicks]

This is my first time posting, so here goes...I am a first time horse owner & dd, aged 7 & I have had our ponies since last April, so have been on a massive learning curve so far but have SOOOO much more to learn. I just use my DP to hack out on but my little girl loves jumping. Our local stables hosts a monthly jumping competition, which she had entered twice & LOVES.

There is no formal dress code but several of the others wear their show outfits & I have treated her to one, to compete in later on this month (she wants to start showing DP in spring too). Her DP is quite tricky & can play up & he threw her last time & she landed on a wooden pole but luckily was wearing her body protector but what is the protocol in more formal shows...are they allowed? Are they worn under or over show jackets? Do they have special ones?

Thanks in advance as I have NO knowledge about shows, as you can probably tell :o

I'm not a expert, but have been to a few show's with friends children, and they all wore their body protectors. Some over the jacket, some under, I think its down to personal preference. I personally would not let ds get on his pony without his BP, show or no show!

I should think for the local village/town show's dress code is compleatly up to you, but usually people dress for the occasion i.e. jods, shirt, jacket etc. Unless its something like best turned out/ showing class no-one is judged on dress code (I'm pretty sure anyway ) . I have ridden a friends horse in a novice 2ft3 class in my everyday riding clothes because she chickened out and asked me too. I got a few looks but it didn't effect our results.

Do you know what your pony is like in a show environment? It might be worth taking him to a show with a friend a a companion just to see how he behaves before you start competing.
My mare was a amazing jumper at home but as soon as I took her to a show she turned into a nightmare because she got so excited. Its always worth testing the water before you add the pressure of a competition.

Same here.My dds do not get on without their BPs.We haven't been to any shows yet,but for Pony Club and hunting,they wear BPs under their jackets.

Do they fit under the jackets, or do you have to buy a massive jacket? I've got a lovely hi-viz waterproof jacket which I love and have been very disappointed to find that it won't fit over my BP even though it is quite a baggy fit without it. Obviously I could put the BP over it but then I would only have hi-viz arms.

Thanks for the replies.

Good idea about testing the pony in a show enviroment (there's one fairly local that I can lead him up to in Spring)...I'd thought about taking my DD to a show first but not the pony!!

Her BP is hi-viz (pink & lime green), so might be a case of investing in something a little less ermm loud for shows

You can wear a BP in any show you want and they are obligatory for BE. I wear my BP all the time, hacking, schooling and at shows, although this is a habit I have gotten into lately as I have become older and more safety conscious!!

I think a lot of shows now insist on body protectors for juniors who are show jumping. It is usually in the rules section next to hats. Usually they temd to go over the jacket as jackets should be a nice fit however if you have a big jacket then under would be fine.

DD has started doing working hunter classes and would wear her BP over her show jacket for the jumping and then take it off for the flat part of the class.

She would definitely wear it (again over) if showjumping.

DD's jackets tend to be very tight though (the current show fashion) - she couldn't ge her cardigan underneath it last Sunday!