Does my dd need a body protector ?

[noDogfightPlease]

my dd is almost 7 and just started riding.

For her birthday she is being kitted out with her own hat / boots etc. Does she need a body protector for weekly lessons in the riding school ?

In my day we never had them (old gimmer alert )

Being someone whos ridden from a young age, I'd say if she feels uncomforable on the horse then get her one, but usually Riding school horses are quite well trained (but some arent so much! :p) If she does things like Jumping I would suggest having one as it can be a bit sore if you fall :)

they are quite expensive and a bit restrictive unless she is doing lots of jumping and cross country - the riding school will probably insist on one for those activities anyway

but of course mad things happen in the simplest of ways, a child fell off coming from trot to walk without stirrups, just sort of plopped off the side and managed to break an arm and dislocate a shoulder (not something a body protector would have helped with anyway) so I don't know

what does instructor recommend?

my dd is fearless and is still plodding / trotting on a robotic riding school pony round the school, nothing exciting like jumping yet.

I will leave it until she progresses. Thanks for the replies I just did not know if they were 'the norm' or not.

I'm not really very good at health and safety stuff but tHink there is an argument to be made against body protectors about how they inhibit your ability to move with the horse, absorb its movement etc - but obviously weigh that against risk and it's compulsory for some events for a reason

have feeling your daughter won't be plodding around for long!

We are rather contrary about body protectors. DD (now 9) has always worn one since her first day on a pony (2) and would never think of getting on a pony in the school or on a hack without one. She has a comfy Rodney Powell one that zips up the front and to her it is like putting on a helmet. However she doesn't wear one in the show ring when in reality she is probably more at risk! She does wear one for jumping in WHP though.

I would never, ever let my ds get on a pony without a body protector. If he won't wear one then he doesn't ride. Simple. It is not worth the risk imo. I bet you wouldn't let her ride without a hat!

All it takes is a wobble and bang! It does not matter how quiet the pony is, she could just wobble off one day....it happens.

Get a good fitting one thats comfortable and she will get used to it. make it a habit now before she starts jumping hedges on a whim

I made a condition for DD1 that she had to wear a body protector to ride (though I have never worn one ) so she sees it as normal. She had two falls in quick succession early on, and I feel better that she had a protector on, even if it wasn't absolutely necessary...

Poledra I don't wear one either. i hate the bloody things and will only wear one when necessary. I did however learn to ride without one, and my choice as a adult is to not wear one. If I had started wearing one then I don't doubt I would probably wear one regularly whilst doing faster work

Most children I know don't think twice about a body protector. It has become second nature like their hat and boots.

what BonkeyMollocks said. DD (11) isn't allowed to ride without one - she's got a Rodney Powell one too. When she's 18 she can make her own choices, but having watched me topple off in trot in a sand school and break a couple of ribs I hope she's learnt fom her mum's mistakes. Even riding school ponies can have a funny five minutes and there aren't many novice 7 year olds who would stay on board.

Always!!!!!!!!!!! My girls like their Outlyne BPs. Pricey but comfy and they can do them up on their own.
A couple of anecdotes to scare you-

1. I got really hot during a schooling session with my old, thick BP. Took it off and 3 minutes later was flipped 360 degrees over the horse's head. I am still carrying vertebral damage I might not have had from that.
2. DD1 got bronked off while wearing her BP and shattered her collar bone. Had she not been wearing it, the energy of the fall (she flew 10 ft away from the horse) would have popped all the ribs on that side and probably punctured her lung. The BP is designed to channel the force away from vital organs.
3. I was watching a little girl riding- same age and stage as DD2. She slid off as she cantered around the corner of the school and landed chest-first on a pole. She got up laughing. She was wearing a BP.

ooh thankyou ladies. I will take a look at them and probably add one to the birthday list. It would be good to start as we mean to go on.

I actually fell from a vrirtually stationary pony so I know how unexpected falls can be.

I don't wear one and don't make my DD (14) either. I bought us one each recently as we're ready to try cross-country - most uncomfortable, and I definitely felt more likely to fall off. DD did great in her first cross-country lesson, till pony stopped in canter (not his fault) and she flew over his head. I was glad she had it on then!

I have a lovely one which is practically brand new - was thinking about putting it one ebay (but don't know how). So if you want one you are welcome to it. Don't know where you are but perhaps you can collect or we can sort something out. Its a rodney powell size CSX.

Also have a hat if you're interested. My DD has outgrown them and it would be nice to pass onto someone who would really appreciate them.

PM me or post on this thread- I will keep an eye on the thread.

ooh thanks sleepy, we are in East Dorset but dd is a chunky barrel chested 7 yr old and cannot stand tight clothing (lifetime of eczema but not allergic to animals thankfully) so I would have to buy her big ish sizes ! What size is yours ?

Yes, better safe than sorry.

They need to fit well, if you are in east Dorset, are you near Ringwood? Aivleys do an excellent fitting service.

I was made learn to ride in one many many years ago, feel naked without it ans always make my kids wear one now?

Just to say I had my BP fitted and it felt like a strait-jacket at first, I could barely breathe! The fitter told me it had to be that tight to be properly effective. It feels much better now I'm used to it and tbh I usually forget I'm wearing it, but be prepared for your dd to get a bit of a shock when she first tries one on if she doesn't like tight clothes.

I really can't ride in them at all. Although we could drop 'in them' and that sentence would still be wholly accurate.

hi size on jacket says CSX - . When we bought this one we went to a proper riding shop and they know how to fit them and give them the right size. It looks small to me, my DD was about 8 when we got it, but she's slim.

Let me know. I live wiltshire/hampshire border. Also have pretty new champion navy velvet riding hat size size 6 5/8's and size 2 long rubber riding boots. Yes they do fit the body protector on REALLY tight - but I guess they don't offer the protection if they're loose.

Probably best to take her to a riding fitters and find out her sizes

I wear mine most of the time (unless it's really hot in which case the dangers of overheating outweigh the dangers of falling off without BP for me) and if DD wanted to ride it would be a condition of riding.

I find the modern versions are really supple and I forget I am wearing mine - nothing like the really stiff BPs we used to have back in the days when I used to jump. It doesn't affect my position for the worst at all, if anything it helps me sit up but is supple enough to allow me to roll if I were to fall.

we are going to Aivelys to be fitted for a hat !

With 20 years riding experience I fell off a trained riding school horse (pony actually, was probably about 14hh) three years ago and broke my back. Luckily I can still walk, but it had the potential of being a very serious accident - had to wear a brace for several months and, of course, was very painful, and I will never be able to risk riding again.

A body protector would have saved my back and I'd probably have been back in the saddle immediately.

PS I was trotting in an indoor school.

Aivleys is excellent for fitting hats and body protectors

I have tried a few other places and walked away as i thought they were as deligient as them, every hat I or kids have had from there has fitted perfectly.

Where are you going for lessons? Stocks?

We go to Sweetlands - she has just started but absolutley loves it.

I may have a leetle influence as I would love to ride again one day.

I am so pleased as she is just not a pink sparkly dancing type of girl and she showing signs of being a natural rider. I know it may well bankrupt us but it is great she has an interest. She wants to be a vet so is animal mad.