Body Protectors

[LucyHoneychurchsPiano]

Well, after an eventful lesson yesterday (a lady who joins us every other week was thrown from the horse she was riding), I'm thinking a body protector may be a sensible investment.

I've had a little look around and the Airowear Outlyne seems pretty good, especially for people with a significant difference between chest/waist measurements, but to be honest they all feel really heavy and stiff. I haven't tried one on yet, so are they actually more comfortable when they've been worn for a bit?

I've always ridden without one, so have no idea what they're like, but yesterday's events were pretty unsettling - especially as I've ridden that particular horse previously and was going to have him yesterday. He's a bit of a grump, but everyone was shocked by the rearing and bucking - totally unexpected.

Body protectors soften with body heat, so once you are wearing it they are fine. But go to a shop with a selection of different types and get them to fit you and see what works best

I hope the lady who fell is ok.

I always wear my body protector or air jacket, even if just having a trot round the school.

If you can afford it, consider an air jacket. They are not as tight / restrictive as a body protector. However, you do need to replace the gas cylinder each time they inflate so you are limited to one fall per lesson!

Mine is a hit air air jacket. I also have a Harry Hall body protector.

Yes, I'm going to pop at the weekend and have a proper look at what's the best fit. Good to know that they soften enough for it to make a difference.

Bonza, I hope she's okay too. She was going to hospital to get checked out as she took quite a bump - broke her front tooth as well, poor thing. I don't know how she'll feel about coming back; she's only had a few lessons so it could be majorly off putting for her It was pretty scary, he's a bit of a plod normally so v unexpected. He was being difficult when a staff member mounted him after so I'm not desperate to ride him again at the moment!

I'll definitely look into air jackets as well, they do look good. Do you find it tricky to ride with the bulk of the protector? Does it affect your balance, etc at all?

I've got the Outlyne after it was recommended to me for people who are ahem, bigger up top. It did feel like a straitjacket when I first wore it but it really does soften up and I now forget I've got it on after just a couple of minutes it also eliminates the need for a sports bra. The only problem I've found is that I need to wear a polo-shirt type of thing rather than a vest top in the summer as the velcro can rub the tops of my arms if they are bare, but that's not really a hardship .

I don't find it affects my balance at all, but I do find it harder to dismount in a graceful fashion. I once tried to spring off and the BP made me bounce off dhorse's side and nearly land on my bum . But a lot of that is to do with the fact that I'm no spring chicken and dhorse is tall and I'm not!

I'm not sure you'd be able to wear an air jacket at a riding school? It needs a bit putting round the stirrup bars, they may not give you time to do that.
I have a race safe. Some people say they are good for curves figures and some don't. I'm a 32G (F when I lose a bit of weight!) it works great for me and as Pixel says no sports bra needed!
It's very comfortable and helped me when I went over the handlebars so to speak and my daughter came off a pony and hit the fence around the school almost upside down with her back. Her only bruise was on her bum serves her right for having such a little bum

I think that the race safe is more comfortable. However the Airowear does become much more flexible when worn for a while. It really helps to wear it well in advance, so that by the time you get on it has warmed up. Good thing is, they keep you warm when it is really cold!

Pixel, I use mine as a good excuse for terrible dismounting! Always blame it on the body protector!

I've got the aerowear outlyne I love it so comfortable once I've been wearing it for five minutes. Go and get one fitted at a track shop. I never ride without mine.

I'm definitely going to get fitted - will also have a look at Racesafe, thanks.

Oh dear, I already dismount in a v inelegant fashion (dodgy hip so have to hurl myself off quickly before it has a chance to dislocate ) - sounds like I can blame it on the body protector in future - hurrah!

I know it's silly as it wasn't even me who was thrown, but I feel a bit rattled by the whole experience. I've never felt frightened before; wary, yes, around certain stroppy horses, but not afraid. Maybe it was because it was sudden and so unexpected and he's usually so ploddy? Or because I was going to be riding him? Thankfully, even though my horse was startled by the chaos and hopping about a bit, he was responsive and calmed down quickly - it was a reminder, however, that things can go pear shaped even trotting round the school

I came off just popping the tiniest crosspole - horse put in a massive jump I came over his shoulder and landed on my lower back. I don't bounce so well anymore - even a couple of years later I get occasional stiffness and pain so I'll always be wearing my BP - its really not worth the risk! It's really uncomfortable and weird shaped when I first put it on then five minutes is like I'm not wearing it. It's the one that fit me best in the shop.

Well, I got an outlyne...and it's actually quite comfy . Feels a little weird to begin with, but horse was being a swine and with the wind and the rain I forgot I was wearing it! Obviously, it is still fairly bulky so I can see it feeling quite hot in the summer - it was freezing yesterday, but I still felt quite warm (despite being soaking wet!).

Now just need to work on keeping her forward in trot and cantering when I want to and not when she decides to! Oh and dealing with her little tricks and stubbornness...remind me again why we do this?

I heard that a bikers airjacket on ebay works.

Hi everyone

can I ask a question? My 8 year old just has once a week riding lessons, but has now started jumping, and I have started getting paranoid about her coming off awkwardly esp over a jump...

Her riding lessons are her birthday and Christmas presents from us and grandparents at her request though, and I don't have spare hundreds of € for equipment (I got her her own hat, but hadn't thought of a back protector when I agreed, after a nagging campaign, to her request for lessons as a present). The back protectors are horrendously expensive!

I was wondering if a ski back protector, which are about 1/4 of the price, would work equally well, or if they are a totally different thing. Does anyone know?

MrTumbles - the ski ones are literally just the back, wheras riding ones protect your ribs, sternum, abdomen and collar bones. They protect you both in the actual fall and from hooves when you are off.

MrTumbles I can understand your worry re your DD. What's your budget roughly for a BP? Someone may well know of something suitable in your price range. Also, it's well worth keeping your eyes peeled for discount vouchers, sales, etc. Equestrian shops do have some great deals and I happened to find a money off voucher for mine - plus it was a little cheaper than I'd seen elsewhere so made a bit of a saving without even really looking! I think mine was priced at about £139, before the discount, but children's ones are much cheaper

You will want to get her fitted in the shop, though, to make sure it is covering everywhere properly and they'll pop her on to a saddle to check that it doesn't catch at the back. Well worth the money - for your frayed nerves alone

I'd get less lessons and get her the body protector. It's not worth the risk. Children's ones are cheaper but please don't be tempted to buy a second hand one. It could have already had a bad knock and they are speed to be replaced after a fall I think.

Thanks CMO, Jack and Lucy especially for the explanation of the difference between the ski and the riding specific protectors CMO.

There isn't really a budget, but the ski one I was tempted by was €30!! :o Aldi gets decent quality stuff in for one week special offers here in Germany, and they do good ski gear, but not riding equipment! Less lessons to pay for the protector is a bit unfair as both sets of grandparents and we all agreed together to put in set amounts for her birthday and Christmas to pay for a lesson a week in term time (her stables does different things in the holidays, and she rides with friends who are also doing the term time lessons). Taking the money from that pot would be cheating her and the grandparents out of the promise/ deal really... also a €150 back protector would wipe out over 2 months of lessons...

I will take her to try one in the one in one of the little equestrian shops, but would like to be armed with some knowledge to steel myself against being emotionally blackmailed into buying an over priced and unsatisfactory one in the shop! Any recommendations on brands that do decent value for money, wearable, children's protectors which provide a good standard of safety? She is an average sized 8 year old - about 128cm tall, slimmish, fairly standard dimensions with regard to leg and body length... hopefully relatively easy to accomodate!

It is possible to find more reasonably priced ones, here for example. The only problem with ordering online is ensuring the correct fit and it's certainly worth paying a little extra in a shop for that, but it doesn't hurt to do some research first to avoid being completely ripped off.

Sorry I was agreeing with you there and Harry Hall is one of the better-known brands. Some more here, Champion and Racesafe good ones as well.

I think some websites are pretty good at at advising on fit if you provide chest, waist, back and over the shoulder measurements, but obviously that's not going to be as good as getting it fitted in the shop. It's certainly worth getting in touch with some online shops to see what they suggest as they generally seem keen to help and it would give you a good idea as to what's suitable even if you buy elsewhere.

You should be able to get a decent children's one for around £50 - it's once you're a grown woman with curves to accommodate that the fit becomes trickier, I think! That being said, I do like my Airowear one as it isn't too bulky.

I can see why you'd be reluctant to drop down to fewer lessons, but hopefully you should be able to get a reasonably priced BP so you're happy and so is DD

I'll ask my german colleague who rides about a good make MrTumble as I admired her dds body protectors when we rode together and they looked really lightweight

MrTumble - possibly an Airowear Outlyne Y3. It comes in various lengths plus can be further shortened if necessary (takes about 3 weeks as it has to be done in the factory). Shoulder straps can also be shortened if necessary. When it is fully done up (there should be no orange velcro visible), it should be really snug, so you should not be able to fit your hand under the shoulder straps, the sides, etc. They also need to check that it is the right length or have it adjusted by the factory.

The racesafe is more comfy, more expensive, and cannot be adjusted for very small sizes so will probably way too big.

I would go for a bodyprotector which is accepted by the British Pony club, there are many continental bodyprotectors which pass EU safety standards but not British pony club, which is much more stringent.

Thanks Pixel, CMO, Lucy and Love Sewing. I like the price look of the Harry Hall ones Pixel, the safety standards met by the Airowear Outlyne Y3 look good and it is easier to tell whether the size would be right, but the price is creeping way up, plus now I've thought of it I'd like to have it asap - would be tempting fate to send it away to be adjusted at a factory and have her take a nasty fall in the 3 weeks between purchasing it and getting it back!

I know that sounds silly, but she only did her first jumping lesson on Thursday, and since then I have been worrying about this - an old friend of mine was partially paralised (before I knew her) for 18 months after falling off a horse in her teens - when I met her it was long in her past, except that she still had back trouble that meant she couldn't have spinal anethesia / pain control during labour, and ended up with an unplanned section under general anethetic when it could have been done under spinal for anyone else - and of course a spinal injury could have been a lot worse!

Now I have the names of a couple of likely brands, and an idea of realistic prices (the Airowear Outlyne Y3 is coming up as about €83, and the Harry Hall was €58 but I don't know if that's the right size) I will take her to the most local equestrian shop on Wednesday after school, and if they have one I am happy with, with a mark up that isn't silly, then I will hopefully get her one tomorrow (in time for her lesson the day after), or at least come away with more idea.

Thanks so much for your help everyone, I feel I have much more idea what I am going to be looking at now!

Good luck with the fitting. Make sure your DD sits as she would on a pony and that the BP comes to the top of her knickers. You don't want it catching on the cantle. My DD had a really bad fall and her BP (Outlyne) made all the difference. She broke her collar bone as the BP deflected the force away from her ribs which probably would have punctured her lung. Not trying to scare you- the horse was really, really trying to get rid of her.