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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Body protector

19 replies

ememem84 · 19/10/2021 21:02

Looking for advice recommendations if possible.

I’ve been riding for about 6 years and have never worn a back/body protector. Have recently fallen (not hurt just a bit shaken) and am thinking maybe I should get one.

Are there any recommendations?

For reference I’m tall slim and have big boobs. So need something which fits and is comfortable

OP posts:
Pleasedontdothat · 20/10/2021 07:48

What kind of riding do you do? Are you competing or is it just to feel safer out hacking? If you’re doing any kind of XC riding you need a proper body protector which meets the relevant safety standards, however Champion (I think) have recently brought out a slimline back protector which is much less bulky but wouldn’t be allowed in competition.

FWIW when my daughter started wearing a body protector she said she was more likely to fall off as it altered her position. She eventually got used to it but you might want to look at it from a different perspective - if you’re anxious about dealing with a horse spooking for example, then working on your confidence out hacking would probably be more beneficial than wearing a body protector. Jason Webb does hacking confidence camps which might be worth a look yourhorsemanship.com/nervous-horse-out-hacking/

Pleasedontdothat · 20/10/2021 07:49

Forgot to say - if you do go down the body protector route, go to a tack shop and get it properly fitted - racesafe are very good but the best one is the one that fits you

Bigsighall · 20/10/2021 07:50

I love my racesafe and it’s very comfortable

liveforsummer · 20/10/2021 11:05

The racesafe ones are the only ones that are actually comfortable imo

HappyGirlNow · 20/10/2021 14:13

I think you need to balance safety with comfort.. I have a race safe one for cross country but for schooling / hacking, depending on what horse I’m riding and how warm it is, I wear either nothing or one of the following:

www.planet-knox.com/product/knox-action-shirt-for-women/
Or
stuebben.co.uk/back-protector-ladies-version.html

Both offer different protection levels and are super light and comfortable.

DotBall · 20/10/2021 14:22

I have a Champion Titanium which has been brilliant. Two falls jumping indoors and no issues with torso injury at all.

Whatever you buy, it is better if you can get it fitted. I fell between XL Child and XS Adult but the XS Adult was a better fit (child sizes are much cheaper, we were just seeing if the XL Child would be ok but it was just a fraction too small).

I wear mine for everything except flat work now, it’s like a second skin - even though they’re all a bit bulky your body heat makes them mould to you, and they become ‘your shape’ a bit like a pair of shoes.

My winter coats are all a size up so I can fit the body protector underneath.

historyrocks · 20/10/2021 16:29

Be warned that there has been a national shortage of body protectors-there was a thread on here a few months ago where people were struggling to find somewhere with stock. It may have improved bt now, but my local tack shop hasn’t had any since the summer.

Original poster
ememem84 · 20/10/2021 16:34

Amazing - thanks for the responses.

I’m not competing. So don’t need it to confirm with any standards. I ride once a week maybe twice.

I will absolutely go to a tack shop and get it fitted properly just wanted recommendations

I do a combination of flatworm jumping and hacking. During lessons. With instructor present.

And am sort of wondering about the balance side of it. So will bear that in mind.

Ideally what I want to be able to do is try before I buy. But don’t think that’s possible.

OP posts:
EddieVeddersfoxymop · 20/10/2021 16:52

My DD wears Airowear and finds it really quite ok to wear. She was advised by her riding school that once she was cantering that she should really have one. Now she's jumping and whilst I'm aware that it's not going to totally save injury, I'm glad she has it. They come is differing widths and lengths, so ditto the advice to go and get fitted. Be prepared for the price though........

Original poster
ememem84 · 20/10/2021 16:54

Oh yes. Am prepared for the price. My riding school has a rule that all under 18’s riding must wear one once they start cantering. Over 18’s do if they want. But no requirement.

Im waaaaay over 18. But having had two kids am slightly more anxious about falling and seriously hurting myself.

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doublemint44 · 20/10/2021 16:57

Oh god I owe my mobility to a body protector!!! I have ridden most of my life (small break whilst at Uni and had my son) and last year started riding again (just light hacking with a friend)- she suggested a farm ride, having not done anything so adrenalin pumping in years I was very excited.

I went to buy a body protector and was appalled at the price so refused to buy one (stupid yes I am!)- my friend refused to let me ride without one so insisted I wear her spare-

I fell.... I was knocked unconscious, broke my nose and fractured my L2 vertebrae..... the Dr said if I hadn't been wearing the body protector it was very likely I could have severed the spinal chord and never walked again! I will be heavily investing in my own and am glad I came across this thread!

historyrocks · 20/10/2021 17:57

I always wear one, but my goodness they make you so hot in the summer! On the other hand, it means I don’t need a coat to ride in during the winter.

Original poster
ememem84 · 20/10/2021 19:52

@historyrocks

I always wear one, but my goodness they make you so hot in the summer! On the other hand, it means I don’t need a coat to ride in during the winter.
This. This is also a plus.

I haven’t got time to go shopping for one before my lesson on Saturday but am going to try and go get one after it.

OP posts:
DotBall · 21/10/2021 10:13

I’m not competing. So don’t need it to confirm with any standards. I ride once a week maybe twice

You’ll probably find that any new ones will do anyway.
I got mine when we started jumping in lessons about 4 years ago. Some of our hacking is on hills with big rocks and I always imagine what would happen if I came off and my back landed on a rock #broken

Original poster
ememem84 · 21/10/2021 13:07

Good point. And to be fair I bought my hat to comply with showing standards. Just in case.

Am excited though. Have called local tack shop and have been told to pop in and ask for particular lady who really knows her stuff. She’ll help me.

OP posts:
Querty123456 · 21/10/2021 13:09

I find the air bag ones the most comfortable (point two/ hitair etc). Bloody expensive though.

Didicat · 26/10/2021 23:15

I thought I’d have a quick trip to the tack shop to buy my 8 year old a new body protector… it was not quick 45 minutes trying on various sizes, had two ladies checking her fit as she was an awkward size. In the shop 2 hours whilst she chose treats, etc etc…

She puts hers on when she gets out the car and it comes off when she gets back in, apart from the height of summer where both she and the pony cool off under a hose. She now finds it odd to not wear one. You do just become accustomed to them.

Newuser82 · 02/11/2021 08:48

What about an air jacket?

Original poster
ememem84 · 08/11/2021 15:38

Update. Went to tack shop and tried on a few. Best fit was a race safe one. So have added it to the list for Christmas. DH has said he’ll put money towards it. Dm said that she’ll give me some cash for it too. Yay.

Thanks all for your help.

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