Body protector for 11 year old

mummyof2boys30 · 2023-04-26T06:54:58+00:00

Can anyone recommend a good body protector for 11 year old boy. He currently has a Champion one as went for cheaper as only had started riding. It still fits but he finds it quite bulky and annoys him. Thanks 😊

sanityisamyth · 26/04/2023 08:07

Does he need one? If he's only just started, then he'll only be walking and trotting so will only slip off. Body protectors can stop riders falling naturally or rolling up to protect other body parts, and do not protect neck, arms or legs. DS only wears his for XC jumping. He has a Champion Titanium Ti22 for that.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/04/2023 08:13

I don't think there's such a thing as a non-bulky body protector - they wouldn't work otherwise!

As PP said, while they protect in some ways, they can cause issues in others - especially in terms of your seat and your balance.

I would speak to his instructor and see what they recommend - many don't encourage the use of protectors unless the child is cantering or jumping.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 26/04/2023 08:28

Yep came here to agree with the PPs. I think for proper novices they can be a huge hindrance in learning how to sit properly. And unless they fit absolutely perfectly (which for a growing child will probably be a window of about a month!) they are really uncomfortable and can be more dangerous

Newuser82 · 27/04/2023 14:06

Have you looked at racesafe? Is he riding his own pony or at a riding school? If his own pony then look into air jackets.

Original poster

mummyof2boys30 · 27/04/2023 14:15

Hes at a riding school. I am totally clueless about anything horse related as not a horsey family. He is cantering (early stages) and small jumps. His still fits but if all similar maybe no point changing it just yet

OP posts:

Newuser82 · 27/04/2023 14:19

I would hang fire changing it if it still fits him as they are expensive. Next time try a few on in the shop to see what he prefers then get him to wear it round the house to wear it in a bit.

sanityisamyth · 27/04/2023 14:32

Definitely don't get an air jacket on a riding school pony!

liveforsummer · 30/04/2023 08:20

Race safe are by far the comfiest - make sure you get the turquoise label as the purple standard goes out of date next year. Agree with pp's though on does he actually need one? Dc only wear them if doing xc

LisaD1 · 30/04/2023 10:23

My daughter rides in a race safe, she says it’s comfy and she’s worn one so long now she barely knows its on. I think I paid £180 for it though so not cheap.

XelaM · 30/04/2023 13:07

My daughter has a Racesafe but only wears it for XC and given that she only does XC a handful of times a year (if that) she never used it and my £200 purchase was a total waste. She rides every day but ever wears it for flatwork or jumping.

XelaM · 30/04/2023 13:07

never*

I mean she did use it maybe 5 times since we bought it - only for XC.

liveforsummer · 30/04/2023 14:01

XelaM · 30/04/2023 13:07

My daughter has a Racesafe but only wears it for XC and given that she only does XC a handful of times a year (if that) she never used it and my £200 purchase was a total waste. She rides every day but ever wears it for flatwork or jumping.

Same with my dc now they going out of date as purple label so need to purchase yet another expensive item X2 to be barely used 🙄

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 30/04/2023 14:39

The only none bulky ones are the air bag types which are expensive, £300+ my dd (15) has one and we've told her that she needs to buy any gas canisters herself. She if she jumps off and forgets to un lip it she's lost some of her pocket money.

A lot of riding schools insist on children wearing them, I'd not bother changing just now, or go into an equestrian place and get one fitted properly. Any shop worth its salt won't sell you one without fitting it first

XelaM · 30/04/2023 17:03

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 30/04/2023 14:39

The only none bulky ones are the air bag types which are expensive, £300+ my dd (15) has one and we've told her that she needs to buy any gas canisters herself. She if she jumps off and forgets to un lip it she's lost some of her pocket money.

A lot of riding schools insist on children wearing them, I'd not bother changing just now, or go into an equestrian place and get one fitted properly. Any shop worth its salt won't sell you one without fitting it first

So the air bags not make a bang that can spook the horse?

XelaM · 30/04/2023 17:03

Do the air bags not make a bang*

Pleasedontdothat · 30/04/2023 17:18

XelaM · 30/04/2023 17:03

Do the air bags not make a bang*

Yes they do - I’ve seen a couple of accidents which only happened because the horse was spooked by the air bag going off. Our pony club doesn’t allow them for group rallies after an unfortunate incident…

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 30/04/2023 17:19

@XelaM they sound like a gunshot when they go off, and yes it’s loud. I’ve only seen my dd fall off once wearing one, and the horse had bolted anyway so was off

Newuser82 · 30/04/2023 18:09

My son has an air jacket and has fallen off a couple of times. The pony isn't bothered at all. Obviously some will be though.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 30/04/2023 18:17

Most riding schools don't allow air jackets as they risk spooking the other horses and causing total chaos - especially in a group lesson.

If one child has fallen off, the last thing you need is other horses spooking and bolting because of the noise.

Newuser82 · 30/04/2023 18:32

Yes I'd be surprised if any riding school allowed air jackets. Not only as it would be a faff to keep putting the clip onto and off the saddle.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 01/05/2023 18:39

Yep I’d be amazed if an RS allowed air jackets, one slightly dislodged child and you could have eight ponies and small people going in every direction!!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 02/05/2023 08:09

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 30/04/2023 14:39

The only none bulky ones are the air bag types which are expensive, £300+ my dd (15) has one and we've told her that she needs to buy any gas canisters herself. She if she jumps off and forgets to un lip it she's lost some of her pocket money.

A lot of riding schools insist on children wearing them, I'd not bother changing just now, or go into an equestrian place and get one fitted properly. Any shop worth its salt won't sell you one without fitting it first

Do they insist on body protectors or air jackets?

I'm really surprised to read of a riding school that insists on air jackets - that sounds so, so dangerous to me. Especially in a group of children!

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 02/05/2023 08:52

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts no the riding school don't insist on specifically air vests, but they do insist that children wear body protectors. They have an ample supply of the normal ones for the children to use if they don't have their own.

My dd loans a horse locally and also has lessons at the local riding school, which is why we decided to take the plunge and get her an air vest. The school are happy for her to wear the vest during lessons.

The only downside is that once it's gone off, if you don't have a spare gas canister the vest is unless. So she keeps her old standard protector, plus a spare canister at the yard just in case

MyopicBunny · 03/05/2023 11:11

My daughter is 14 and she has a Charles Owen one. It has air vents and she hasn't found it uncomfortable at all.