Body protector for beginner

Mrscouldron · 2025-03-31T17:21:02+00:00

Hi Does anyone have a recommendations for a reasonably priced body protector. I am 5 foot 3 and about 60kg if that makes any difference. The shop in which I got my helmet and boots from has protectors starting at £350. Is this usual? Should I just get that and be done with it or is there something more reasonable? Many thanks

Lesina · 31/03/2025 21:15

£350 sounds about right.

maxelly · 31/03/2025 23:10

Contrary to PP £350 seems expensive to me if all you're after is a basic model. Obviously you can spend that much but if you look at online saddleries/tack shops you can get an entry level brand like aerowear, rhinegold, champion for about £150 - £175. The trouble is these basic brands aren't as comfortable as the more premium ones like racesafe or the air jacket types which are much less restrictive and have better air flow but do cost £££. I'd ideally want the opportunity to try on a cheaper one to check how it feels and fits, ideally try riding in it or sit on a saddle which obviously you wouldn't be able to do online without buying a couple of different types and returning which is a faff.

Original poster

Mrscouldron · 01/04/2025 09:05

maxelly · 31/03/2025 23:10

Contrary to PP £350 seems expensive to me if all you're after is a basic model. Obviously you can spend that much but if you look at online saddleries/tack shops you can get an entry level brand like aerowear, rhinegold, champion for about £150 - £175. The trouble is these basic brands aren't as comfortable as the more premium ones like racesafe or the air jacket types which are much less restrictive and have better air flow but do cost £££. I'd ideally want the opportunity to try on a cheaper one to check how it feels and fits, ideally try riding in it or sit on a saddle which obviously you wouldn't be able to do online without buying a couple of different types and returning which is a faff.

Thank you. I will have a look further afield if there is a larger shop where there is more selection that I could try on.

OP posts:

Hereforthedramaz · 02/04/2025 18:23

OP can I hijack your thread to ask, what type of riding are you planning on wearing one for?

I restarted riding a couple of years ago, I’ve been mostly relaxed hacking so hadn’t thought about needing one. In my head I put them in the jumper etc categories but I’m wondering if people are wearing them as standard now?

im hopefully about to step up the types of riding I do, but still low level schooling etc not XC or anything! So maybe I should think about one.

maxelly · 02/04/2025 20:37

Hereforthedramaz · 02/04/2025 18:23

OP can I hijack your thread to ask, what type of riding are you planning on wearing one for?

I restarted riding a couple of years ago, I’ve been mostly relaxed hacking so hadn’t thought about needing one. In my head I put them in the jumper etc categories but I’m wondering if people are wearing them as standard now?

im hopefully about to step up the types of riding I do, but still low level schooling etc not XC or anything! So maybe I should think about one.

I'd say it's getting more common to wear a body protector at all times, but by no means universal or standard practice. I don't know of any riding schools which insist on them for flatwork although some do for jumping and hacking, but you will see plenty of people wear one even if they're only at pottering/beginner stage, esp children. You def shouldn't be put off wearing one if you want to. The decision still comes down to a balance of how uncomfortable and restrictive you find them Vs your personal risk assessment of how likely you are to have a serious fall (they don't do much to protect limbs and collarbones and so on which are the most common injuries but they are effective in protecting the torso and key organs particularly in crush type falls which can be much more serious).

The newer types in particular the air jackets are much, much more comfortable than a traditional body protector but they are also much more expensive than the regular kind so it does depend somewhat on how much you're willing to spend. Personally I don't wear one to school or gentle hack on my own very reliable horse but I will now put one on to jump or if we're going to be stepping it up a gear, or if someone asks me to ride their unfamiliar horse, whereas in the past I only really wore one when I absolutely had to, so I have definitely moved in the direction of wearing one...

MissRainbowBrite · 02/04/2025 20:46

At your height and weight could you look at the larger sizes in the children’s range? It would reduce the cost by quite a bit. DD has just had a new Champion Ti22 and the teen size range is about £200 ish if you shop around.

Hereforthedramaz · 02/04/2025 20:53

@maxellythank you!

really really helpful advice!

Original poster

Mrscouldron · 02/04/2025 21:33

MissRainbowBrite · 02/04/2025 20:46

At your height and weight could you look at the larger sizes in the children’s range? It would reduce the cost by quite a bit. DD has just had a new Champion Ti22 and the teen size range is about £200 ish if you shop around.

Thank you. I thought I was too big but I will go back and have a look now. X

OP posts:

Original poster

Mrscouldron · 02/04/2025 21:36

Hereforthedramaz · 02/04/2025 18:23

OP can I hijack your thread to ask, what type of riding are you planning on wearing one for?

I restarted riding a couple of years ago, I’ve been mostly relaxed hacking so hadn’t thought about needing one. In my head I put them in the jumper etc categories but I’m wondering if people are wearing them as standard now?

im hopefully about to step up the types of riding I do, but still low level schooling etc not XC or anything! So maybe I should think about one.

I’m planning on wearing it all the time. I feel that it is safer and my riding instructor does encourage them. My children wear them at all times as well and they have both had a nasty fall each due to a spooked horse and they really did reduce the injuries. My riding school also won’t allow you out on hacks without one but you can be in the sand school without one.

OP posts:

SabbatWheel · 04/04/2025 19:43

I bought a Champion Ti22 (fitted by local tack shop, I’m 5ft 1 and in a Small Adult size) when I was just starting jumping in lessons. That was 7 years ago.

I now have my own horse and still have the same body protector. I’ve come off three times jumping and once hacking and never regretted wearing it, I use it all the time except for flat work and I don’t care how it makes me look. Better safe than a broken back.