Talk to me about body protectors

newforest

newforest

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2008
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I have just ordered the shadow. Initially when these came out they didn't interest me. But I looking for something that would give me some protection without it being the heavy and fairly bulky fully bp.
Fine for competitions, jumping, riding a youngster, but for everyday mine is the level 3 2009 airowear. So it needs replacing anyway.

I have also seen what looks like a body warmer with built in protection.
Anyone seen one of those?
 
I've read lots about body protectors and learnt nothing lol. I get very confused because like you I've seen ones that look like a bodywarmer? But allegedly they don't offer much level of protection unless you wear a traditional one underneath? What's the point of that then? And then there's the air filled cannisters which frankly, the thoughts of going off freak me out - never mind ponies reaction! Years ago mr trews had the Mountain Horse body armour jacket, but it was a bit uncomfy he said and though it looked stylish it wasn't any good and he took the pads out of it lol. And just wore the jacket.
I had mine fitted at the local tack shop / feed merchants up here, when Fuzzy arrived. Its very comfortable and I forget I'm wearing it.
 
I struggled to get a BP to fit me, I tried the Charles Owen shadow and while it did fit, it wasn’t flattering without something else over it! The CO eclipse looks like a body warmer with the same back panel as the shadow so I probably would consider that now. I opted for the mountain horse body armour jacket at the time.

I have taken a couple of the pads out of it, I think it was elbows and shoulders, but that still leaves, spine, hip and rib pads in and I find it pretty comfortable now, and other than that, it’s one of the most waterproof jackets I own. I don’t wear it year round, just if Monkey has had time off and likely to be spicy.
 
I will always have something over the top of it as I always have my hi viz tabard over or a bodywarmer.
If they made it in hi viz, I could dispense with that.
 
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Mine is Airowear. However I never had a bp with a completely correct fit.

My shoulders are narrow and my rib cage is wide. But I needed my arms to hang down comfortably at the side so went for the slightly smaller size and allowed the velcro fastenings to show just a slither of orange.

I hacked like that for years and years and the only time I fell off, the bp protected my back and did not budge. I had put on weight and it was really too small. But it was comfortabnle and I was not conscious of wearing it. I wore it over my shirts but undermy flece or raincoat.

I was not eventing so there were no safety standards to be met.

​

 
The shadow arrived and it's actually the same length as the current one.
In one brand I am considered short, in this one regular.
Will use the next time I ride.
 
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I couldn't remember exactly what brand mine was its a Champion T122. Before that I had a navy blue one lol but I can't remember what make that was either. Old age setting in..........
 
Trewsers said:
I couldn't remember exactly what brand mine was its a Champion T122. Before that I had a navy blue one lol but I can't remember what make that was either. Old age setting in..........
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I learnt to ride before they were even invented and these days people automatically buy them as part of their kit.
I doubt if I can recall the name of the one that did up underneath you. It wasn't new anyway. Possibly racesafe and I have seen some people still using that type in other countries.
 
newforest said:
I learnt to ride before they were even invented and these days people automatically buy them as part of their kit.
I doubt if I can recall the name of the one that did up underneath you. It wasn't new anyway. Possibly racesafe and I have seen some people still using that type in other countries.
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I think the Racesafe are the lowest spec safety wise and some are just for jockeys. I remember reading about them as I poured over the Robinsons catalogue a long time ago. Yes, when I had the odd hack / lesson as a kid I don't remember body protectors and it never occurred to me that I might fall off lol lol
As an adult........totally different. My first sit on a horse again filled me with excitement, happiness and a bit of eeeeeeeek! I didn't wear a bp for a couple of years though. It was after having a few falls that I thought it would be a good buy.
 
carthorse said:
I thought Racesafe were a high spec one, they certainly used to be.
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I might have got that wrong. But I do know there were different levels and some used to stipulate that they were just jockey approved and not for normal leisure riders. lol unless I was reading it all wrong and they were a better spec and safe for jockeys which would mean they would be safer for normal riders?!🤪😆🐴
 
Racesafe were the first to start making them for jockeys I think, then companies began to do it for xc possibly.
I guess they might have been the only option years ago?
 
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