Body protector advice

[countrysidemummy]

Can anyone help me figure out what size body protector to get for dd please? I can't afford a new one and am looking at ebay for one. Dd usually rides without one, so i figure a 2nd hand one is better than nothing if i can get the right size. She is 123cm tall, 7 years old and 21 inch waist, so long and thin! Any idea's of makes or sizes to suit her please?

[marialuisa]

could you not get her fitted in one properly to get an idea of size and then look on ebay? Noy sure if one of the online catalogues have fitting instructions so you could measure her? Amazes me how many kids i see wearing ones that don't fit or not fastened correctly. Will probably get leapt on for this-but does she need one yet-in terms of type of pony she's riding, activities she's doing?

[TessoftheD]

Following on from this, I'm wondering about whether my daughter should be wearing one - she's been riding for a while now, trotting, cantering etc, but still in jeans and wellies as the deal is we pay for her lessons and she saves up for anything else or waits til her birthday. (Obviously I wouldn't make her buy her own body protector if she needs one for safety). However, today I picked her up from her lesson to find she'd been jumping for the first time, alongside others in her class (she's just moved up), all of whom seemed to be wearing body protectors. I didn't know whether I should be concerned that she was allowed to jump without one of these - not being remotely horsey I'm not sure what's acceptable/safe?

[Butkin]

We wouldn't allow DD to jump without a body protector (she has a zip up the front Rodney Powell one which she really likes). In fact she is so used to wearing them she always wears it for just hacking (she did come off today after pony spooked) and was suprisingly the only child wearing one at the regional pony club mounted games competition last weekend - 2 children not wearing them face planted!

The only time she doesn't wear one is in the show ring which I know is a bit daft really.

[TessoftheD]

As I thought... better get shopping then. I'm a bit peeved her teacher didn't mention to me in advance that she'd be jumping, or suggest that she should get a protector.

[Mirage]

Both my dds have to wear one-as soon as they progressed from the small to the big ring and started cantering and jumping,I insisted.When the new pony arrives,they will not be getting on him without it.I know too many good,experienced riders who've had life threatening injuries after falls to give in on this one.

[ManateeEquineOhara]

Countrysidemummy- try looking on the brand websites, they may have a size guide.

Tess - My DD has also just moved up and also just started 'proper' jumping. She has refused to wear a body protector until now (I learnt entirely without one so I wasn't going to make her), but having almost fallen off at at least half the jumps, and watched another girl in the lesson come off, she has decided she will wear one. I am relieved really, watching your DCs learn to jump is far more nerve racking than learning to jump yourself!

[TessoftheD]

Tell me about it Manatee! As an extremely risk averse type I find it scary just watching her trot... Am grateful that now she spends a whole morning at the school doing pony club as well as a lesson I don't stay and watch. Determined not to let my wimpishness rub off on her, as she's quite relaxed and confident. Thanks for all the advice on body protectors - bought a Rodney Powell one on ebay.

[MitchiestInge]

Tess, I'd be more worried about the riding in wellies than the body protector honestly.

[TessoftheD]

Eek - what's wrong with wellies? They've got a bit of a heel. GAs buying her boots for birthday next month.

[MitchiestInge]

It's the ridged sole really, although also get queasy about lack of protection they offer your toes around horses. Actually the boots I think are ideal were dismissed as unsuitable today by a riding school I was checking out for my daughter so what do I know!

[Greenstocking]

Mine have the Jack Ellis ones and they seem pretty good.

None of us jump without a body protector.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Thanks for his thread! It has reminded me that DD is currently jumping and doesn't wear hers! She will hate me now, but I'm going to insist! I hadn't really thought about it recently, although I get the collywobbles everytime she gets on her new pony, the accident I had which makes me nervous wouldn't have been helped by one!

[dingdongbells]

As I am sitting here with a broken rib after jumping on DD's naughty pony at the weekend without checking the girths, I'd always recommend a body protector! The ground is really hard with no rain......
I've always insisted on hats, but not protectors and can now see how useful they are. DD is only 7 and not jumping yet, but am going to invest in a Rodney Powell I think as DD doesn't like her current on and its a bit small.