Body Protectors Guide

Photo of a lady dressed in riding gear, standing next to a horse.

The Ultimate Guide to Body Protectors

Do you wonder if you should wear a body protector when you go horse riding? Is it time to replace the body protector you’ve had for a few years?

There is a wide range of body protectors that are synonymous with safety, comfort & style available in the equestrian marketplace. However, it can be difficult to know which is best suited to you and your riding.

This guide covers the different types of body protectors, who should wear them and how to get the correct fit.

Product Types
Body Protectors	Shoulder Protectors

There is also some practical information on how to look after your body protection gear to make sure it performs and looks its best.

Do you need a Body Protector?

Whether you are a beginner, a mature rider, coming back from an injury, planning to go eventing or hunting, starting a young horse or just go out hacking, body protection is a vital consideration for your safety and well being.

Designed to protect the rider’s upper body by absorbing the impact from a fall or kick from a horse, body protectors are compulsory gear for cross country competitions.

This protective piece of riding attire helps to:

prevent minor bruising that can result in stiffness and pain
decreases soft tissue injuries
prevent rib fractures

And, more and more horse riders of all levels, ages and genders, say wearing a body protector when hacking out or schooling, helps them feel more confident and therefore ride more positively.

How Body Protectors Work

The protective internal layer of most body protectors is made up of two levels of PVC Nitrile foam. These layers are sensitive to body heat so that they soften and mould to the riders body. To reduce weight, increase flexibility and improve airflow, the foam is often perforated.

The foam layers are covered with durable and breathable fabric on the outside and lined with a breathable mesh on the inside. Fastenings may be zip, sliding buckle, clip or velcro.

The new generation of body protectors (like the Racesafe Provent 3.0) are more flexible, lightweight and breathable than their more cumbersome predecessors.

Which means they are much more comfortable and allow riders of every level the freedom to perform at their best whilst ensuring the highest available level of protection.

Modern body protectors have more options of colours - from basic black to more fun, fashionable colours. They are quick and easy to put on. And, they are available at prices to fit every budget.

Shoulder Protectors

Shoulder protectors are a highly recommended addition to a body protector particularly for high level cross country events.

They protect the end of the collar-bone which is often injured when falling on the shoulder. Research at eventing competitions has been shown that shoulder protectors reduce the risk of breaking the collar bone by up to 80%.

Air Vests

Lighter and less cumbersome than a typical body protector, air vests are a fairly recent option for horse riding protection. Acting like an air bag for horse riders, this type of vest inflates if the rider comes out of the saddle.

A lanyard connected to a C02 canister in the vest is attached to the saddle once the rider is mounted.

If the rider comes out of the saddle, the lanyard disconnects from the canister inflating the vest in a few milliseconds giving instant and increased protection to the riders upper body - internal organs, ribs, spine and neck.

A few minutes after inflation completes, the air vest automatically starts to deflate. The C02 canister has to replaced in order for the vest to work again.

An air vest worn on its own gives a high level of protection for schooling, hacking or hunting. But, they are designed so they can be worn along with a regular body protector to give the highest level of safety.

If an air vest is worn in the cross country phase of eventing, it must be combined with a BETA approved level 3 body protector.

How to care for your Body Protector

Most body protectors have a recommended lifespan of three to five years as the impact absorption properties of the foam will deteriorate over time and with wear.

Following these tips for caring for your protector can help it last longer within that span:

Clean with a sponge and clean, warm, soapy water
Store in a dry and warm, but not excessively hot space
Avoid keeping it in the back or boot of the car as direct sunlight, excessive heat and damp will cause the fabric and foam to deteriorate more quickly.
Hang up when not being worn so it retains its form and does not get chewed or trodden on in the yard or stable.
Close zips to maintain the shape.
Close hook and loop fastenings to prevent hair,, hay and dirt clogging them up

After a fall or kick from a horse, check the protector for dents immediately. The protective foam should expand back into shape after 30 minutes. If it does not return to its natural shape and the dent is visible after that time period then that area will no longer provide the adequate protection and should be replaced.

How to fit a Body Protector

A good fit is the key to comfort and safety. A snug fit is key not only for comfort and safety, but also to allow heat from the rider’s body to penetrate the foam making it softer and more flexible to wear.

The body protector must fit close to the torso so that it does not move about and stays in place in the event of a fall.

For those reasons, the protector should be worn over a lightweight base layer of clothing. If more layers are needed to keep warm in colder weather, the additional layers should go over the body protector.

Some body protectors have hook and loop fastenings at the shoulders and webbing straps, elastic cords or ties at the waist for adjusting the fit. When fitting the protector, adjust these areas for a snug fit.

With the body protector on and adjusted ensure that it:

covers the coloured markers at the waist and shoulders when fitted snugly
fits all the way around the torso
just reaches the top of the sternum in the front and the prominent bone at the base of the neck in the back
extends from the breastbone down to not less than 25 mm below the bottom of the rib cage for maximum coverage and protection.
Covers the collarbone
lies flat snugly against the body without pulling away in any area or lifting up at the shoulder
is comfortable in all simulated riding positions
When mounted, the back of the protector should not touch the cantle of the saddle

When going to a larger size because the red markers cannot be covered, make sure that the larger size is not bigger in the body and back length as well as width. Many protectors have different width measurements in the same body length.

So, if the size is too small only in width then the next size up may work. However, if the body length is also larger in the next size up then it will not fit correctly. Different brands and models have variations on width, front and back length.

How to Measure Yourself for a Body Protector

Correct fitting is essential for a body protector to do its job properly.

Follow these seven steps to ensure the best fit:

Use a flexible, fabric tape measure for the most accurate reading
Take waist, chest and waist to waist measurements (taking the tape measure from the front of the waist over the shoulder and down the back to the waist).
Sitting on a flat chair, measure the length from the C7 vertabrae (the prominent bone at the back of the neck) down to the chair seat. Subtract 4 inches from this measurement to allow for saddle clearance.
Use the manufacturer’s size chart to find the correct size.
If the measurements are at the top or bottom of a size range, try to find the two closest sizes to establish which is more comfortable.
Try on over light clothing or the clothing normally worn under the body protector. Heavier garments (eg rainwear) are best worn over the BP.
Adjust the garment by its fastenings at the shoulders and waist to fit snugly.

If a body protector cannot be found that fits correctly, some manufacturers offer a made to measure service.

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Still not sure? Just ask – We’re here to help

If you require any more help on choosing the right equestrian attire for your needs, one of our expertly trained members of staff will be more than happy to assist. For online enquiries, please contact our customer service team on 01234 567890