Safe in the saddle

 

Body protection for riders has come a long way from the days of awkward-looking rigid foam back shields. The body protectors of today are constructed with both comfort and safety in mind, subject to rigorous repeat testing and available in various styles and colours, making them a must-have item for any rider, be they top-flight competitor or happy hacker.

 

Body and shoulder protectors can make the difference between a serious injury and a minor one, protecting the rider from impacts and injury to the upper torso. Nevertheless, there are many riders out there that – whilst they would not think of riding without wearing a hard hat – still do not ride in a body protector.

 

There can be a misconception, especially amongst new riders, that ‘I don’t need a body protector yet as I don’t jump’ or ‘I’ve only just starting riding so I probably won’t need one yet’, but all riders should wear body protection whenever they are in the proximity of horses. Body protectors are not only designed to protect the wearer in the event of a fall from a horse, but also to offer protection from impacts such as being kicked, which can happen at any time.

 

Standards

 

BETA 2000 and BETA 2009 are the most current standards to which all body and shoulder protectors sold in the UK must conform. Production of BETA 2000 body protectors ceased in July 2011, although these products may still be sold and will remain valid for the recommended lifespan of three to five years after issue. Both BETA 2000 and BETA 2009 labels confirm that the body protector meets all the requirements of the European standard EN 13158 and is certified to the Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) directive shown by the CE mark. Manufacturers of these products are also required to undertake additional testing on an annual basis to ensure long-term consistency in quality and design.

 

Under EN13158:2009 there are three ‘levels’ of protection:

 

• Level 1 (black label) denotes a body protector intended for jockeys only, as it is designed to meet the weight restrictions of race riding.

 

• Level 2 (brown label) body protectors offer lower protection for low-risk situations only.

 

• Level 3 (purple label) body protectors are the ones that are suitable for normal riding conditions, and are designed to prevent minor bruising, reduce soft tissue injuries and bruising and limit the risk of rib fractures.

 

 

For 2011, British Eventing has introduced a new rule whereby competitors may only wear BETA 2000 or 2009 Level 3 body protectors, and ideally all riders should do likewise. Body protectors manufactured pre-2000 were made using different types of foam, and tend to brittle and degenerate with age. These garments were also typically much thinner, offering far less protection and coverage, and it is also likely that older body protectors may have suffered additional damage over the years.

 

Fitting           

 

Modern body protectors provide much higher levels of protection than their forebears, but must be correctly fitted in order to provide maximum coverage and protection without making the rider uncomfortable or inhibiting movement in any of the riding positions.

 

As a guide, body protectors should fit securely so that it stays in place during movement, with the top of the garment just reaching the top of the breastbone at the front and the base of the neck at the back. The front should not be less than 25mm below the ribcage. The length of the body protector is important to get right, so that it covers and protects the torso correctly but does not hit the saddle when mounted.

 

Many manufacturers are now producing short and long fit options to take into account varying rider heights. Many body protectors also include red-coloured sections of the hook and loop fastenings to help with correct fitting – if any red is showing once the body protector has been fastened, the item is too small and a larger size should be tried.

 

Function and fashion

 

Body protectors hitting the shelves today are not only safer, but are also much more ergonomically designed, making them more comfortable to wear as well as better looking. Many are constructed using layers of PVC Nitrile foams, which soften and mould to the shape of the body when worn, and are often perforated with air holes to keep the body protector light and breathable.

 

Meanwhile, black or blue is the traditional choice of colour for body protector, but some manufacturers are starting to offer different colour or coloured piping options to add a fun and fashionable twist to a standard safety item. 

 

Main image caption: Airowear Outlyne body protector.

 

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