Oranges
Grand Prix Poster
Moments of Perfection
Posts: 3,840
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Post by Oranges on Dec 23, 2005 22:58:10 GMT 1
hey, i have always ridden in a BP since i started riding until recently, i find that they restrict my breathing and give me a bad back, and since i've stopped wearing one i'm much more supple when ridding. But I think i should ride in one for safety and all, so i was just wondering if anyone can recomend some. i quite like the sound of the inflatable ones, but the idea of being attached to the saddle puts me off
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Post by mellymoo on Dec 23, 2005 23:29:08 GMT 1
It's a quick release clip that attaches to the saddle, so if you come off it pops the air cannister and inflates it. You will not be dragged along by it! Do you have a supplier for them - I tried one on ata show two years ago but couldnt afford it then, but would still like one!
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Post by julz on Dec 24, 2005 3:38:57 GMT 1
I don't believe in body protectors, I broke my hip 13yrs ago due to a fall from a horse, had i been wearing one i would still have broken it. As it was i got away without internal injuries even though the horse was lying on top of me, full weight for about 2-3mins....
We all have natural "body protectors", it's called the Ribcage, and it protects the (major) internal organs, only if you break a rib will it be in danger of piercing a lung and this could still happen even with a BP.
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Post by Casper on Dec 24, 2005 7:24:01 GMT 1
Oranges I've got one of those body protectors - they're called Supavests. If I'm quite honest, when I first read about them I thought it was a joke but then I looked into them a lot more and got one earlier this year.
When you get on your horse, you "plug" the body protector in. There is an attachment which loops on the D ring of your saddle, and you push this into the bottom of your body protector. If you fall off, the pressure of you coming off releases this from the BP and instantly fires the gas canister inside the BP to inflate it. It is like riding with an airbag!
They are also the only body protector which protects your neck as well. You might feel a bit like Elvis riding along, as there is quite a thick padded collar on them, but should you come off, this also inflates to cradle your neck. You have to remember to "unplug" yourself when you get off - although according to the suppliers, if you do forget and dismount still attached it won't inflate the protector. It is the sudden inertia caused by you falling off which activates the vest which normal dismounting doesn't do. (Not put this to the test though) LOL!
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Post by annahindley on Dec 24, 2005 10:27:08 GMT 1
julz, if only the ribcage was infallable! Do you wear a hat? The skull is also a natural skullcap, but I don't rely on that either.... Its true, a body protector wouldn't have saved your hip, but it isn't designed to. And breaking your hip is rarely a threat to your life. Breaking your spine may be the end - or put you in a wheel chair permantly. Safety devices protect the important bits ie where your spinal cord and brain go. They can't protect all of you. The rib cage is not that good as a body protector! Not only can it pierce a lung, but also the spleen - which is the best way to get severe internal bleeding. More importantly, it can't protect the spine. I am so glad you "got away with it", and I hope for you there is never a next time. These body protectors sound great, I've never seen them but will check them out.
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berylsmum
Grand Prix Poster
My Baby
Posts: 1,712
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Post by berylsmum on Dec 24, 2005 17:25:52 GMT 1
I really like my Racesafe body protector. It is much more flexible as it is made from lots of smaller pieces of foam rather than one big one. I hadn't ridden for ages in a body protector as the ones I have had before have been so uncomfortable, but this one is much better. They aren't cheap but are really worth it.
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cubic
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,286
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Post by cubic on Dec 24, 2005 17:35:08 GMT 1
And breaking your hip is rarely a threat to your life. I agree completely with what you are saying Anna, except that hip breaks can be fatal. The hip joint is closely associated with the femoral artery, which, if damaged can lead to lethal blood loss within minutes - this type of injury is not uncommon.
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Post by annahindley on Dec 24, 2005 19:24:06 GMT 1
Nothing we can do about hip breaks, but we can reduce spinal injuries was more my point really.
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Post by marywelsh on Dec 24, 2005 19:30:59 GMT 1
i have always worn a body protecter which saved my insides about 10 yrs ago when i had a bad accident. i to have a racesafe and i have worn one so long i feel odd without it,
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Post by julz on Dec 25, 2005 11:47:35 GMT 1
Yes, Annahindley, I do wear a hat........ I ain't that stoopid. even so, i have had 2 major accidents in which each case a BP would not have saved me.
Cubic, thanks for that piece of info, I didn't actually know that (femoral artery etc)
MERRY CHRISTMAS :-)
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boz
Olympic Poster
www.ballhillfarm.co.uk
Posts: 976
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Post by boz on Dec 25, 2005 19:35:55 GMT 1
I broke my back whilst wearing my body protector - had I not been wearing it I would probably be a quadraplegic now. the doctors were astounded at how it had saved me and the bruising through it wa horrific. But instead I walked away with a broken back and serious concussion - and yes I mean walked away. I walked 2 miles to my trailer and was then driven to hospital - without removing my body protector. Ribs can kill - they pierce the lungs, the heart and the the spleen, and once a spine is broken through there is little the medical profession can do for you. Why do you think they are a requirement for the pony club, eventing and racing.
A body protector is not designed to prevent you breaking anything - it is designed to minimise the impact of a fall and the consequences of that fall, A compaound fracture without a body protector will often be a simple fracture with. However it needs to be fitted correctly by someone trained to fit one as the majority of people would fit them far too big if left to their own devices.
Breaks of hips, legs and arms are rarely fatal or life changing, and to be fair no level of protection can really be applies to these areas otherwise you would not be able to move, but damage to the spine is life changing in a dramatic way and need not inhibit your riding. I never event or hunt without a body protector or stock. I want to live out my life in one piece that all works
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saz
Elementary Poster
Posts: 65
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Post by saz on Dec 26, 2005 0:02:27 GMT 1
Dear Oranges, I use a bog standard Air'o'wear foam thing and it has done me proud. I am quite short and have a childrens size. It does occasionally catch on the back of a high saddle but that usually reminds me that I should be sitting up straight. It has not only given me confidence after a bad fall but has also seen me bounce off a solid jump on my back and not breaking my back. I love it!!!! I admit that there are many injuries that won't be protected by using a body protector. I would argue (as a medical student, I will be a doctor in a couple of years so be worried!!!) that the femoral artery is quite a long way from the hip. The artery you want to worry about is the smaller one that suppies the neck of femur and can lead to necrosis of the joint if severed!! Still a body protector is a lot better than just your ribs (which in case I am very wrong do not cover your spine)
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Post by julz on Dec 26, 2005 0:24:19 GMT 1
Yes Saz, i know all about Necrosis ... i assume you are talking about Avascular Necrosis (AVN) . when people say broken hip they are generally talking about the actual hip bone (femur) i was unfortunet enough to have broken the Acetabulum, (lining of the cup (cup and ball socket) which is very rare to do, (I believe) and does not heal very quickly. Aside of all this, i have been riding for 31 yrs, BPs were not around when i was young, (to my knowledge) i've had two serious accidents involving horses, neither of which could have been made better by the useage of a BP, i am still "walking" around to tell the tale, and it is my decision not to wear one.
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Post by annahindley on Dec 27, 2005 12:15:48 GMT 1
It is your decision yes julz, but it doesn't seem particularly logical. You say you wear a hat, so you don't think you are indestructable. I've fallen many times and I have never ever landed on my head. By your logic, this means I should disregard my hat! The hat and the body protector are there for the what ifs, not for the already past. boz has probably been saved from a wheelchair or worse. Still, its your back. I do hope you never have cause to regret your decision.
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cubic
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,286
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Post by cubic on Dec 27, 2005 13:58:00 GMT 1
Saz, I'm a medical student too (4th year) and while I agree that the artery supplying the femoral head is also important, the femoral artery can easily be severed by fractures in that area, which is much more likely to be fatal than femoral head necrosis. I was just illustrating that hip and associated fractures can be fatal.
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