Horse Riding Body Protectors
Those of us who own, train, drive, and ride horses understand the risks involved with our wonderful yet sometimes dangerous equestrian sport. Whether you are schooling a young horse, just starting out with riding lessons, or preparing to compete professionally, a body protector is essential for your safety.
Here at Discount Equestrian, your safety is our priority, and we are dedicated to sourcing only the highest quality products from equestrian brands renowned for innovation in adhering to ever-evolving safety standards. Our incredible Body Protectors range incorporates prestigious equestrian safety brands such as Airowear®, Champion®, RaceSafe®, Point Two®, and USG®.
In several equestrian disciplines – such as eventing and carriage driving – it is mandatory that competitors wear a correctly fitted body protector that adheres to all current safety regulations.
The BETA Guide to Body Protection from the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) will illustrate a lot of key information required to make the right decision as to which body protector will suit you best.
Also, the British Horse Society (BHS) regularly publish information about current safety legislation, guidance, and regulation regarding the use of body protectors in equestrian sport:
* BHS Assessments Body Protector Standards
* BHS Events Body Protector Standards
Here’s what the BHS have to say about body protectors: “The correct fitting of a horse riding body protector is essential, and we recommend going to a reputable outlet where the body protector will be fitted to the person who is to wear it – ideally by someone who has attended a BETA body protector fitting training session.
Most body protectors are designed to comply with EN13158 and a recognised BETA level standard. You will find them in stores at level one, two or three – but with level one being phased out as stocks are run out (due to its limited protective elements), level two and three protectors are currently more widely available. Riders looking for the best protection should choose level three, which will meet the requirements for any equestrian discipline.
As air jackets become more popular, some riders are choosing to wear one over a level three body protector to enhance their protection, as air jackets purport to offer further safety features. However, these jackets – which are made with airbags which inflate when a mechanism is activated as the rider is thrown from the horse, and attach to the saddle with a lanyard – are still relatively new to the market and do not currently meet any recognised safety standard on their own.”
If you require any assistance to correctly fit your new body protector, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly Discount Equestrian team to book an appointment – we’re fully qualified to offer this service. Alternatively, should you not be located within the vicinity of our Elwick store, please either contact your nearest BETA trained body protector fitting service, or, contact our team so we can help you find a qualified local professional who can assist in correctly fitting your body protector.
Don’t forget to visit other super subcategories in our fantastic Riding Wear range, such as Riding Hats & Helmets, Jockey Skull Caps, and Hi Visibility!
