I always wear my helmet, but I only wear the vest when required to do so. I really dislike all of the newer ones and find my Tipp only just tolerable. I need to force myself to get used to my Woof Ergo so it gets more use than hanging in a closet.
This is meant solely as a question for clarification. I see that many say they wear steel toed shoes while around horses. When I began my horse âcareerâ I was directed in no uncertain terms NEVER to wear steel toes around horses. My then trainer claimed that a horse could crush the steel toe cap, pinning the toes. I took his advice. I have developed a pretty good âtoe curlâ response in my paddock boots. Comments?
We had to wear them at the track and if you do that you get used to them in no time. I even got to like mine in winter especially- nice and warm and it keeps the girls still. It certainly never affected my position either way, if it affects yours negatively you should a) get different one and b) consider the fact that there isnât much point schooling in something different than you compete in, especially if it does change your position. Iâm just sayingâŠ
Anyhow, I have recommended to certain students to wear them at all times and I am surprised more people have such hang ups about them. Maybe some manufacturer should put some kind of a fashionable shell on them so people wonât feel like they stand out.
always a helmet, sometimes the vest; however, horse has been stall-rested for 20 weeks and can come a little unglued, even in a quiet arena. It makes me more relaxed and confident, even when I probably donât need it. But in hot weather, itâs a hard sell. Particularly when we start trotting again, Iâll have it on, though, because I donât bounce either. My last fall left me sore for a month.
Helmet always. Vest just about everytime I jump. The only time I donât wear it is in stadium at shows. How vain is that? And trust me I donât have tons to me vain about!
I have fallen too many times to mention and the vest just gives me that extra layer. Sadly, It did not prevent a broken leg in one unfortunate incident so maybe I need to invest in an old English suit of armor.
[QUOTE=cute_lil_fancy_pants_pony;4209454]
Never wear a helmet unless jumping and never wear a vest unless Iâm forced too.[/QUOTE]
Wow, youâre brave. The last 3 falls Iâve had have been when flatting and my horse spooked and did a huge buck throwing me off. Twice when I fell I landed on my butt and the back of my head hit the ground. I canât imagine if I hadnât been wearing a helmet.
[QUOTE=tcgelec;4211703]
This is meant solely as a question for clarification. I see that many say they wear steel toed shoes while around horses. When I began my horse âcareerâ I was directed in no uncertain terms NEVER to wear steel toes around horses. My then trainer claimed that a horse could crush the steel toe cap, pinning the toes. I took his advice. I have developed a pretty good âtoe curlâ response in my paddock boots. Comments?[/QUOTE]
I would never wear steel toes around horses. My military job requires them and we still had someone loose a toe. He lost his pinky toe when a metal pallet rode over his toe and crushed the steel in the boots. This is a weird, way out of the ordinary incident that did involve a brand new kid not paying enough attention as well. That being said, while there are many good reasons to wear steel toes in that setting, the problem with wearing them around horses is that you are likely to get stepped on and a horse stepping on you is just as likely to bend the end of the steel as not.
Maybe if I was around a rank draft horse, but I have not ever had a horse do any real damage by stepping on my feet.
As far as my vest goesâŠwell, it has a section in the back that goes to the end of my tailbone, so sitting back in it is difficult. It is great for cross country and being in a half seat most of the time, but not flat work. I only wear mine when cross country jumping is involved.
I finally taught myself to wear a helmet every ride. It was difficult for a while, I grew up without one.
I normally only wear the vest for cross country, I have the same issue as mentioned above, it doesnât let me sit deep in the seat, but I have a mare that I am rehabbing, so far only riding in a round pen and when we leave the small pen I think I will use the vest. I would feel like an idiot if I got tossed by a horse that I know might explode and broke a rib or something with my nice shiny vest hanging in the closet.
But normally, no.
Interesting thread. I was thinking a lot about this when I started riding after having my baby. Everyone in my family is worried about a fall and me getting injured, so am I! I have back issues and I realize a vest doesnât totally protect you, but itâs gotta help! I have a bulky CO for xc, but am seriously considering getting a lighter Tipperary for everyday use (will still use my approved CO for xc). Might be overkill, but I have more than just myself to think about now!
Iâm also thinking about replacing my cheapie (but cool in summer!) plastic helmet with a more substantial one.
I know the tipperary isnât as protective as some others, but it doesnât screw up my position as bad as the Charles Owen did, and it has definitely softened a couple of falls for me. For me, if it saves me a cracked rib, itâs worth it. I donât wear it all the time, but when thereâs a reason to be above-average concerned about falling. I know, thereâs so many falls that happen at unlikely times, but improving the odds sometimes is better than never.
Boy o boy, you guys. Now that Iâve read this thread, I might have to wear the vest. I think Emstah was wishing for hers last week when a gleeful BUCK pitched her and then the cantering feet went into the middle of her back! Better to have hoof prints on a vest than on flesh. We ALWAYS wear helmets, vests depend on the weather, the horse in question, the activity planned and looks in the eyes when weâre tacking upâŠmaybe we should become more regular with those comfy Rodney Powells! As for footwear, Crocs are the answer for me. The squishyness protects the toes and I can slip out of them if there is a heavy weight on top.
Steeltoes, ore work savety foot wear are rated at 2000 pounds and more load capacity. That takes a lot of horse to crush those.
Just about a month ago I decided to wear the vest along with the helmet every time I ride, whether Iâm jumping or not. I paid enough for the darn thing - it may as well be put to use. And now it barely registers that Iâm wearing it.
I hate them, and I only wear one if itâs completely required
I made a promise to myself that for the first year that my horse was under saddle I would wear it every ride, flat included. Her first year ended a few weeks ago and I stopped wearing it for flat rides were she appears to be quite. I will continue to wear it for jumping and all hacks. And probably for each phase in her first few horse trials.
I got a bit of flack for it from some of the people in my barn but I want to be able to make it to work the next day if I hit the dirt. I find the vest really helps to minimize body soreness after a fall.
It did help for at least one unexpected dismount that occurred during a flat school during that first year.
[QUOTE=Lori B;4213385]
I know the tipperary isnât as protective as some others, but it doesnât screw up my position as bad as the Charles Owen did, and it has definitely softened a couple of falls for me. For me, if it saves me a cracked rib, itâs worth it. I donât wear it all the time, but when thereâs a reason to be above-average concerned about falling. I know, thereâs so many falls that happen at unlikely times, but improving the odds sometimes is better than never.[/QUOTE]
I have said this before and maybe it is just my justification for my Rodney Powell living in my tack locker in my garage and my Tipp getting worn butâŠthere is no conclusive evidence/proof (that I can find) that a Tipp is any less protective. It wonât certify due to the segments because of the risk of a puncture wound. Which, according to the people at Tipp, is a very rare thing.
I am getting better at wearing my vest all the time since I switched back to the Tipp. I couldnât imagine hacking on a hot day in the RP. I am nowhere near every ride but getting better.
Wow⊠I see a mixed bag of answers. Iâm curious about where all the people who regularly wear their vests are from.
I am in Florida and was working for a large stable that did a HUGE number of lessons. We had a family move to the area from the UK and take up lessons. Their kids showed up with vests and wore them every ride for the first few months⊠They gave up on that idea around June though. I saw a LOT of people wearing them regularly for riding when I was living in England but have never seen anything like that here in FL. I donât think itâs a cultural thing (UK vs US) so much as a temperature thingâŠ
Of course people used to give the same excuses about helmets but over the years theyâve gotten lighter and cooler and more people wear them w/out question or complaint. I wonder if someone will invent a vest for us hot-weather riders⊠But even the USPC, which is known for being SUPER safe, has not moved towards requiring vests for every ride. I think it would not fly here in the deep south!
I wear mine 80% of the time Iâm on a horse.
At shows I am usually OK to wear it just running across country. But at home Iâm on babies. I wear my vest even when riding western trail ponies.
[QUOTE=Gnep;4214343]
Steeltoes, ore work savety foot wear are rated at 2000 pounds and more load capacity. That takes a lot of horse to crush those.[/QUOTE]
Agreed. I was told the same thing about the metal bending and cutting toes off at my college barn, but it never sat right with me. My father who is an engineer and Uncle who has spent his entire life in the construction business have both scoffed at this ridiculous notion. And a family friend deals with breeding stock bulls everydayâŠalways has steel toed boots.
SureâŠfreak accidents can happen but if a horse steps on your foot hard enough to bend the steel and cut off a toe or twoâŠface it. The bones in your foot would be toast anyway.
Does anyone have any good evidence/studies to back up the âsteel toed bootâ danger claim? 
I always were a helmet, but I donât even have a vest. I will definitely get one before I go XC on my crazy beast though. :lol: I know people who wear one for every ride though. Itâs actually not a bad idea, but I just donât want to. I guess I havenât had a bad enough fall yet. haha.
