[QUOTE=Dramapony_misty;4273067]
Does anyone have any good evidence/studies to back up the “steel toed boot” danger claim? 
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I used to wear them all the time, and they were great. All my toes are still attached! 
[QUOTE=Dramapony_misty;4273067]
Does anyone have any good evidence/studies to back up the “steel toed boot” danger claim? [/QUOTE]
Well I am one of the few that have had my steel toe paddocks crushed by a horse! I was 13 and scrawny, and Gavin was big and strong. He was trying to get the peanut butter cookie from my mom when he stepped forward straight onto my foot and proceeded to stand there. It bent the steel into my foot, and while it didn’t cut off any toes, we had to cut the sole off the paddock to get it off. I still have a line across where it cut into my skin 15 years later. So either the steel in those paddocks was not as strong as they say, or Gavin weighed a lot more then 2000# (I don’t think that is the case though, he wasn’t a draft or anything).
After fracturing my sternum from top to bottom in a fall a couple years ago my doctor advised that I wear a vest for every ride…however I found it a bigger pain that anything else. However, I always wore it while jumping unless at home and on super soft sand.
When going over fences, or planning to do fence work, whether cross country or otherwise (even just small grid work), I wear vest.
For every day, flat work? Usually not unless I’m having a day where I feel I should throw it on anyway.
I never used to, because I didn’t have a vest. Now that I have one though I use it. Might as well.
But I know that it isn’t a total “crutch”. It won’t protect me from everything, and as such I shouldn’t expect it to. While it can reduce some of the damage done in many situations, it doesn’t reduce the risk entirely.
Mine is rated for bull riding, and has shoulder pad-thingies. Its bulky for sure. Someone asked me once, who had never seen something like it, if it bothered me. I told them the truth- I actually really don’t notice it anymore. It was a bit tough to get used to it the first time, but I forget I have it on now. The only time it is a pain in the butt and gets in the way (and usually makes me remember to take it off!) is when I’m on the ground working around the horse- tacking up/adjusting girth and stirrups. Then its awkward and in my way because of the motions, but otherwise I don’t even know its there. I think I fidget with my helmet more than the vest!
No. Only when schooling xc or competing xc.
I’ll get mine soon enough and hopefully I’ll wear it everytime I jump.
Hitting the ground in an air vest is a lot more comfy than without! Trust me! Just really get into a habit of unclipping before dismount. One time I had already swung my leg over (I’m a kick out of both stirrups and kind of vault off dismounted) and as I looked down and noticed I was still attached, I clung to that horse like a limpet and managed crawl/wiggle/drag myself back on in a most unbecoming way - but at least my vest didn’t blow.
[IMG]http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/922/ebuDVM.png)
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I should do this more with my 6 YO. He hasn’t gotten me off yet, but he can get a little wild!
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I always wear a helmet and wear my vest when XC and wear only my air vest when schooling jumping and on the trail with my OTTB who can be exuberant at times.
Timely reminder. I only wear mine XC jumping. I probably should ride with it for a bit with the new horse even on the flat.
After I broke my back last year my husband demanded I use it for every ride. The problem is we now do only dressage and the back of my vest comes too low (add in the high back seat on my dressage saddle) to sit comfortably. As we are rehabbing again this year and that’s what caused last years escapade that ended in three broken vertebrae, I am wearing it again BUT I hate how difficult it makes it to sit. I need to figure out if there’s one that will help but doens’t go so low in the back.
I haven’t been wearing my vest for the past few years, I only wore it for XC when I did, and haven’t been XC in a while.
However, my horse spooked as I was mounting about 2 months ago and I fell off, breaking a rib. I’m in need of a new vest and when I get it I am strongly considering always wearing it.
Nope. Not even for all xc schooling. I do wear a helmet every ride and use a neck strap often.
That’s the only thing in this thread that makes me really say “WTF?”. Affirmation from random people on the internet doesn’t really make up for getting hassled in person, but still: you get to make your own decisions and set your own boundaries, and good on you for sticking to them.
As for me: I’ve worn it less recently because I buggered the zipper, but otherwise usually wear it. Despite being on the bulky side, it (CO Kontakt 5) seems to ventilate tolerably well. In summer the t-shirt underneath will be soaked just from being pressed into me, though.
I ride somewhat regularly in two places, both eventing barns. One of them seems to have a vest culture–for jumping lessons they’re at least strongly encouraged (required for XC) but more generally the kids seem to regard getting a vest as a positive thing and a sign of advancement and I feel like at least half the adults wear them even for flatwork. At the other I’m less of a regular but I’ve never even seen one, though I assume I would if I schooled XC with them.
I may not personally wear one…but I certainly wouldn’t hassle someone who chooses to wear one. If it makes you more comfortable, you are likely I to ride better in my book. So go for it.
I’m more comfortable without it so that is my primary reason…and yes, I do ride some young green horses…and LOVE my neck strap.
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Mine was a little long too. I cut the bottom off the foam, restitched the bottom of the vest shorter so the foam wouldn’t just slide to the bottom and still be too low and put the foam back in. It is fine now. Mine is a custom Rodney Powell.
Brave isn’t the word I would have chosen…
I fell off the mounting block the other day (slipped on wet wood) and would have had a concussion from that without my helmet. I wear a vest jumping solid things or on anythibg questionable. Some of the kids at the barn are required by their parents to wear vests. I don’t see any problem with it.
I ride a young OTTB, who I wear a Tipperary and Point Two every time I jump, regardless of how big or small it is. Granted, big is 3’, and small is 18", so you know. Take it with a grain of salt. I currently am battling bruised ribs from said goober getting exuberant and dumping me outside Sporting Days SJ warmup 3 weeks ago. I was wearing my Tipperary, and without it I think I probably would have broken them. I also was wearing my point two, but his airs above the ground came about a second after I was thrown up on him, so I didn’t exactly have time to get it hooked up. Oh, baby horses! He was fairly good for our two small show jump rounds this past weekend, so that’s good. I ride him in my Tipperary occasionally for just ground work, and for trail rides, since he can be exuberant. I’ve been riding in my Tipperary because of my ribs, I don’t need them getting any worse! (I know I’m a baby! :lol:)
I have a kanteq and you can just cut them down with a paring knife - what kind of vest do you have? I’d agree on the advice to just shave yours down in back to a comfortable length. You may lose a little tailbone protection but…
