Do you wear a protective vest on the trail?

[sublimequine]

After some suggestions I wear a vest while taking my mare out on new trails, I began to think about it. It's really a good extra bit of protection, to be sure. And I wear my helmet all the time, so why not a vest? Safer is always better, right? :lol:

So I just want to know who wears a protective vest while trail riding! Maybe not for every ride, or maybe you do wear it every ride! If you only wear it sometimes, when do you wear it?

Do you have any issues with the vest as a trail rider? Is it easy to move in, crouch down to avoid branches, twist your body to open gates, etc, etc? Is it comfortable for long periods of time, ie a couple of hours or more?

I want to know all about vests and trail riding! :)

[katarine]

no

I wear good footwear and sometimes, a helmet.

[analise]

I don't own a protective vest but I'd consider getting/using one, especially if I was on a spooky horse or one I didn't know.

I do wear my helmet for every ride and usually boots and half chaps (Half chaps have kept my calves from getting stickered by brush we've passed in the past) and boots because...I just don't ride without 'em.

[sublimequine]

I don't own a protective vest but I'd consider getting/using one, especially if I was on a spooky horse or one I didn't know.

I do wear my helmet for every ride and usually boots and half chaps (Half chaps have kept my calves from getting stickered by brush we've passed in the past) and boots because...I just don't ride without 'em.

Yeah, my current "wardrobe" is basically the same as yours. Helmet, boots, half-chaps. Occasionally I forget my half-chaps, blegh I hate the rubbing without them! :uhoh:

[JollyBadger]

No safety vest for me. I wear polarfleece vests for added warmth around this time of year, but no safety vest.

Usually a helmet, but lately I've been opting for just a ball cap or my outback hat. And, of course, I always wear good boots - either my Blundstones or Ariat paddock boots.

[jazzrider]

I've never worn one, but if I was riding a spooky/difficult horse like my old (now retired) OTTB, I would definately consider it. I don't bounce as easily as I used to these days...:winkgrin:

[sublimequine]

I've never worn one, but if I was riding a spooky/difficult horse like my old (now retired) OTTB, I would definately consider it. I don't bounce as easily as I used to these days...:winkgrin:

You know, I'm still pretty young (college student), but dang I don't bounce as well as I did as a kiddo either! Falling actually hurts now! :lol::lol::lol:

[Bank of Dad]

I got one a few years ago when I was on the Greenies. Several times I came off and was glad I had it. Its really warm, and I didn't need much under it. Me, I would be way too hot in the summer with it. I have seen others out on the trail, usually on youngsters, who had one on.

Of course, steady eddie almost got me off the other day with a silly startle, and maybe I squeezed then too. He started cantering, I lost both stirrups, looked down at the rocky ground and thought about not having the vest on ( a sort of O sh*t moment). I stayed on and he stopped shortly.

The vest, however, is still hanging in the tack room :(

[sublimequine]

I got one a few years ago when I was on the Greenies. Several times I came off and was glad I had it. Its really warm, and I didn't need much under it. Me, I would be way too hot in the summer with it. I have seen others out on the trail, usually on youngsters, who had one on.

Of course, steady eddie almost got me off the other day with a silly startle, and maybe I squeezed then too. He started cantering, I lost both stirrups, looked down at the rocky ground and thought about not having the vest on ( a sort of O sh*t moment). I stayed on and he stopped shortly.

The vest, however, is still hanging in the tack room :(

Luckily the vest being hot would not be an issue for me, I don't do much hardcore riding in the summer. I can't stand the heat nor the bugs, and my mare feels the same way. :lol:

[tle]

Don't normally, but have on occasion with a spookier horse or when I thought it was needed with a greenie (ie: a mare who had only been out on trails a couple times but I knew I was going to ask her to hop over some fallen logs). Good boots and a helmet -- always. Safety vest... if I feel it's needed.

[BEARCAT]

I event so own one anyways, and have worn it at a few Competitive Trail Rides/Endurance rides on my easily excitable ArabX. I wore it the other day on my Thoroughbred trail riding as I was going with a friend who also owns an OTTB and we did a bit of racing in the wide open meadows ;)

It kinda depends on mood and weather (although I always wear a helmet.) I mostly trail ride by myself, and if I think about it I'll put it on - why not...

I have a Tipperary and it's really comfortable, although it can get a bit warm in the summer.

[sublimequine]

Thanks for the input folks, I appreciate it. Keep it comin! :)

[jazzrider]

I should post a picture of me, after a fall out on trail on what turned out to be my last ride on my OTTB before retiring him. Fractured cheekbone, fractured elbow, deep muscle bruise in the thigh from being kicked (that took six months to heal!), and a bruise that ran from my hip to the shoulder (from dragging over the horn of the western saddle I was riding in). I was completely black and blue. Really ugly. A vest wouldn't have helped too much that day, other than maybe being a little less sore and sparing me the damage from the horn. But the helmet saved my life.

[Nezzy]

they don't look like they would help much.

[rmh_rider]

No never. Never will consider it either.


What are the most common injuries to the human body when a horse is involved? Arms, legs, head, hips.

You could have a helmet on, vest, and fall off and get whip lash or still break your neck or drown.

Sorry to play devils advocate. A vest may give you a false sense of security.

Now if you were wrapped like a Michelin man . . . maybe. That may be hot to wear. It would be like the little boy in movie A Christmas Story when his momma wrapped him up with so many clothes.

Helmet YES. Vest, nope. Good foot wear as mentioned above, yeah. Half chaps so I don't get ripped by the black berry vines, yeah.

[sublimequine]

No never. Never will consider it either.


What are the most common injuries to the human body when a horse is involved? Arms, legs, head, hips.

You could have a helmet on, vest, and fall off and get whip lash or still break your neck or drown.

Sorry to play devils advocate. A vest may give you a false sense of security.

Now if you were wrapped like a Michelin man . . . maybe. That may be hot to wear. It would be like the little boy in movie A Christmas Story when his momma wrapped him up with so many clothes.

Helmet YES. Vest, nope. Good foot wear as mentioned above, yeah. Half chaps so I don't get ripped by the black berry vines, yeah.

Sorry but I don't buy the "false sense of security" thing. Eventers all wear vests and they still can get badly hurt, it's no secret. Wearing a vest doesn't make you invincible, but if it protects one more part of your body, then why not? :)

[rmh_rider]

I saw this on fugly horse just now. See link below.

Wonder if this guy had a vest on? Doubt it.

So do you event? My close friend does. She does wear a vest. But never ever outside the cross country field. Not even when she trains, nor in local type shows. They may be required on the cc courses in a multi-star events though. I do crew for her, or handle/groom and she doesn't always wear a vest. And she has ridden some wild ones.

I ride endurance, and trails. I stopped showing hunters, and eng pleasure long ago. Still never wore a vest. Don't these days either.

Not sure how protective those vests really are. I worry MORE about arms and legs, and my head getting hurt. Not my ribs. Which is what a vest would protect. I had my filly spook so hard to the left it made my ribs on the left side hurt. I didn't come off. I won't come off, the ground is hard and it can hurt alot of things when you hit it. Also not gonna go chase a horse down either. So I make a point to stay on. I cut my teeth on riding arabs. My rocky is a piece of cake! She has her moments since she is young.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opMiCyoRzYM

Now this guy probably wished he had on a cup of iron on his um front. But that would have hurt the horse I am sure. What a good horse that was.

[Merle]

I event and wear my vest about 85% of the time riding. Period. Flat work, jumping, trail riding, you name it. I ride youngsters and that thing has saved my butt so many times that it's not even funny. I used to ride my oldster without one when I did dressage work. I have no problem wearing my vest on the trail and many times it has saved a big branch from poking me in the side. And for those hard falls, I may get bruises but no broken bones, thank goodness. I just think it's part of my safety gear and I have no problem wearing it. It is hot in the summer when it's 80+ degrees but still, I'd rather have it on. A few years ago I went to the ER and they thought I had a broken pelvis (thankfully I did not) but my ribs, spine, etc were intact and perfectly fine other than severe bruising. And those times you fall on rocks do not hurt as much!

For the person who said they don't look like they would do much -- well, they definitely do! My husband can punch me in one and I barely feel it. They are super! No puncture wounds (think collapsed lung) for me!

[atr]

Ocassionally, on a greenie or something with idiot potential. We have lots of sharp rocks around here. They damn well hurt if you fall off on them, so, whilst I'll do my very best not to come off, I"ll also try to do my best to protect what is reasonably easy.

[lizathenag]

I always wear my old tipperary vest. It is plenty flexible and even being saved from some bruising is good enough for me.

And it keeps my wife happy.

[sublimequine]

I always wear my old tipperary vest. It is plenty flexible and even being saved from some bruising is good enough for me.

And it keeps my wife happy.

That's definitely important, my fiance thinks I definitely should get one. :winkgrin:

[saratoga]

I still have my vest from about 10 years ago when I evented. I only ever used it for cross country jumping. I personally think its a bit of overkill to wear it for everyday riding and it does seem like your head or limbs are the things that mainly get injured. But if someone wants to wear one though, great.

[SabalPalm]

I wear a Tipperary Eventer 100% of the time--even during the nasty FL summer. I broke ribs several years ago and that was enough for me. Some protection is better than none. I don't bounce like I did 20 years ago. I don't believe I gain any false sense of security from using it. I've always been a cautious rider and currently ride fairly sane non-spooking horses but things do happen even if it's something as dumb as scrambling so hard to get on your horse as he's walking away that you end up heaving yourself up and over his right shoulder, flipping and splatting flat on your back . . . . (must teach horse to stand still!). I know the vest absorbed some of the impact from that stunt.

I'm an endurance rider. I am seeing more distance riders wearing vests. I've also run across the occasional recreational trail rider wearing one. I don't care what others think. They won't be the ones worrying about my mortgage if I get hurt and can't work.

[lolalola]

I always wear a vest. It has protected me from more serious injuries on several occasions.

[JER]

I always wear one.

The safety factor is one reason (a big reason) but I also like the vest for (1) warmth (I ride early/late), (2) brush/branches and (3) barbed wire near gates. If the gate is difficult to open/close, you can lean in to it with a safety vest.

[Ajierene]

The vest that I have comes down fairly far to cover the tailbone, so it is a bit uncomfortable walking or trotting or generally sitting back. I only wear it cross country jumping.

I am thinking about getting my step-mom a vest for Christmas, though. She had a silly fall off her horse, from a walk. She is getting older and has some issues related to osteoporosis, so that silly fall onto a bit of rocks caused her to break two ribs and her collarbone.

I am thinking a vest that jockeys wear - it does not come down as far so being in her western saddle, she will still be comfortable. I heard they are also cooler in the summer, which would be good also.

[jeano]

I will say that I voted that I'd consider wearing one, and that I sure wish I'd HAD a vest when I took a couple of dreadful falls a couple years ago--got my ribcage completely black and blue and definitely cracked a couple ribs, and the other fall landed hard on my sciatic. I think a vest couldve absorbed some impact and spared me a lot of pain and difficulty moving.

But oh, dear GOD it would be awful darn hot here in GA in the summer. And I do ride, sometimes for hours at a time, even in the hottest part of the year. Just not at the very hottest hours of the day, if I can help it. I know Mr Jeano would like to see me in more protective gear than just a helmet.

[rivenoak]

Sometimes I do. If I know I'm going to gallop or if the mare is really fresh.

[Gatorsgirl]

I'd definitely consider it. I don't know anyone that wears one but I don't know many eventers etc. to ask. I"ve seriously thought about it as I usually ride alone. A bruised rib vs a punctured lung would make a big difference in me getting home safely. I think I'm going to look into one.

[jlrcoats]

I think i would consider it if on a greenie, I do however always wear a helmet, for the first time hit my head a few weeks ago when my horse stopped and i kept going. Was amazed at how cushy the helmet felt, (i hit pretty hard) got up unhurt, that helmet is worth it!!!;)