| There is no beating around the bush -
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| | Fitting is of paramount importance and a
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| horse riding is a risk sport. Apart from
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| | visit to a properly trained retailer is
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| the obvious dangers of falling off when
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| | recommended, for example anyone
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| mounted, these large animals have always
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| | displaying the BETA Safety course
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| got to be treated with respect when
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| | attendance certificate.
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| handling them on the ground and in the
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| | Ensure that you are wearing the correct
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| stable.
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| | size of body protector and that it is
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| Riding need not be any more dangerous
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| | adjusted to give a close fit to the body,
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| than any other risk sport, as long as
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| | and that no RED VELCRO is exposed at the
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| certain precautions such as those listed
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| | shoulder or waist closures. If RED VELCRO
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| on this page are followed. Horse Rider
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| | is visible the protector is too small or
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| Safety should always be borne in mind
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| | is incorrectly fastened.
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| when riding or near horses.
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| | The body protector should be tried on
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| Safety for Visitors on the Yard
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| | over light clothing. Check that is
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| Horses are large prey animals and have
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| | comfortable to wear in all simulated
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| been designed through evolution to
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| | riding positions. The garment should fit
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| protect themselves from things they do
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| | securely and reasonably tightly to avoid
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| not understand! Anyone standing behind
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| | movement during activity and to ensure
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| them is in danger of being kicked. Horses
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| | that it is in place in the event of an
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| characters can vary greatly - some can
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| | accident.
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| bite (either if they are in a bad mood,
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| | Footwear
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| or if they genuinely believe the hand
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| | It is essential that you ride in
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| reaching out to stroke their nose is
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| | appropriate footwear. Serious injuries
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| actually a carrot!) Visitors to a Riding
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| | can be caused if you fall off and your
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| Stables or Livery Yard, especially with
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| | foot gets stuck in the stirrup. Proper
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| young children, are asked to remember
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| | riding boots are recommended - these have
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| this, and keep their children under
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| | a heel to stop your feet sliding through
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| control at all times! Riding stables are
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| | the stirrups. Boots can be short (jophur
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| not playgrounds, and children running
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| | boots) or full length. The most
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| round corners unexpectedly can cause a
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| | comfortable footwear is often short boots
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| horse to rear.
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| | and half chaps - chaps keep the stirrup
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| Riding Hats
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| | leathers from chaffing and bruising your
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| Riding hats or helmets MUST be worn at
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| | legs. However, what you choose to wear is
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| all times when riding, and are paramount
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| | personal choice and how much you can
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| to horse rider safety. They are also
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| | afford (long leather riding boots can set
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| advised to be worn at other times when
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| | you back around £100 up).
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| handling horses. Riding hats come in
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| | It is not appropriate to ride in trainers
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| various designs - some designs suit one
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| | as they have no heel and can be
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| shape of head better than another, and of
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| | dangerous.
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| course some designs are more appropriate
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| | Safe Tack
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| to your favoured riding discipline.
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| | You are now equipped with riding hat and
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| The most important thing about a riding
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| | body protector, and proper footwear. Now
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| hat is that it much be fitted correctly
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| | it is time to turn to your horse!
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| ideally by someone who had attending a
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| | The object of riding and of horse rider
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| hat fitting course. It must also conform
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| | safety is to stay on top of your horse -
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| to standards PAS 015 or EN 1384. Hats
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| | your riding apparel may help protect you
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| cannot prevent serious injury in all
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| | if you fall off, but really you want to
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| circumstances, but help in the majority
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| | avoid doing this at all costs! You do not
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| of cases. Your skull is fragile - it is
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| | want to part company with your horse due
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| not worth taking a risk with.
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| | to faulty tack!
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| If the hat suffers a severe impact,
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| | Tack needs to be checked regularly so you
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| either as a result of a fall or a drop
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| | can spot a problem before it occurs.
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| onto a hard surface it MUST be replaced.
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| | Leather tack needs to be kept clean and
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| Riding hat prices start from around the
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| | well conditioned so that it remains
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| mid £30s, and you can spend up to over
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| | supple - stitching needs to be checked to
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| £100.
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| | ensure there are no points of weaknesss.
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| Hats do not last forever as the
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| | Buying quality tack in the first place is
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| protective padding gradually compresses
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| | essential. You may find bridles costing
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| with use, and the hat becomes looser on
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| | little more than £20, and wonder why you
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| your head. You should purchase a
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| | should pay over £100 for the similar
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| replacement hat as soon as this happens.
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| | item. However, the more expensive bridle
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| Riding Hats and the Law
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| | is undoubtably going to be made of better
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| It is a legal requirement that children
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| | leather, and with good care will last you
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| under the age of 14 MUST wear a riding
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| | longer and be more reliable. The last
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| hat which conforms to the appropriate
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| | thing you would want is for your reins to
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| standard when riding a horse on the road.
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| | break when your horse is in mid gallop!
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| Body Protectors
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| | Tack can be repaired, but don't skimp
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| Horse rider safety can be helped by a
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| | here. If it is in bad condition, replace
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| body protector which can give protection
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| | it! If your girth breaks you will fall
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| to the chest and back area if you fall
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| | off your horse and may suffer serious
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| from your horse. These are particularly
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| | injury - is it really worth risking it?
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| useful if you fall onto a hard surface
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| | Buy the right tack for your riding
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| (such as a jump), or if your horse stands
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| | discipline. Also make sure the tack fits
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| on you after a fall. Body protectors can
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| | your horse properly for the comfort of
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| help prevent serious injury.
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| | both of you.
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| There are three standards of protection,
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| | Finally it is good if you can develop a
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| and each has a different coloured label
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| | relationship with your tack supplier -
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| in the shops to identify the level of
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| | for example, having the person who
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| protection offered.
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| | provides your saddle come out and check
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| Level 1 Black label
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| | the fit regularly. They will be able to
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| Protectors providing a lower level of
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| | advise you on things that you may have
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| protection that is only
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| | missed.
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| consideredappropriate for licences
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| | Visibility on the Road
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| jockeys.
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| | Wearing hi viz protective clothing when
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| Level 2 Brown label
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| | riding on the road can make you more
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| Protectors providing a lower than normal
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| | visible to a car driver approximately 3
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| level of protection that is
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| | seconds earlier than would otherwise be
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| onlyconsidered appropriate for use in low
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| | the case. These seconds could be vital in
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| risk situations. These DO NOT include
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| | saving the lives of you and your horse.
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| riding on roads or other hard surfaces,
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| | It is not always in poor or dark
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| riding over jumps, riding young or
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| | conditions that hi viz equipment is
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| excitable horses, or riding while still
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| | necessary - on a bright summers day the
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| inexperienced.
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| | driver's vision may be hampered by bright
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| Level 3 Purple label
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| | sunlight!
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| Protectors providing a level of
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| | Slogans on tabards, such as 'Pass wide
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| protection that is considered appropriate
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| | and slow' also help remind drivers of the
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| for normal horse riding, competitions and
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| | need to take care when passing horses.
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| for working with horses. Protectors to
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| | Unfortunately too many drivers nowadays
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| this level should:
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| | seem unaware that horses cannot be
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| Prevent minor bruising that would have
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| | depended upon in the same way as
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| produced stiffness and pain.
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| | bicycles, and often come far too close
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| Reduce significant soft tissue injuries
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| | and too fast.
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| to the level of bruising.
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| | Equestrian Road safety also includes
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| Prevent a limited number of rib
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| | thanking drivers who show consideration
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| fractures.
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| | for horses and their riders - this
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| When first using a body protector it will
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| | encourages them to be as thoughtful in
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| feel very strange and restrictive. Most
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| | future. Sometimes riders do not help
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| protectors mould to your body's shape,
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| | themselves if they ignore couteous
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| and do so more easily in warm weather
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| | behaviour! A simple 'thank you' can go a
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| than in cold. Although the body protector
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| | long way - so remember every time!
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| feels uncomfortable at first you really
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| | At any time in your horse riding career
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| must persevere with wearing it. After a
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| | you may part company with your mount when
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| few times of wearing it when riding you
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| | you least expect it (or less politely get
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| will find you feel naked without it, and
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| | dumped!). Being prepared can help you get
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| it will become second nature to put it on
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| | back into the saddle as quickly as
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| and use it every time you ride.
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| | possible, with little or no serious
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| Body protectors cost from £60 up - a
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| | damage!
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| good investment for something that may
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| | Horses weight half a ton or more - they
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| save your life!
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| | must be respected!
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| Body Protector Fit
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