| Author | Message | ||
     Daniel Snow Member Username: Snowd Post Number: 29 Registered: 07-2011 |
Back/Body Protectors The FEI rules call for “back” protectors. The back protectors used are modified from riding. The riding back protectors have a flap to protect the lower back if the rider falls off. It doesn’t fit into a carriage seat so the solution adopted has been to cut it off. The lower back is no longer protected. I can understand how these could be called body protectors but as back protectors they are no longer fit for purpose. Whether they were fit for purpose in the first place seems debatable since their purpose has never been established. Does anybody think that the risks in driving a marathon are remotely similar to the risks of riding a cross-country course? I understand the way they “test” these jackets is to hit them 50-100 times with a sledge-hammer. For that you will get a certificate of conformity to the tests. What you will not get is a manufacturer’ s guarantee that your back will be protected. There’s a reason for that ... The FEI rules require that 12-14 year-olds wear “body” protectors for their dressage test. What on earth do they think is likely to happen? Presumably the spectators hate dressage so much that they will attack the juniors with sledge-hammers. Ah, now I see. |