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Martin Pink
Username: Martinpink
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, 14 November, 2014 - 04:37 pm: | |
Good timing from Rita,my wife (& back stepper) were discussing this the other day. After a fast Obstacle where she had to hang on for dear life.......As I reminded her, earlier in the year she suffered a sore back, after our favourite Youngster bucked her off, on went the Back protector, 9 months later its gathering dust in the back of the car, too restricting etc etc. I've never worn one (nor a hat til I started Competing) but if compulsory in the Great Outdoor trials next year, I will. Should the ICD play safe & make them mandatory , I personally think the risks indoors are not as great. Nice flat arenas,no roots or wet grass to catch us out , but then again there is temptation to go faster.
The Question is not easy to answer , but ultimatly I think it should lie with the Individual , that is until the Insurance Company decrees otherwise.......... |
Fiona Powell
Username: Fionap
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, 14 November, 2014 - 02:41 pm: | |
p.s. I know body protectors (if this is what we are discussing) should be fitted properly, however I wonder if we could get round Sam H's issue if we had some available to share (I can see the H&S people's faces blenching...)
Good points, Sam, if I may comment - and I didn't think it was a rant! |
Sam H
Username: Samh
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Friday, 14 November, 2014 - 01:44 pm: | |
I think it should be the driver and back steppers own choice if they wish to wear one!
Sometimes I think health and safety can go a bit to far!
We all know that owning and competing horses can carry risks, every time we handle our horses there is a risk that they could injure us etc but how many of us wear a hat and back protector when fetching our horses in from the field or picking out their feet? A kick from a horse in the wrong place can do just as much damage as falling off a carriage.
Then there is the cost issue of the back protectors they are not cheap! If it was to be made compulsory at an indoor event that we had to wear them then I would be spending well over £150 just to wear it approx 6 times a year.
Also what happens if you are not fortunate enough to have the same back stepper with you at each event? It is a lot of money to ask a stand in back stepper to purchase one for the odd competition!
For my above reasons this is why I believe it should be down to the driver and back stepper's own personal choice. Then the people that wish to wear them can do so and the others do not have to. Fairs fair in love and war and all that ;-)
Sorry rant over!
Sam |
Fiona Powell
Username: Fionap
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, 13 November, 2014 - 11:00 am: | |
If we take the evidence based route towards making a good decision, how many accidents where someone is injured have we ever had at indoor driving events?
What were the injuries?
What protection was worn, if any?
If it was, did it make a difference?
It it wasn't, might it have made a difference?
I think it needs to be made clear whether we are talking about a back protector or a body protector or other body armour, too. I have a jacket with protection in the back, front, shoulders and arms...
And we'd need to look at complying with current safety standards for equine activities, such as those set by the Pony Club or BHS, and then someone would have to check everyone is wearing correctly fitted compliant protection, properly fastened at every event (presumably).
And backsteppers and drivers tend to have different types of accidents... so would they be required to have different protection?
And would we have to wear them for all phases?
And do we turn away competitors without the required protection?
Please don't think I am just trying to be negative! I always wear a body protector when I drive the obstacles, as does my groom.
My view is that the consequences of making this decision need to be examined and discussed: good question, Rita! |
Sammy Moncur
Username: Samm
Registered: 11-2014
| | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 - 04:45 pm: | |
I thought I would just add I would be happy to comply if it came to it, and that also I do know that accidents can happen no matter how hard you try and prevent them. |
Sammy Moncur
Username: Samm
Registered: 11-2014
| | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 - 04:42 pm: | |
I personally don't think they should, probably for under 18's this would be a brilliant idea but having drivers and backsteppers as suggested in the comment above I think would actually be more dangerous, from experience I know that body protectors can easily restrict a drivers/backsteppers movement, which surely would make it more dangerous as it would be harder to do their job properly.
personally I think it should be personal preference to over 18s as we all drive at our own risk anyway and we should know the limits of our horse/carriage and ourselves.
obviously I understand everyone has an opinion but this is what I think.
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Liz Howe
Username: Lizh
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 - 12:05 pm: | |
Personally I'm not too keen, but if it becomes the rule then I'm happy to comply.
If the driver has to wear one then the backstepper should too.
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Rita Bundock
Username: Roanmare
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 12 November, 2014 - 11:20 am: | |
Let us start thinking about the future rules of competitive carriage driving.
Here is one Question to get the ball rolling.
Should body/back protectors be compulsory for indoor driving events?
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