Many riders make the mistake of thinking that equestrian clothing is a fashion item, something to look good in while riding their horse. First and foremost equestrian clothing must be there to protect the rider. When I ride I make sure I have my hat and body protector. Horses are wild animals at heart and no matter how much you train them there is always the chance they are going to buck, kick and bite.

With the exception of your head, where are your most vital organs in your body? That's right; your' chest. Where else is important to keep protected? Your back. It is all too easy to be thrown from a horse, especially for those of us who ride wilder horses or those that aren't as schooled as other horses. A good rider knows to wear a body protector.

A body protector is a foam vest that can be worn either above or below the riders clothing and act as great protection should you be thrown from your horse while riding or kicked when leading your horse. While injuries could still be server, by wearing a body protector you are giving yourself more of a chance a the foam absorbs some of the impact that a fall or kick.

Equestrian body protectors can be broken up into four main sections; they are the front, the back, a left Velcro fastening, a right Velcro fastening and the shoulder sections.

A body protector should be a fairly tight fit and shouldn't move when hacking out. It might be uncomfortable at first but then again so is a seatbelt however you soon get use to it and it can save your life. The foam also has the added benefit of moulding itself to the shape of your body.

All body protectors should come with a safety guide and you must never buy a second hand body protector.

Body protectors can be divided into three key safety ratings:

Black Label
Black label body protectors offer the lowest form of protection and are only suitable for jockeys.

Brown Label
Brown label protectors offer a middle of the road protection. They are suitable for general hacking out on low risk horses covering soft ground. They shouldn't be warn for jumping, by young riders or riders on young horses.

Purple Label
Purple label protectors are the best that money can buy. While they say they are meant for those handling horses, jumping and competition I personally wear mine all the time. It's a snug fit and now that I am use to it I don't mind wearing it.

Whatever colour protection you decide on, there are a wide range of sizes available and more and more manufacturers are offering a tailor service so that you get maximum comfort.

As I am sure you have guessed by now, equestrian body protectors are a vital piece of kit and just like a hat they should be changed every couple of years or any time they are used.

Horse riding is always going to be a dangerous sport to take part in but with an equestrian body protector you are minimising your risk.

Happy Riding.