Back protectors must be worn

[Linda]

Can someone who was involved in the introduction of this new rule (back protectors must be worn in XC) tell me if there was a reason why this only applies to competition and not to training clinics? Was that considered and rejected or not considered.

Same with adoption of a particular standard ega BETA - considered or not?

The reason I ask is that pony club are looking at doing something similar and it would be good to know if there were good reasons for not mandating back protectors for training and not adopting a standard.

Thanks!

[vicki]

A standard was not adopted because the Australian Standards Board will not give an Australian Standard for body protectors.

The Australian & NZ standards for helmets has been shown to be the one of the best standards. In European tests the AUS & NZL helmets have extremely good results. (some of the well known European helmets rate way below ours!)

So I think the reason there is no Australian Standard for body protectors, is that it has not been possible to accurately rate body protectors.

Training clinics come under the guidance of the coaches and their risk management. In hot weather it may not be practical for a rider to have a body protector on for 2 hours or more.

But riders fen wear protectors when training. I think it is best for a Coach to have the final say, depending on individual circumstances.

[Michelle]

If there are no standards for "back protectors", how do you define a "back protector" ??? (The rule says "back" not "body", so it obviously doesn't matter about the front ?!)
If I wear a tee-shirt, I am "protecting my back" from getting sun cancer, so this surely makes it a "back protector" ?? If I wear a shirt from the 80's with enormous shoulder pads, is this a back protector? (It will probably LOOK like one under a jersey and a number)
This seems to be another of those "rules for the sake of rules". Why not just make a recommendation that riders wear a back protector rather than make a rule which is un-enforcable?

[vicki]

The well known BETA standard is for Body protectors. The AJC require jockeys to wear Body protectors.

The FEI require back protectors, but provide no standards.