Best children’s body protectors for horse riding

Child wearing Harry Hall body protector with pony — (Image credit: credit unknown)

Keeping your child safe in the saddle is every parent’s top priority, which is why choosing one of the best children’s body protectors for horse riding is so important. Whether they’re learning to ride or competing regularly, a properly fitted body protector offers vital impact protection in the event of a fall. It’s also really important that they are comfortable and easy to adjust so that you don’t end up having a battle every time they need to put it on.

Body protectors are also increasingly commonplace in riding schools and at Pony Club, where they are recommended for all riding. Wherever you choose to buy, we strongly recommend that you have your body protector for horse riding fitted by a professional at a BETA-trained retailer as body protectors can’t be appropriately fitted by simply selecting your age or clothing size.

Evoke Hex6 Children’s Body Protector

This flexible body protector would make a great first body protector as its hexagonal foam blocks offer six-way flexibility, meaning your child can move around easily. It has advanced impact absorption, plus a breathable mesh lining for comfort. It offers a secure and comfortable fit with a wide range of sizes and a side-adjustment system to help you get a customisable fit.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Tiny tots or young rider in a range of sizes and lengths

RRP:: £139 (tiny tots), or £159.99 (young rider)

Reasons to buy:: Flexible style for freedom of movement

Reasons to avoid:: No adjustment on the shoulders

Racesafe HX3 Children’s Body Protector

The HX3 from Racesafe is their latest development for those looking for the highest level of protection at an affordable price point. The HX3 has a hexagonal foam structure that flexes, adjustable straps, is accessible, and has reduced thickness for improved movement, making it their thinnest level 3 body protector.

If you’re looking for top-tier safety and comfort without having to go for the top price point, this would be a solid choice. Plus, it has the added bonus of the custom covers to blend seamlessly with your child’s favourite cross-country colours.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Navy or black – custom covers are available separately

Sizes:: Young rider in a range of sizes and lengths

RRP:: From £160

Charles Owen Kontor Children’s Body Protector

It’s described as super-flexible and is designed with blocks and panels that are filled with impact-absorbing foams. It has a sleek look, with an easy zip fastening and adjustments at the chest, waist and shoulders for the perfect fit.

The side fastening is a bungee so you can avoid some of the pulling about you get when adjusting a Velcro fastened body protector.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Child M–XL, in a range of back lengths

RRP:: From £160

Champion Titanium Ti22 Children’s Body Protector

This flexible segmented body protector from Champion is made of a military grade outer mesh and ultra-lightweight foam. It has a cool-feel antibacterial inner lining that will help keep your child and the body protector itself feeling fresh.

It has 100 flexible sections with clever hidden hinging technology so that it flexes and moves with you, which makes it comfortable and easy to move in.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black or gunmetal grey

Sizes:: Infant, child or youth, in a range of sizes and lengths

RRP:: From £137.99 (infant), £188.99 (child)

Harry Hall Legend Children’s Body Protector

This body protector is lightweight, fully adjustable and approved to BETA Level 3 (2018). It has a highly breathable and lightweight air mesh outer and durable rip stop fabric for durability. The reflective piping detailing offers added visibility. Fully adjustable with easy fit dual side straps for a customisable secure fit.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Child XS–L

RRP:: £114.95

Racesafe Motion3 Children’s Body Protector

The Motion3 is a great option if you’re looking for top-tier technical features and a smart look. It has more than 120 hinged segments, which ensures your child will feel comfortable and like they can move, as well as safe. The sizing has been redesigned for a perfect fit and you can even mix and match lengths at the front and back.

A real selling point of the Racesafe options are the custom covers that you can personalise with a wide range of colours and patterns – a great option if you’ve got an aspiring eventer.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Navy – custom covers are available separately

Sizes:: Young rider XS–XL, in a range of lengths

RRP:: From £190

Fomo Flip Children’s Body Protector

The Fomo Flip body protector delivers the same DION foam safety technology as the adult range in a lightweight, flexible design perfectly proportioned for growing riders. It actively moulds to your child’s unique body shape, delivering a custom-fit feel with maximum freedom of movement. It has washable and replaceable outer covers for easy washing and colour choice.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black, pink or blue – replaceable covers are available separately

Sizes:: Young rider XS–XL

RRP:: From £160

Rhinegold Pro Comfort Children’s Body Protector

This body protector is a great budget option that still meets the standard required. It is the cheapest in this guide, yet still features smaller segments of padding than some competitors, which gives a more comfortable feel with greater flexibility and movement.

It’s lightweight and has double touch tape fastening with coloured safety markers that help you adjust the fit. It also has a front easy clip-in belt with elasticated straps for comfort.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Child S–XL

RRP:: £69.50

Mackey Equi-Sential Flexi Children’s Body Protector

This block structure body protector is a great option for riding lessons and is designed to maximise movability and adapt smoothly to your child’s shape. The width and length can be easily adjusted by touch-tape fastener, and the outer cover is made of dirt-repellent polyester that can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Child XS–XL

RRP:: From £99.95

Whitaker Pro Children’s Body Protector

This body protector features articulated and anatomically shaped panels that conform to the body thanks to your body heat. It has shoulder and waist straps that offer easy width and length adjustability, and it fastens at the front with a zip, which makes it easy for your child to put on themselves.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Child XS–L

RRP:: £120

Champion Liber8 Children’s Body Protector

The Liber8 body protector offers a tailored fit for the female rider’s body type and chest size – but this is adapted for children. The streamlined design gives a sleek, professional appearance. It features silicone tabs and adjustable straps at the waist and shoulders, ensuring a secure, personalised fit.

With low-cut armholes and a high-cut design at the hips, the Liber8 offers great freedom of movement. Its layered foam construction provides enhanced impact absorption without restricting mobility.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black

Sizes:: Infant, child or youth, in a range of sizes and lengths

RRP:: From £169

Harry Hall Zeus Children’s Body Protector

This body protector is made up of separate lightweight shock-absorbing foam panels that mould around the body to give a close fit. It has a mesh outer with bright contrast binding and reflective piping, and is finished with red fitting indicators to ensure correct fit and protection on every ride. It doesn’t have a zip, which means it can be harder for a child to put on.

Specifications

Standard:: BETA level 3 (2018)

Colours:: Black or pink

Sizes:: Child S–XL

RRP:: £98.95

A body protector should provide your child with an extra layer of protection and will absorb the shock impact caused by a fall, kick or being stepped on. Body protectors can be used by all riders, from the complete beginner who is just starting lessons to the elite riders you’ll see at the Olympics. They are compulsory if you’re eventing at any level, are recommended for all riding Pony Club (and required for cross-country and pony racing), and must be worn if competing in working hunter pony classes under BSPS rules.

More riders than ever before are opting to wear body protectors and the latest designs are far more lightweight and flexible than they have ever been in the past. When choosing body protectors for children, it’s worth considering designs that have adjustable features so that the fit lasts that little bit longer. Children can find some body protectors uncomfortable, so finding one that’s flexible, quick to put on and easy to adjust is beneficial.

There are three levels of protection that one of the best children’s body protectors for horse riding can offer, but if you’re shopping for a child you should look for BETA level 3 (2018) as this is the highest body protector standard for horse riding. Moreover, if your governing body or organisation (for example, The Pony Club) requires that you wear a body protector, this the standard they’re looking for.

Under normal circumstances, a body protector should be replaced at least every three to five years because after this time the impact absorption properties of the foam may have started to decline, which means it will no longer provide your child with the same level of protection that it did the first day they wore it. Coupled with that, although even the best children’s body protectors for horse riding usually offer a good level of adjustment, it’s likely that your child will outgrow theirs and need a new one before it has reached the end of its life.

Taking good care of a body protector means that it will probably last closer to five years than three, which is handy if you have multiple children who are into riding. Avoid leaving it lying around at the yard, in the lorry where it might get damaged, and don’t store it in your hot car or damp tack room – all of these locations are likely to cause it to deteriorate faster. When not in use, it’s best to hang it up in a wardrobe at home with the zips and Velcro fastened.