Racesafe

Racesafe body protectors for horse riding are chosen by professionals and amateurs alike for the peace of mind that you are giving yourself maximum protection while in the saddle. These body protectors feature unique technology designed to absorb impact in the event of a fall, therefore protecting you from the full force of the impact. Racesafe’s designs are intended to not only help prevent injury in the event of a fall, but feel comfortable to ride in, eradicating the common concept that body protectors feel restrictive.

Racesafe is a British third generation family business, established in 1970 with the production of racing silks and stocks at the family kitchen table. Thanks to their involvement with racing, the business started to pioneer the importance of body protection during participation in equestrian sport, and so started manufacturing the Racesafe body protector. For fifty years, the Racesafe team has worked to continue to innovate equestrian body protectors, bringing to the market protection that aims to be unrivalled in both comfort and performance. Today, Racesafe body protectors continue to be made in the UK in their Northamptonshire factory, and are endorsed by top-level riders from around the world.

Their range includes several different styles of body protectors that are suitable for men and women thanks to their unisex fit and adjustability. There are also Racesafe body protectors for children available in sizes to suit horse-mad youngsters to teenagers.

Racesafe Body Protector Sizing
Racesafe make body protectors in a vast range of sizes, with choices of length, back length, and width. There is sure to be a size that fits perfectly, but you may have to have several body protectors fitted before you find the perfect fit. The body protector should fit snugly – they are not designed to fit loosely – and when you sit in the saddle, the body protector should not move, for example creating a gap between your shoulders and the body protector. The front of the body protector should cover beyond your last rib and the back should cover as much of your lower back as possible, without making contact with the cantle of the saddle as you ride. To avoid having to ride in a body protector to check its fit, we look for there to be one hand’s width between the base of the body protector and the cantle of the saddle when the rider is mounted. Some event or hunt riders choose to have their body protector fitted shorter in the back length to accommodate them leaning back against the cantle of the saddle when they are jumping drop fences. Most riders, however, choose to have their body protector fitted as long at the back as possible to protect as much of the spine as possible. Bear in mind when assessing the fit of your body protector what type of clothing you are most likely to be wearing underneath – a bulky hoodie will alter the fit of the body protector in comparison with a thin base layer, for example.

The shape of these body protectors for both adults and children is unisex, designed to suit all types of body shape.

These body protectors are adjustable, usually with an elastic drawstring to the sides of the body protector, which is quick and convenient to adjust. We do recommend letting out the adjustment before putting on the body protector and then adjusting it to fit once it is zipped up, to avoid placing undue stress on the zip.

Many members of the Houghton Country team are fully trained in body protector fittings, and in store we are able to emulate you sitting in the saddle in order to check the fit of the body protector when mounted. It is very important to have your body protector fitted professionally to ensure it offers the protection for which it is intended; with so many variations in size, it is impossible to accurately guess what size you need

You can however measure yourself for your new body protector: for information on measuring for a Racesafe body protector, size guides and checking fit, check out our Racesafe Size Guide.

Racesafe Safety Standards
All of Racesafe’s body protectors meet the current safety standard in the UK and Europe. In 2024, body protectors that meet the safety standard BETA2009 were phased out by the governing bodies of equestrian sport, meaning that all body protectors worn at organised events must now meet the BETA2018 standard. This standard is shown on the body protector with a black and blue label. In Europe the safety standard is EN 13158, found on the main label inside the body protector.

BETA safety standards are important because they indicate that the body protectors that meet this standard have undergone annual re-testing for consistency of the quality of the materials and the manufacturing processes.


Replacing your Racesafe Body Protector
It is recommended that every body protector is replaced after 3-5 years as beyond this point degradation of the foam inside the protective panels occurs, compromising protection. Body protectors should also be replaced after a heavy fall or repeated falls as the impact absorption technology may be compromised.

Racesafe have become an incredibly popular choice for equestrians looking to ensure they are protected in the event of a fall while horse riding, who want peace of mind that they are safe while keeping comfortable in the saddle.

An air jacket is becoming an increasingly popular safety item for use over a body protector to provide maximum protection, or for wear on its own during lower risk activities. Browse our range of air jackets here.

If you are looking to make sure you are safe in the saddle, a correctly fitting skull cap is another essential, along with made-for-purpose riding boots.