Body Protector Standards Explained

Body protectors are designed to reduce injury from blunt impacts associated with riding, falling from a horse, being kicked or trodden on, and working around horses. They are not body armour in the ballistic sense, nor are they a guarantee against serious injury. Their performance depends on the design, materials, certification, fit, condition and the circumstances of the accident.

For the GB market, the central technical reference is BS EN 13158:2018, commonly referred to simply as EN 13158. The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) also operates the widely used BETA 2018 Body Protector Standard, which incorporates the requirements of EN 13158 and adds a level classification used extensively by British riding organisations and manufacturers.

What a body protector is intended to do

A conventional body protector is a close-fitting garment containing impact-absorbing panels. Its principal functions are to:

• spread impact energy over a larger area;
• reduce the peak force transmitted to the torso;
• cover vulnerable areas of the chest, ribs, back and, depending on the design, the sides of the torso;
• reduce soft-tissue injury and the likelihood or severity of some fractures; and
• provide a degree of protection against impacts with the ground, obstacles, vehicles or the horse itself.

EN 13158 expressly recognises the limitations of this type of equipment. It does not provide complete protection against injuries involving severe torsion, flexion or extension. In practical terms, a protector may reduce the consequences of a direct blow while offering limited protection against twisting injuries, neck injuries, spinal mechanisms outside the test conditions, internal injury, or the full energy of a serious rotational fall.

Protection is therefore only one part of risk management. Riding ability, horse selection, supervision, training, surface and obstacle design, tack condition, visibility and appropriate use of a certified riding helmet remain relevant. A body protector should not be treated as permission to accept greater risk.

The main GB standards and labels

BS EN 13158:2018

BS EN 13158:2018 is the European technical standard for protective jackets, body protectors and shoulder protectors used by horse riders, people working with horses, horse drivers and passengers in horse-drawn vehicles. It specifies requirements and test methods covering matters including coverage, sizing, adjustability, restraint, ergonomics, construction, innocuousness and impact performance.

The standard is concerned with the product and its performance. It is not itself a recommendation that every rider should wear a particular level in every activity. The activity-specific decision is made by the rider, employer, riding establishment, insurer, governing body or competition organiser, as applicable.

The BETA 2018 standard

BETA’s 2018 standard is the label system most familiar to British riders. It meets the requirements of the relevant EN 13158 standard and classifies riding body protectors into three performance levels. The label normally identifies the BETA standard year and the level; for riding protectors, Level 3 is shown with a blue-and-black label.

BETA also operates an approval and surveillance scheme. Its published requirements include initial testing and type approval, submission of technical information, and annual re-testing for products in the scheme. This is important because certification is not only about a one-off prototype: ongoing manufacturing consistency matters to protective equipment.

The levels should not be read as a simple guarantee that a Level 3 garment will prevent a particular injury. BETA describes Level 3 as intended to prevent minor bruising that might otherwise cause stiffness and pain, reduce soft-tissue injuries and prevent a limited number of rib fractures. That wording is deliberately qualified: a high-level protector can reduce risk without eliminating it.

Why the year on the label matters

The BETA 2009 standard was replaced by the BETA 2018 standard. BETA states that the 2009 and 2018 versions do not differ in the amount of protection offered in performance terms, but the older standard was withdrawn from new manufacture and is no longer accepted by some organisations because garments made to it may now be substantially older.

For GB riders, the practical issue is not merely whether an old protector once complied. It is whether the garment is still in good condition and whether the rules of the activity accept it. BETA advises purchasing a new protector to the 2018 standard. The Pony Club’s current rule information states that a body protector is compulsory for cross-country, including arena eventing, and pony racing, and that these activities require BETA 2018 Level 3. Its 2026 rule document also states that an air jacket may only be used in addition to a conventional BETA 2018 Level 3 protector.

Competition rules can change and may differ between disciplines, training and competition, so riders should check the current rules of the governing body or event organiser rather than rely on an old label or a retailer’s general statement.

How body protectors are constructed

Most riding body protectors use a flexible polymer foam or similar energy-absorbing material enclosed in a textile cover. Common construction features include:

• Segmented panels: separate sections allow the garment to bend with the rider while retaining coverage. The design must balance mobility against gaps between panels.
• Front and rear panels: these protect the sternum, chest, ribs and back. The rear section must cover the required area without sitting so low that it interferes with the saddle.
• Side protection: side panels help bridge the vulnerable area between the front and back sections.
• Adjustable closures: zip fronts, hook-and-loop adjustment or lacing systems allow the garment to be secured to the individual wearer.
• Outer fabric and edging: the cover protects the foam from abrasion and helps maintain the shape and position of the panels.

Materials are selected for their ability to absorb and distribute energy, but they also have to remain wearable. A protector that is too rigid, hot or restrictive may be left unfastened, worn incorrectly or abandoned altogether. Conversely, excessive flexibility or insufficient restraint can allow the garment to move away from the intended protective position during a fall.

Some foams are temperature-sensitive. They may feel firmer in cold conditions and become more flexible as they warm through normal use. This does not mean that a protector should be artificially heated, dried on a radiator or left in a hot vehicle. Heat, solvents, moisture and mechanical damage can affect materials and adhesives.

What the testing is intended to assess

EN 13158 is not just an impact test. A compliant product must address several aspects of protective performance and usability:

• Coverage: specified areas of the torso must be protected, with limits on exposed gaps between protective elements.
• Sizing and adjustability: the garment must be available in suitable sizes and allow it to be fitted securely to the wearer.
• Restraint: the protector must remain appropriately positioned rather than riding up, opening or shifting excessively.
• Ergonomics: the design must allow practical movement for riding and horse-related work.
• Construction: seams, closures, panels and materials must withstand the expected use.
• Impact performance: the protective material is assessed under defined laboratory conditions intended to represent blunt impacts.
• Innocuousness: materials and construction should not create unacceptable hazards or harmful contact effects in normal use.

Laboratory testing is necessarily controlled and finite. It cannot reproduce every combination of speed, height, surface, obstacle, horse movement, rider position and secondary impact. Passing a standard demonstrates compliance with defined minimum requirements; it does not predict the result of every real-world accident.

Fit: the most important user-controlled factor

A certified protector can perform poorly if it does not fit. It should be fitted over the clothing normally worn for the intended activity, including base layers or a lightweight competition jacket where relevant. The garment should be snug enough to stay in position but not so tight that it restricts breathing or riding movement.

During a fitting, check that:

• the protector covers the required front, side and back areas;
• the lower edge does not interfere with the saddle, cantle or normal hip movement;
• the upper edge does not obstruct the neck or shoulder movement;
• the front and side closures remain secure when the rider bends, twists and adopts a jumping position;
• there are no significant exposed gaps between panels;
• the protector does not ride up when the arms are raised or when the rider leans forward;
• the garment does not press uncomfortably on the ribs, breastbone or spine; and
• the rider can mount, dismount, sit, stand in the stirrups and reach forward without the protector shifting materially.

A professional fitting is especially valuable for children, riders between sizes, riders with different body proportions, and anyone choosing a protector for cross-country or work around horses. BETA trains retailers in body protector fitting and recommends using a trained stockist.

Do not alter a certified protector by cutting panels, removing sections, adding padding, replacing closures or sewing through protective material unless the manufacturer specifically authorises the work. BETA’s standard warns that alteration may mean the garment no longer conforms.

Replacement, inspection and storage

Protectors are consumable safety equipment. BETA recommends replacement at least every three to five years, depending on use and care, because impact-absorbing foam may deteriorate. The manufacturer’s own replacement guidance should also be followed.

Replace or have the garment assessed after a significant fall, kick or other impact. Inspect the protector for dents, cracks, compression, torn fabric, damaged seams, failed fasteners, distorted panels and areas where the foam has separated from the cover. A visible permanent dent is a strong indication that the material has been damaged. Damage may also be hidden, which is one reason unknown-history second-hand protectors are difficult to assess.

Good care includes:

• storing the protector hung on a suitable hanger rather than crushed under equipment;
• closing zips and hook-and-loop fastenings when it is stored;
• keeping it away from excessive heat, prolonged damp, chemicals, solvents, sharp edges and animals;
• cleaning it according to the manufacturer’s instructions; and
• checking it before each use, particularly before competition or a planned high-risk activity.

Do not assume that a clean appearance means that the protective foam is sound. Age, repeated compression and a previous impact may not be obvious from the outside.

Body protectors, air jackets and shoulder protectors

Air jackets

An air jacket is an inflatable garment that deploys when a tether separates as the rider becomes detached from the horse. It is a different technology from a conventional foam body protector. An air jacket may add coverage around the chest, back and neck area, depending on its design, but its deployment, inflation time, tether arrangement and post-fall handling introduce different considerations.

An air jacket should not automatically be treated as a replacement for a certified conventional body protector. In the Pony Club’s current rules, when an air jacket is used for cross-country or pony racing it must be worn in addition to a normal BETA 2018 Level 3 body protector. The same approach is common in British eventing practice, and competition rules should always be checked for the specific discipline.

Air jackets also require operational checks: correct tether attachment, adequate cartridge pressure, intact connection points, suitable adjustment and compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions. After deployment, the system must be serviced or reset as specified. An air jacket worn incorrectly, attached to the wrong part of the saddle or used with an unsuitable riding garment may not function as intended.

Shoulder protectors

Shoulder protection is related to, but distinct from, a standard body protector. A body protector primarily covers the torso; a shoulder protector is intended to address impacts around the shoulder and collarbone. BETA operates a separate standard for shoulder protectors. It should not be assumed that a conventional body protector provides the same coverage or performance as a certified shoulder garment.

Driving and working with horses

Not every protector is designed for every equestrian activity. EN 13158 covers products for riding, working with horses, driving and passengers in horse-drawn vehicles, but the required coverage can differ according to the intended use.

BETA’s published standard includes a specific provision for protectors intended for horse drivers and passengers. It warns that a driving protector may not provide adequate back coverage for riding or for people working with horses. This is an important purchasing distinction: a label that is genuine and compliant may still be the wrong product for the activity.

Employers, riding schools, trekking centres and other equestrian businesses should identify the hazards of each task rather than issue one generic garment for every situation. Mounting, schooling, hacking, cross-country, loading, handling young horses, carriage driving and working in confined spaces may require different risk controls.

Quality indicators for buyers and businesses

When assessing a body protector, look beyond colour, brand recognition and marketing claims. Useful indicators include:

1. A clearly legible label identifying the applicable standard and level.
2. A manufacturer’s instruction booklet covering fitting, cleaning, storage, inspection and replacement.
3. Traceable manufacturer and product information, including size and model identification.
4. Evidence that the garment is intended for the activity in question, particularly where riding and driving models differ.
5. Secure, durable closures and undamaged panel construction.
6. A fit that remains stable during riding movement rather than only while standing.
7. Availability of a competent fitting service and after-sales support.

Retailers and riding establishments should maintain a clear process for checking supplied or hired protectors. The UK government’s guidance for licensed hiring-out-horses activities states that clients should use appropriate personal protective equipment for the activity and that equipment provided must be in good and safe condition. A documented inspection and replacement system is more reliable than relying on users to identify ageing or impact damage themselves.

Common misconceptions

“Level 3 means injury-proof.”

No. Level 3 is the highest BETA level for the normal riding classification, but it is still a minimum performance classification under defined test conditions. It cannot prevent every rib fracture, spinal injury, internal injury or injury caused by twisting or hyperextension.

“Any body protector is acceptable for cross-country.”

No. Activity rules may specify a standard and level. In current Pony Club rules, cross-country and pony racing require BETA 2018 Level 3. A lower-level garment, a driving protector or an obsolete label may not meet the rule.

“An air jacket makes the body protector unnecessary.”

Not where the relevant rules require both. Air jackets and foam protectors work differently, and an air jacket may fail to deploy in every type of incident. Follow the competition rules and manufacturer instructions.

“A second-hand protector is fine if it looks clean.”

Appearance does not reveal hidden impact damage, age-related deterioration or storage damage. A second-hand garment with a documented history and professional inspection may be less problematic than one of unknown origin, but purchasing new is the more controllable option for critical use.

“A larger size is safer because it covers more.”

Not necessarily. Excessive length or looseness can cause interference with the saddle, gaps in coverage or movement of the protector during a fall. Correct coverage must be combined with secure, activity-appropriate fit.

A practical selection checklist

• Identify the activity: general riding, hacking, jumping, eventing, pony racing, driving or handling horses.
• Check the current rules of the governing body, venue or competition organiser.
• Choose the appropriate product category, not merely the highest-sounding label.
• For normal riding and cross-country use, look for a current BETA 2018 Level 3 riding protector where required.
• Use a trained fitter, particularly for children and riders between sizes.
• Try the garment in the clothing and riding position in which it will be used.
• Check all closures, edges and panels before each use.
• Record the purchase date and any significant impacts.
• Replace the protector within the manufacturer’s or BETA’s recommended service period, and immediately after serious damage.
• If adding an air jacket, confirm compatibility, tether position, adjustment and the rules for wearing both systems.

The soundest approach is to regard a body protector as one component of a wider safety system. Standards provide a valuable baseline, but they do not remove the need for correct selection, professional fitting, regular inspection, sensible riding decisions and compliance with the rules governing the activity.

Related industry reference: For businesses moving from technical research into trade sourcing, explore equestrian suppliers and manufacturers on EquiGuild.

Sources and further reading

• British Equestrian Trade Association: Body Protectors — overview of BETA levels, fitting, replacement and care.
• BETA Standard for Body and Shoulder Protectors, 2018 — certification, testing and labelling requirements.
• BSI: BS EN 13158:2018 — scope and technical description of the standard.
• The Pony Club: Body Protector Rule, no changes for 2026 — current activity requirements and air-jacket provisions.
• GOV.UK: Hiring out horses licensing statutory guidance — equipment and PPE expectations for licensed activities.
• GOV.UK: Regulation 2016/425 and PPE enforcement in Great Britain — GB product-safety and conformity context.

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