A grump from me to some local riders, with love.

[Natch]

Dear riders,

I hope you enjoyed your hack today. Its a lovely sunny day, your horses looked like very well behaved animals, and you certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself riding around the country lanes in the middle of the local forest. Its idyllic, and picturesque, although there is one little point I'd like to make.

A car, travelling at a speed suitable for windy single track country lanes, with an alert, calm, horse-friendly driver at the wheel, almost didn't see you until it was too late. You see, the sunlight shines through the trees, casting all sorts of shadows onto the road, into driver's eyes, off the road surface, and does funny things to people's eyesight. It was a straight stretch, and you had a grey and a bay horse, and your outfits included various different colours, but dear riders let me make it absolutely clear, it was not enough. Had I been travelling faster, as many do on that road, the outcome may not have been so favourable.

I just think a reflective high viz waistcoat and boots would make such a difference. I know the low sun is still dazzling to drivers, but high viz would have meant this driver would have seen you significantly earlier. Please, please, wear high viz all year round.

Yours,

Naturally


I know its a boring story, I know hundreds of threads have been done on here countless times, but until every rider in the land gets the idea, long may they continue.

 

[LaurenBay]

I agree, driving home from the yard last night, on the very bendy road the sun was very low and I was struggling to see, even with my sunnies on! I slowed right down as I know its a road thats popular with both Horse riders and cyclists, I didn't come accross either but it's better to be safe then sorry.

I always wear my hi vis vest, all year round.

 

[Annagain]

Yup, I had the same thing last night. Scariest thing was it was a mum with two kids following her, all on chestnuts (the worst colour to see in low sun I find) They must have been about 9 and 11. How a parent can put her kids (not to mention horses) in danger like that? If they don't learn young, they'll never wear it.

 

[Kokopelli]

I almost hit a horse once and I had only be driving for a month. Was very scary and the woman had a go at me, I suggested she put on hi-viz and drove off.

I think it should be a legal requirement for horse and riders on the road.

 

[Silmarillion]

It absolutely should be a legal requirement. I went out two days ago along a country lane in the middle of the woods, in the sunshine / dappled shade, kitted out with fluorescent tabard, noseband and leg wraps. Everyone who drove past me saw me and slowed down, and was thanked accordingly of course. Being a driver whose eyes are particularly affected by varying degrees of light anyway, I know that had I come across myself riding up that road without all that gear on, I probably would have hit me. It takes me an extra minute, tops, to save my life (and my horse's). I don't understand why others don't bother, I really don't. It's so frustrating.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I passed a pair of idiots today, just after midday. They were both riding chestnut horses (one of which dishes so badly it is unreal but thats not the point) And they had a leading horse between them. Now On a main A road you can ride 2 abreast - I have had a go at enough drivers who toot their horns telling us we should be in single file - but riding 2 upsides with a lead horse in the middle making it 3 in a line spread across the road, not even close together is just totally ridiculous! And neither of them were wearing anything reflective nor were their horses. To make things worse the were trotting down the road and didn't thank a single car that passed - the reason - both riders were on their mobile phones! Now come on! That is just taking the mick a little bit toooo much!

I always wear a reflective jacket, stay as close to the verge/pavement as I can, thank all courtious drivers, ignore the idiots and yes, I do stick the fingers up at the total twits!

 

[indie999]

No you are quite right to grump! It should be compulsory to wear high viz, I wear it always even leading my horse along the road. I want to be seen!

 

[juliette]

No you are quite right to grump! It should be compulsory to wear high viz, I wear it always even leading my horse along the road. I want to be seen!

Totally agree with this. Just to add in my humble opinion the pink hi viz shows up best at the moment due to the leaves blending a bit with some of the yellow hi viz stuff - i do have hi viz in EVERY available colour to suit the seasons!!!