Another hi viz question

Feathered

Feathered

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Hi all,

I have recently started taking my youngster for walks in hand, so far only few metres up the road and back, but eventually I'd like to progress to more and perhaps riding and leading him from my mare.


I always wear my hi viz vest and hat band, but he wears nothing, and I'm thinking of the worst case scenario where he gets away from me I'd like him to have something hi viz on just in case! (touch wood)

So does anyone know of anything he could wear that doesn't need attaching to tack? I can't think of anything except leg wraps and I'd like something higher up.

Thanks in advance.
 
You could get a cover that goes over a nose or brow-band for his bridle / head collar, and a tail wrap? Sure I've seen hi-viz tail wraps somewhere.

Leg bands are good though as they are moving all the time, so they catch the eye.
 
Just need to say, I drove past riders decked out in Hi Viz this morning, I drove past slowly in first gear. Not one of them raised a hand to thank me, in fact they glared at me like I was some sort of pervert. I ride TBs and I can assure you that when people slow down for me I thank them like mad, I nearly kiss them. I can only assume that they think Hi Viz gives them a god given right to slow traffic down. Please can everyone thank drivers, as I am the next person that they might meet, I am relying on drivers that respect riders and the dangers that horses can inflict on their cars. Hi Viz is good, please have the grace to thank drivers!
 
Is he used to a roller and rugs?

If so you could put a hi-viz sheet on him with a roller - it's good training for tack and rustly clothing - make sure he's happy moving with it on first though!
 
pastie2 said:
Just need to say, I drove past riders decked out in Hi Viz this morning, I drove past slowly in first gear. Not one of them raised a hand to thank me, in fact they glared at me like I was some sort of pervert. I ride TBs and I can assure you that when people slow down for me I thank them like mad, I nearly kiss them. I can only assume that they think Hi Viz gives them a god given right to slow traffic down. Please can everyone thank drivers, as I am the next person that they might meet, I am relying on drivers that respect riders and the dangers that horses can inflict on their cars. Hi Viz is good, please have the grace to thank drivers!
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Here here. I get sick of riders not saying thank you, gives the rest of us grateful ones a bad name. I thank all drivers and I get myself out of their way on the roads, I always wear hi viz btw. But yes, I wish some riders thanked the flaming cars, it annoys me when they don't and I ride and have the sense to go past carefully
 
I have seen some Hi-Viz exercise sheets that have a piece that velcros round the horses chest, they are designed to be used with saddles, but think that they could be adapted to wear without. Would def say use leg wraps, they do catch the eye.
Also echo pastie2, as someone who feels like a nodding dog thanking drivers who don't mow me down, it irks me hugely when I slow down for riders who then ignore me. I too may be the next person that driver meets and decides not to slow down for! :eek:
 
There's always some idiots who ruin it for everyone else :mad:

V-bands make a tail guard that stays up without a rug (many need a rug to attach to).

Leg bands are easy and effective, but try and get ones with fluorescent reflective stripping (not just reflective) as the yellow material very quickly gets dirty.

A neck band can be used without tack: just cut the grith strap off.

I have fluorecent Alien Ears :D (ear veil) which are very effective: loads of people have commented on them, whilst laughing :o fiver off ebay.
 
http://www.fabricuk.com/

Make your own!!!

They have the hi viz yellow here and the reflective strip as well!

I have made several rugs for my ponies and friends horses too!

Have also got the police reflective chequered stuff as well from protec police supplies-now that stops cars very easily!
 
You can get hi-viz 'necklases' which are effectively the martingales but without the bit that attatches to the girth, also a reflectve head collar over the bridle would be good.
 
So many good ideas, thankyou!!

I'm likin the make your own idea, might pass that link onto my mum, she's a dab hand with the ole sewing machine. She repairs my rugs and once made Lil a rather fetching lycra anti rub vest :D
 
PeterNatt said:
I would also suggest that you have some dog tags made up with you and your vets contact telephone number on which you can attach to your horses headcollar so that in the event of you and your horse becoming seperated you/and or your vet can be contacted.
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For gods sake!! If riding your horse is such a life threatening thing to do, give it up!! Stay in the school. Blimey
 
What's got your knickers in such a twist?

PeterNatt's suggestion is a perfectly sensible idea, and a bloody good one too. Think I might do just that (but with cheaper keyring tabs)
 
I've caught a couple of loose horses after people have come off, fortunately in each case their rider was not too far away. Both experienced riders, just two of those silly accidents that can happen to anyone. If they hadn't been close by I'd certainly have appreciated having a number to call so someone could come and pick the beast up - given that I was in a forest the first time and on the road then second it's not like I could shove it into a handy field! It happens, you might as well make preparations to help you get your horse back in one piece if it does then not worry too much about it.
 
Kallibear said:
What's got your knickers in such a twist?

PeterNatt's suggestion is a perfectly sensible idea, and a bloody good one too. Think I might do just that (but with cheaper keyring tabs)
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Seemed like a good suggestion to me too. You never know when you might come off and get separated. Something as simple as that could be the difference between being reunited with your horse and not.
 
I dont know, but if I set out to ride my horse each day thinking the worst case scenario, I would give up. Hi Viz or not, I always aim to get home in one piece, I dont rely on visual, I rely on acumen.
 
Well, since I set off with the sole intention of falling off, and my horse galloping home along the roads without me, I make sure he's fully kitted out in hi-viz stuff and will get myself a tag with my mobile number on it (plus a friends, since i intend to make a good job of it and at least knock myself out).
 
Kallibear said:
Well, since I set off with the sole intention of falling off, and my horse galloping home along the roads without me, I make sure he's fully kitted out in hi-viz stuff and will get myself a tag with my mobile number on it (plus a friends, since i intend to make a good job of it and at least knock myself out).
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I think in this case of uncertainty, I would not bother riding out. You must be a danger to yourself, your horse and other road users.
 
Kallibear said:
Well, since I set off with the sole intention of falling off, and my horse galloping home along the roads without me, I make sure he's fully kitted out in hi-viz stuff and will get myself a tag with my mobile number on it (plus a friends, since i intend to make a good job of it and at least knock myself out).
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Lmao!! :D
 
Kallibear said:
Well, since I set off with the sole intention of falling off, and my horse galloping home along the roads without me, I make sure he's fully kitted out in hi-viz stuff and will get myself a tag with my mobile number on it (plus a friends, since i intend to make a good job of it and at least knock myself out).
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Excellent, always good to have a plan. Fail to plan, plan to fail;):D:D:D
 
pastie2 said:
I think in this case of uncertainty, I would not bother riding out. You must be a danger to yourself, your horse and other road users.
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But there will be no 'uncertainty' : as Spudlet says, forward planning is the key and if, for some reason, I fail to find something suitably scary to send him into a mad panic and bolt, or spook and spin (have to be pretty scary as he's not prone to doing that sadly :( ) then I can always arrange for some friends to come along and frighten him good and proper. That way I make sure I get full use out of not only my Hi-viz stuff, and his soon-to-be tag, but the NHS too, which I pay taxes for.
 
Kallibear said:
But there will be no 'uncertainty' : as Spudlet says, forward planning is the key and if, for some reason, I fail to find something suitably scary to send him into a mad panic and bolt, or spook and spin (have to be pretty scary as he's not prone to doing that sadly :( ) then I can always arrange for some friends to come along and frighten him good and proper. That way I make sure I get full use out of not only my Hi-viz stuff, and his soon-to-be tag, but the NHS too, which I pay taxes for.
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Well, thats okay then.
 
Give it a rest Pastie2, the OP is talking about what to put on the youngster who is going to be in hand or led from the other horse. Why wouldn't you take safety precautions, could you 100% guarantee that a youngster wouldn't get scared and panic? You are a far superior horseperson to just about anyone else if you can...

We use a roller and a hi viz exercise sheet on our youngster Feathered, together with hi viz leg wraps and a hi viz noseband.
 
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