"Caution young horse" & "Young horse in training"

michellev123

michellev123

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Just a quick query.
Does wearing a reflective tabard saying one of the above invalidate insurance by implying the horse "shouldn't be on the road"?

I always thought these were a good idea to make driver more aware and cautious, but a friend said i am implying my horse is unsafe of the roads? (Which he isn't he is more bomb proof than my old girl was :) )

Just wondered what you guys thought?!

Thanks
 
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Thats a hard one. I know a policeman who told me not to put a 'beware of the dog' sign on our property as it implied their was a dangerous dog there. However by putting up a 'dogs running loose' sign you were covered if someone broke in and the dog bit them. Crazy!

Surely though it doesn't matter what is written on a tabbard? All horses could potentially spook at something and end up in the middle of the road, they are animals after all, not machines.

Perhaps a call to your insurance company would clarify the matter?
 
I was thinking of putting just please pass wide and slow on my hi viz as mine is a youngster and will be out with another horse. she was walked out a 2-3 times last summer and had motorbike ridden by youth going screaming past at 60+mph and a 4x4 driver who would not wait and nearly ran my friend over and we have to dive up the verge in his desperate attempt to get past rather than wait 20yards til we got to the yard gate. most people are o.k but some will never wait and be courteous.
 
I know someone who puts the young horse tabbard on everyone at the yard, apparently she's had more sucess in dealing with motorists! lol Asked a non horsey friend and they though their car was likely to be damaged if they didn't behave!
 
When this came up a couple of years ago a barrister here confirmed that your thoughts are correct michellev123. She also said that there hadn't been any case she could find where the driver's side used it in defence of a motorist and won. So that may be a "legend".
 
Some years ago (oh God I'm showing my age!) there was something in the H + H about if you wear 'Caution - young horse' you are in fact admitting responsibility/liability in the event of an accident but so many people do wear them nowadays that I feel things must have changed?
 
I just have pass wide and slow on mine, it applies whether I am riding an old horse, young horse, spooky horse etc. I do worry that if it came to it then the other side might try and argue that you knew your horse wasn't reliable on the roads
 
I think that it's a pretty sad state of affairs when doing a common sense thing can get you in trouble. I think if you have acclimatised the horse on private property to cars tractors etc and ideally a few loud noises then it is time to take the next step.
 
Lots of these things are old wives tales that grow from someone not quite understanding a comment they have heard in the past and then passing it along with an air of knowledgeability...

You will be fine, and the sign on your gate won't get your dog in trouble!
 
I had been told the same thing - no big deal, I have a plain hi viz tabard for when its warmer but have wearing what looks like a police jacket atm (bought from the local tack shop) - particularly as we are often out at 6.30 in the morning. Works an absolute treat at slowing down traffic from a LONG way off!!!
 
I would avoid things which imply your horse is a greater risk than other horses, it could be argued that somehow (!)you shouldnt have them on the road. But a general message is useful.

The please pass wide and slow one is fine I believe since is specifically only repeats exactly what is in the highway code in relation to how car drivers should treat horses.

I got a bit cross with saddlery woman who when I said I wished the statement was on my snazzy new Rockfish riders BHS gilet said 'O no then the drivers would get out of blame if they hit you'. Im afraid I told her that was rubbish as it was highway code text only.
 
I understand the using of please pass wide and slow but feel drivers dont listen to it. We have so many fly past doing at least 45mph, Oscar is fine but just wanted something that made drivers more aware. . . . . .
 
trust me, the L plates do work, and if nothing else, they slow down to have a laugh !! Me and Shy will wear them till we are old and weary.
 
i love the l plates shysmum there fab im sure they turn some eyes :) i just where a plain karrimore running jacket some one sed to me you had to have a min of 5 hiviz reflective items on to comply with insurance ???? any one
 
never heard of that - you need to ring your insurance company to clarify. I just wear as much hi vis as I can to keep my boy safe and seen. Even if I do look like a total idiot.
 
charlie13 said:
i love the l plates shysmum there fab im sure they turn some eyes :) i just where a plain karrimore running jacket some one sed to me you had to have a min of 5 hiviz reflective items on to comply with insurance ???? any one
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Not heard of that one before.. But I would imagine it would depend on your insurance provider :)
 
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