Hats and Hi-Viz on the roads - compulsory? (bit of a rant too sorry)

I can't understand the logic of people that spend a thousand plus pounds on a saddle, ensure their horses have a wardrobe to rival Jordan's and are eating the most expensive feed balancers around and yet the owners of these spoilt horses are too stingy (or stupid) to spend a fiver on a hi viz jacket of some sort when they hack their 'beloved' animals on the road. What sense is it that people can put themselves and their horses at risk because they don't look 'cool'! It is research done by the BHS amongst others that tell us that drivers have an extra 3 seconds of braking distance when they see someone in hi viz. 3 seconds of thinking time/braking distance is several hundred feet at fast speeds. That's the difference between life and death.
 
I don't think it would be an enforceable law, regardless of whether it's a good idea. Seeing the amount of ninja cyclists in the City that regularly jump red lights, go the wrong way down one way roads (including our esteemed politicians), ignore pedestrian crossings and ignore the obvious dangers of a busy road, I would hazard a guess that very few of them are ever punished. Saying they would be prosecuted (?) for not wearing visibility clothing is just not going to happen.

On a personal note, I'm one of the only people on my yard that regularly wears Hi Viz to hack (think have gone without it twice in five years). I have to cross a busy winding road to get off road, where the cars approach at speed whilst I'm waiting for a gap. I want them to see me from as far away as possible and slow down accordingly (vast majority do).
I also want runners/cyclists/walkers to see me easily off road and if necessary put horse-hating dogs on leads/give us a wide berth. Not asking for royal treatment, just the same courtesy I afford the other park users.
In worse case scenario I want people looking for me/air ambulance to be able to spot me from a long way away.

Honestly couldn't give a flying f*ck if I look like a tw@t.....normally Twiglet's airs above ground do that for me without Hi Viz. I'm riding, not on the pull
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I would far rather me, my horse and others around me are safe than worry about the fact I am wearing a builder's flourescent yellow vest
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I don't think it would be an enforceable law, regardless of whether it's a good idea. Seeing the amount of ninja cyclists in the City that regularly jump red lights, go the wrong way down one way roads (including our esteemed politicians), ignore pedestrian crossings and ignore the obvious dangers of a busy road, I would hazard a guess that very few of them are ever punished. Saying they would be prosecuted (?) for not wearing visibility clothing is just not going to happen.

On a personal note, I'm one of the only people on my yard that regularly wears Hi Viz to hack (think have gone without it twice in five years). I have to cross a busy winding road to get off road, where the cars approach at speed whilst I'm waiting for a gap. I want them to see me from as far away as possible and slow down accordingly (vast majority do).
I also want runners/cyclists/walkers to see me easily off road and if necessary put horse-hating dogs on leads/give us a wide berth. Not asking for royal treatment, just the same courtesy I afford the other park users.
In worse case scenario I want people looking for me/air ambulance to be able to spot me from a long way away.

Honestly couldn't give a flying f*ck if I look like a tw@t.....normally Twiglet's airs above ground do that for me without Hi Viz. I'm riding, not on the pull
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I would far rather me, my horse and others around me are safe than worry about the fact I am wearing a builder's flourescent yellow vest
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Spot on Twiglet, very similar to my way of thinking
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soph21 said:
But why should a fun hobby be ruined by rules and regulations?
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I know this thread has been un active for a while, but had to reply to this comment. Why should a fun hobby be ruined when a horse is splattered all over the front of a car waiting for a vet to come and shoot it, because the owner couldn't be bothered to wear high viz?
 
Personally I think it is sensible to wear high viz and riders (and cyclists and pedestrians who are walking in the road) should wear high viz. However it should not be made a legal requirement.

It is already a legal requirement to display lights (white to the front red to the rear) after lighting up time though.
 
I have read all this and found it very interesting. However, emotion does seek to have taken over because there were very clear posts with legal guidelines/advice as to why hi viz should not be legally required. I prefer to make my own choices and not have them enforced so if riding very early in the morning, I choose to wear my police look a like yellow jacket. Later in the day and if not on the roads I would not bother. I do however, always wear a hat when riding. I am at a yard where we have very little road work unless you go out out of your way to do so so would resent having this sort of legislation forced on me OR the onus then being referred back on the rider and the driver who caused the accident.
 
I dont agree it should be made a legal requirement, far too many laws in this country already.
That said I always have Hiviz on when hacking regardless of road use or not. I want to be spotted if lying in a ditch. :o

What I would ask is do people know the most effective place for hi viz when riding? On the horses legs. 2 reasons, 1) the human eye is very good at spotting movement so having hi viz on a moving part significantly increases the chances of being see and 2) most drivers have their eys on the road, not 6 feet above it.

Oh and Pedantic, seeing as you are being so rudely vocal on this subject I refer you to your avatar pic. Rank stupidity to wear a hiviz jacket on yourself and leave your horse in a dark rug and to the outside of you. You are effectively making the horse invisible to drivers by drawing their eye to you. I am assuming that is your horse.
 
Sorry folks but sadly there are few if any roads safe to ride on, now we have sat navs so every tom dick and harryet is hurtilng down them as a short cut, people dont drive at a safe speed on rural roads anyway and i wont risk me my horse and the hours of training that has been put in to be mown down by a prat thats going too fast round a blind bend. hi vis hat whatever helps but its still russian roulett on the road....
 
In response to the OP and others
- Hats protect the rider. Hi-Viz also protects other road users, a horse through the windscreen/swerving to avoid at the last minute etc can do some serious damage to others.
- So, I'd probably go for Hi-Viz as a legal requirement first. But hats wouldn't be bad either. People barely think about having to wear them on motorcycles or belt up in cars these days and those are both relatively recent legal changes. I'm pretty sure not much police time is wasted on either.
- Oh, and thankfully, some of the 'ninja cyclists' near me are being stopped and given lectures/on-the-spot fines for breaking rules and it is making a difference.

Personally I always have a hat when on a horse (except vaulting which is safer without!) and hi-viz on both horse and me when going on the roads (even if it is just the 100yrds we go down to reach fields). Never ride on roads in the dark, espec. since I discovered horse hates wearing a tail guard. First time I put on the hi-viz one with lights I bought him he bucked on every single transition and continuously in canter! Nearly killed by my own safety precautions ;-)

Incidentally *much* prefer City roads to country ones, speeds much slower and continuous traffic is generally less spooky than occasional surprises.
 
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Kitsune is right about the sunlight to shade thing. I and a colleague almost took out two horses in those exact circumstances once. We were leaving the driveway of our place of work - which is horse-related, and we are both riders, so we were both fully aware of the need to look out for horses. They were simply invisible.

Personally, I am very much one for the disco look. It makes my blood boil to see people risking their horses' lives -and let's not forget, also my life as a driver! - on the road for want of something so cheap and simple.
 
To whoever said 'my life, my choice' re:hi-viz - are you stupid?? I couldn't care less whether you fall off and crack your head open (hat debate), but I wear hi-viz for the safety of my horse. His life, not his choice.

That made me annoyed!! You take your horse out on the road, you do your damned hardest to make it as safe as possible for him/her. Hi-viz gives drivers an extra 3 seconds to react, regardless of weather, sunlight etc.

OP - I would very much like to see hi-viz on the roads made compulsory.
 
V interesting. I sometimes don't wear hi vis, and i notice drivers go past me faster when I am only wearing my bright pink jacket (not hi vis) than when i bother to put on the hateful yellow jacket (hi vis). I hate wearing it but it really DOES make motorists slow down. That is my experience anyway, so i must try to put it on every time I ride mustn't i, and follow my own advice. Nuff said; people really should do all they can to be visible, there are SO many AWFUL drivers out there. It's common sense.
 
Good idea with hats....
But I don't think you always have to wear Hi-viz... I only do if it's a foggy or dull day or if i'm riding in the evening when the light is going... If i'm riding out on a bright day I don't wear it... my horse is grey not dark bay or anything btw...
(prepares to run away!)
 
I make a point of wearing hi-viz every time I ride on the road. My hat is always where it should be too but I wear it every time I ride no matter if i'm in my field or on the road. I even asked for more hi-viz for xmas :) My new h-viz jacket is so bright I have been told by farmers to not wear it when it is sunny as they were dazzled (they must have seen me coming from a mile off) i am currently trying to dirty it up without losing my brightness.

My best friend who was BYRDS and frequently rides her (very) expensive dressage horse on a 60mph road with no hi-viz or hat. I didn't realise this until I went for a hack with her. I couldn't believe her mum lets her do it, considering her mum tells her which rug to put on the horse when out in the field and also promptly tells me what to do with my horse but doesn't seem to care about her daughter's and horse's safety. It really does baffle me.
 
I have a horrid confession.
Firstly I will say that I never ever sit on any horse without a hat. I just feel wrong. And I have had a few head injuries over the past and seriously can't risk not doing so. For that reason, the law needs to be changed and hats need to be worn by children and adults alike on the roads - no excuses.
Now onto the bad bit.
I went out for a ride today, in the lovely sunshine. I was wearing a green jumper, navy jods and riding Meg, a dark horse. For the first time I actually felt wrong for not wearing any high-viz. I didn't do anything about it, trying to convince myself that as I was going 'round the block' half the ride was down the back tracks, not on the road. THIS is no excuse. I now feel like I've gone against the right ways and can't comment on any other person not wearing high-viz.
I do wear high viz, on dull days, but I really think I should change my ways and wear it regardless - after all, Meg is dark for one. I have to change my spots.
Therefore, if high viz helps prevent horse/rider accidents and deaths then Iam all for it becoming law. Even if, like me we just wear a tabard - every bit helps.

*feel free to join me, in giving myself a smacked bum *

I will write myself lines - must wear high viz - no excuse.
 
Spudlet said:
Kitsune is right about the sunlight to shade thing. I and a colleague almost took out two horses in those exact circumstances once. We were leaving the driveway of our place of work - which is horse-related, and we are both riders, so we were both fully aware of the need to look out for horses. They were simply invisible.

Personally, I am very much one for the disco look. It makes my blood boil to see people risking their horses' lives -and let's not forget, also my life as a driver! - on the road for want of something so cheap and simple.
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Yep I've had a fright too, narrow lane, bright low sun, horse and rider in dark clothes under the shade of the trees - difficult to see.
 
Don't have time to read all the thread so apologies if this has been said. If we are riding anytime it is dark we have head torches on our hats facing forward and back, and so do our kids. We wear normal hi-viz, they have flashing lights in theirs. They love the flashing lights and they make cars slow down as they have no idea what the apparition coming down the road is.

IMHO the lights are much more effective than the hi-viz.
 
hessy12 said:
V interesting. I sometimes don't wear hi vis, and i notice drivers go past me faster when I am only wearing my bright pink jacket (not hi vis) than when i bother to put on the hateful yellow jacket (hi vis). I hate wearing it but it really DOES make motorists slow down. That is my experience anyway, so i must try to put it on every time I ride mustn't i, and follow my own advice. Nuff said; people really should do all they can to be visible, there are SO many AWFUL drivers out there. It's common sense.
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I and many other drivers like me automatically "cover the brake" when I see yellow hi viz. It is automatic, is could be a speed trap, or police attending and accident or conducting a traffic survey, or road works, or a breakdown or whatever. That in itself is useful to riders, drivers are already on their guard and wary.
 
I agree that both hats and hi-viz when hacking out should be made compulsory. IMO hats should be worn at all times when mounted - our livery yard has a sign up which says that hats should be worn at all times when mounted whether in the school or on the yard.
Hi-viz is a basic safety measure surely? Even if I'm hacking on the downs I will wear hi-viz because I knew someone who fell off their horse once on the downs - the horse was plastered in hi-viz, rider had none on. Horse came back to the yard without the rider - search party couldn't see her from above (helicopter was up).
I have a grey horse and he will be plastered in hi-viz (I don't hack out much at the mo as I have only just got him and we are working in the school) as I just will not take that risk. I even have a hi-viz polo shirt *blushes* which is absolutely awful but it can be seen and IMO that's all that matters.
We were once driving along and horses came out of an adjoining road - only realised horses were on the road when the grey came out of the road a few seconds later - the other horses were dark bay - it was getting dark, there were shadows on the road from trees etc and none of the riders or horses had flourescents on - seeing the grey was just pure chance.
So yeah the point of this rather long post is that hats and hi-viz - thumbs up even if it makes you look stupid, surely looking stupid and being seen is better than you or your horse being plastered across the road because drivers couldn't see you?
 
Brontie said:
I know this thread has been un active for a while, but had to reply to this comment. Why should a fun hobby be ruined when a horse is splattered all over the front of a car waiting for a vet to come and shoot it, because the owner couldn't be bothered to wear high viz?
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Exactly............
 
Katie__Connie said:
Good idea with hats....
But I don't think you always have to wear Hi-viz... I only do if it's a foggy or dull day or if i'm riding in the evening when the light is going... If i'm riding out on a bright day I don't wear it... my horse is grey not dark bay or anything btw...
(prepares to run away!)
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Run! Run fast! Because I'M coming to get you! :eek::p

Seriously? You could have been the person I nearly hit a couple of years ago. Bright day, gorgeous dappled grey horse, nondescript rider, no high viz, and I didn't see them until way too close for comfort - grey horses match the road colour too well for comfort. Not the only time I have noticed grey horses are not well seen, either. Do yourself a favour - wear something high viz.

I've also only seen a horse & rider at the last minute because the sun was dazzling me. I was crawling at the time so no harm done, and I'm not sure hi viz would have helped that particular one, but just goes to show that sunlight doesn't always equal the safest conditions.

And thats before I start on how well any coloured horse blends in with the shaddows thrown onto the road by trees and hedges :p;)
 
soph21 said:
I saw someone the other day, lovely sunny day at about lunch time, dressed up like a bright pink lightbulb Her horse was wearing a bright blue bridle
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And that is a problem because..........?????

Sometimes visibility is worse in bright sunlight than on a dull day. I always wear a hat and hi-viz on a hack. I am exercising my horse in-hand atm as she recovers from a bad back. We both wear hi-viz even though we only walk on the local lanes. Better safe than sorry.

I should add, that I started riding in the days when there was much less traffic on the roads and it was considered 'good form' to wear drab clothing but I have worn the most visible clothing available for many years. I am too old to worry about being 'cool'.
 
Hang about... someones quoted me!! Have I already replied to this???! Cringe if I have *goes to re read thread*

Wow, new levels of stupidity for me!!!! This is why threads should stay in order created :o
 
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I always wear my hi-viz and hat! and think it should be conpulsory!

i dont really think it matter if its pink, yellow or orange as long as its bright and reflective!

i even had a hi-viz exercise sheet made for my mini shetland as i often walk her out round the village and when my son starts hacking out i want us all to be seen so we all wear hi-viz waist coats and the pony has her sheet on.

also why do people put a hat on there head but not do it up??
 
If you've ever been in an accident that happened because the car driver "didn't see" you, you'll wear hi viz. I always drive carefully on country roads but am still amazed by the amount of people out, particularly in the half light, with dark coloured horses and dark coloured clothing; its asking for trouble. Why do people do it? You can get a decent hi viz tabard for well less than a tenner, so why not do it?

An interesting point about the pink hi viz versus the yellow tho' - I wonder if there is any research on this to indicate which is better.
 
Totally agree that hi-viz AND hats should be legal requirements when on the road!
I never go out without, no matter what time of day. I wear my hi-viz jacket in summer and then calli also has a hi-viz exercise sheet for the winter. I always have spare hi-viz jackets and if I ever go out with company I always lend them one if they don't have on themselves.
Those 3 seconds can really make a difference!
 
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