Hi Viz ... please read.

Christmas_Kate

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whoever's fault the accident in peterborough was (where a young child, an adult and a pony were killed earlier in the week), it brought home the need for Hi Viz clothing at all times when riding or leading along a road, be it day light or dusk.

No-one should ever ride out in bad light or dark.

I have just purchased some new Hi Viz, people should be aware that after a length of time Hi Viz loses it's reflectiveness and brightness so should be replaced.


Please please make it your mission this weekend to check your Hi Viz and ensure it's still doing it's job. If not (or if you havent any) then buy some new!

It's not expensive. Most pound shops sell waistcoats, and you can buy kits here: http://www.rideaway.co.uk/index2.php3?se...mp;catcode2=360 (I don't work for this company lol, I just think it's good quality and value).

for all you ebay fans,... you can buy stuff very cheaply on there too!

Perhaps if we ALL have the respect for drivers by wearing hi Viz so they can see us they'll have that bit more respect for us?
 
hi viz jackets are about half the price in builders merchants than they are in tack shops.i paid £15 for a bomber style one last winter and its waterproof.
 
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The BHS used to give it away for free, not sure if they still do?

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That was a limited promotion, and went primarily to riders in areas affected by low flying aircraft. They do however have a special offer for people who have taken their road/hacking safely tests etc on V-Bandz's website.

Hi-viz costs so little compared to you and your horse's lives...
 
good post, i would like to add that the stuff you get from builder's merchants is made to a far superior standard than anything i havce seen aimed at the equestrian market, lasts longer and is alot more reflective.
 
If you choose to ride without it, consult your insurance company. With some policies you WILL NOT GET A PENNY in the event of a RTA if you are not wearing 3 items of hi viz, on the horse and yourself. No 3rd party=you could loose your house & everything you own in the event of a claim if it is decided that the lack of hi viz was a contributry factor in the accident. It is up to people to make their own minds up... It is silly to pay a premium if you won't be able to make a sucessful claim.

There is also the question of hunting/hacking to hunts. A black jacket, especialy in the early morning is not ideal. As the suburbs encroach upon hunt country there is a real issue here. People hunting, or on the way to hunts wearing Black and no hi viz (as with any non-viz rider)doesn't send a good message out to the public and does nothing to enhance the reputation of hunting. Funny realy when you think thet the Pink coats are the 18th century version of hi viz!

If you drive, you might be interested in one of these... http://www.britishdrivingsociety.co.uk/publications/big_picture_please_pass_sign.htm a bargain at a fiver! You can buy them in the BDS online shop (in the merchandise section)
 
Hear hear xxkatyxx...I totally agree! It annoys me immensly that people ride on the roads without it and come up with excuses like...it's another thing to have to put on, I will look silly, I don't see why I should wear it, drivers should be driving slow enough in the first place etc etc...NO EXCUSE for putting yourself, horse and others at risk. People have far too much pride for their own good these days!
I would no sooner get on a horse without my hat than without my huge high viz jacket. I used to wear a tabbard but changed to one of those big work men coats instead one winter...and I actually got drivers stopping to tell me that they could see me ages away and how effective it was...enough said, I wear it all year round now even though I bake in summer! I would rather be safe and sweaty than flattened!
 
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good post, i would like to add that the stuff you get from builder's merchants is made to a far superior standard than anything i havce seen aimed at the equestrian market, lasts longer and is alot more reflective.

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yes, that I would agree with. If anyone's handy with a needle and thread you can buy cheap tabards (as I said, poundland, a quid each!!) and MAKE rein strips, noseband covers etc (which is what i did last year as I couldnt get anything small enough for pony and child).
 
Good post. I personally like the Dickies jackets/fleeces and polo shirts. These are really bright and have good reflective strips in them - they wash really well and are much better quality and cheaper than the horsey stuff. I always ride in one as well as a hat with hatband, neck strap for horsey and leg wraps. Someone stopped me the other day and said they loved my horse's bracelets
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I'm sorry but with the low prices of hi viz gear these days there is just no excuse for anybody not to be wearing them when on the roads.
Everyone in our house wears it even when just leading a horse on the roads and not riding.
Most of mine came from Ebay with some being bought brand new from an auction at Leek as they occasionally have hi viz there in the lots containing work wear and tool etc.
Look around and don't always buy from tack shops.
Where horses are concerned people will always add a little extra on equestrian items. As someone mentioned builder's merchants and so on will sell gear for far less.
Personally it annoys me that shops do this hence the reason I buy very little from tack shops.
It's the same with those tub trucks ( are they called?) and buckets etc they are far cheaper from building suppliers than tack places and if any of you have friends that work in the trade even better because you can buy items at trade prices.
Caz
 
well said. me and malteaser mon went out riding this morning and had are hi-vis gear on even though it's a bright sunny day and we done very little road work. better to be safe than sorry. i'm loving all the pink gear you can buy at the moment. i brought a lot of it at hickstead back in the summer.
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It may, to some, get boring hearing about wearing hi-viz, but I think you cannot mention it too often, there are still far too many riders out being invisible.
I bought a lovely Police jacket, a second, for just £21. Can't find anything wrong with it. I have also bought fluor material and reflective tape (3d) and made my own stuff, such as tiny leg bands and covers for breast harness.
There is no excuse and can never be too many reminders.
 
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