It should be illegal to ride on a public road without wearing High-Viz Florencent

[Judgemental]

What does one have to do to get it through to a large number of people who ride, that they are safer wearing a High-Viz Florescent coat etc?

Frankly I am of the view that it should be an offence not to be wearing easily seen kit on any public road.

For some bizarre reason there are a large number who think tweed jackets and black coats that blend in with their background is sensible!

Most of which is a result of idle arrogance, "oh I can't be bothered to make the effort for the benefit of other road users"

Similarly the horse should suitably tacked-up with High-Viz as part of their 'furniture'.

 

[AprilBlossom]

I think it should be an offence to spell incorrectly, but hey ho...

 

[Judgemental]

I think it should be an offence to spell incorrectly, but hey ho...

Would you be kind enough to highlight the incorrect spelling?

 

[L&M]

'florencent' in the title...

Sadly I think our Masters would take a dim view of the mounted field following hounds covered in high viz, but I do try to have a strip in my pocket to put on if hacking home at dusk.

 

[Meandtheboys]

I have to agree.................and/or impose fines too:

also not wearing a riding hat and riding two abreast on narrow roads

There are some seriously irresponsible riders out on the roads and no wonder some motorists are getting sick and tired of horse riders thinking they own the roads and feel they are invincible - I just feel sorry for the horse ( because it potentially badly injured or killed ) and medical staff, vets and police that have to scrape people of the roads and the poor driver who has to live with the consequences.

Rant over............

 

[Judgemental]

I have to agree.................and/or impose fines too:

also not wearing a riding hat and riding two abreast on narrow roads

There are some seriously irresponsible riders out on the roads and no wonder some motorists are getting sick and tired of horse riders thinking they own the roads and feel they are invincible - I just feel sorry for the horse ( because it potentially badly injured or killed ) and medical staff, vets and police that have to scrape people of the roads and the poor driver who has to live with the consequences.

Rant over............

I support your rant, go on Meandtheboys, have a good rant and why not.

Too many people have an inflated sense of their own importance when they are on a horse on a public road.

Riding two abreast is wholly unacceptable, bad manners and above all DANGEROUS

 

[Judgemental]

Sadly I think our Masters would take a dim view of the mounted field following hounds covered in high viz, but I do try to have a strip in my pocket to put on if hacking home at dusk.

Since when do masters of hounds have any jurisdiction so far as those riding on a public road even if they are part of the mounted Field.

The Hunting Act 2004 has diluted the authority and social stand of Masters of Hounds

 

[HaffiesRock]

I am with you on this. Same goes for cyclists too. Just cant see why anyone wouldnt wear hi viz. I get laughed at in my hi viz but I do not care. I love my pony and would never forgive myself if anything happened to him or me.

Its no hardship to wear a tabard and a few bits on your horse.

How does insurance work if you are involved in an accident and arnt wearing hi viz? xx

 

[stencilface]

Hi vis is easy to carry in a pocket for the beginning an end of the day too.

Riding two abreast has its place in safe road riding, but its not always appropriate

 

[ester]

I think it should be an offence for anyone on a public road to not wear a certain quantity of Hi vis, walkers/joggers and cyclists included.

 

[CrazyMare]

The Highway Code allows you to ride two abreast - I often do, as I often hack out green horses, or with very novice riders.

As for hi-viz, everyone should wear it when on the roads. I had a huge scare a couple of weeks ago, when a man in dark clothes, with a black Labrador stepped off the verge into my headlights. I couldn't see him at all until the last moment.

I put a hi viz vest into my pocket out hunting, and have at least 3 seperate hi viz items on when hacking on the roads - Brushing boots, hat band, quater sheet, tabard, and necklace/breastplate thing.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I was hacking out last week , an on coming pair riders one in tabard one in tabard and exercise rug.

I could hardly see the bay as the tabard was obscured by the horses head. But the other rider I could see.

I would never ride out without florescent

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Riding two abreast is wholly unacceptable, bad manners and above all DANGEROUS

Rubbish absolute rubbish

Itd fine to ride two abreast on a wide road.

Its unsafe going two abreast on narrow lane and on corners.


Riding two abreast slows traffic and protects youngsters.

Its easier for a car to past 6 paired riders than 6 single ones

taken from the highway code


https://www.gov.uk/rules-about-animals-47-to-58/horse-riders-49-to-55
Riding
52

Before you take a horse on to a road, you should

ensure all tack fits well and is in good condition
make sure you can control the horse.

Always ride with other, less nervous horses if you think that your horse will be nervous of traffic. Never ride a horse without both a saddle and bridle.
53

Before riding off or turning, look behind you to make sure it is safe, then give a clear arm signal.

When riding on the road you should

keep to the left
keep both hands on the reins unless you are signalling
keep both feet in the stirrups
not carry another person
not carry anything which might affect your balance or get tangled up with the reins
keep a horse you are leading to your left
move in the direction of the traffic flow in a one-way street
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.








,

 

[marmalade76]

So you'll be sporting hi-viz whilst out hunting this season, OP??

 

[Hunters]

Riding two abreast is perfectly legal & often a lot safer than single file as it ensures the motorist slows down.

Also, can't see many huntsmen being pleased with the mounted field clad in fluorescents.

 

[Judgemental]

Riding two abreast is perfectly legal & often a lot safer than single file as it ensures the motorist slows down.

Also, can't see many huntsmen being pleased with the mounted field clad in fluorescents.

And so you may think and I agree that is what the Highway code states. Nevertheless it is not well received by motorists, who after all pay a license fee to use the road.

As for huntsmen and the mounted field. Clearly the 2004 Act is here to stay and it would be helpful if folk adopted a more modernistic approach to their riding attire, habits and overall ATTITUDE.

Let's be wholly objective about the whole subject, all the platitudes and comfortable words about repeal, are a complete waste of time or to put it another way, it's all over bar the shouting.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Ride and lead would be hard if it was illegal to go 2 a breast also leading a child on pony would be hard!!

Riding 2 abreast (in safe place)

6 riders in 2 abreast take up the space of 3 small micras, this in turn would easier to past than..........................

6 riders in single file moving along, which would most often make the passing car have to pull in dangerously close to one of the horses in order to miss oncoming cars .

Also If a car has to pull in between the group it can cause the back horses to panic as they have been separated from the others.

Nevertheless it is not well received by motorists, who after all pay a license fee to use the road.

So most of us who use the road pay to use it, yes when i am on the horse i am not paying but the money i paid for my car and lorry license does not stop just because i am on the horse not in the car. I pay 365 days of the year for my horsebox and don't take it on the rd every day same with the car ,so I think I have paid enough with vehicles tax so to be able to use the rds with the horse.

Too many people have an inflated sense of their own importance when they are on a horse on a public road.

God you are so inflated .

I think you will find most of use who ride on the rd are paying more attention to what our horses and the traffic is like to be worried on how important we are.

 

[Orangehorse]

Most cyclists do wear high-vis.

I can't understand why hunt riders don't keep a set of high-viz leg bands and a hat cap/tabard stuffed in a pocket, so if they are riding back in the afternoon from a meet they can put the high-viz stuff on. I don't think they need have it on at the meet or during the hunting. It is only polite to other road users.

 

[Alec Swan]

Re: It should be illegal to ride on a public road without wearing High-Viz Florencent

I'm sorry JM, but that's nonsense. We are already burdened by more than enough bureaucratic old bollox, some originating from our clown like Continental cousins, some from our own Government who employ others to tighten the control which they have over us, and I strongly suspect some to originate from those with nothing better to do than dream up yet more stringent and restrictive rules and regulations.

It's my life and I will live it as I see fit. If I still rode, I'd also still chase a fox or two, armed with a Hoss, and a dawg or two.

I agree with you, that Hi-viz is an excellent idea, at all times of the day, but to burden us with further rules and conditions, by which we live our lives, isn't on.

Alec.

 

[Dunlin]

Living in rural Dorset I often come across 2 hunts in my area. I have never seen any hunt members sporting high vis. Some of the lanes I have found them on are tree covered and almost dark when it's daylight and the majority are single track or very narrow. I have headlights to turn on, a horse doesn't so I think high vis is essential if you will encounter roads at any point.

A small tabard folds up to the size of a mobile phone so hardly cumbersome to carry around. If the rider doesn't want to wear one then at least stick on a fluro tail bandage and breaststrap as something is better than nothing.

I know hunt members like to look smart and keep dress traditional but the roads are dangerous these days, lord knows as a motorcyclist I have often found myself being forced off the road by tractors down here and I do wear a high vis. The way I see it is if you are involved in an accident why give someone else the chance to say "I didn't see them". It's one of the most common causes/excuses given for accidents so don't give them a chance to use it against you.

As for riding 2 abreast I don't have a problem with it, I was stuck behind a rider leading a second pony the other day for over 20 minutes until she found a path to pull into. I'd sooner be 20 minutes late than send someone to hospital or an early grave.

Out of interest, is it legal to wear hats on the road with no harness/strap?

 

[Rollin]

Re: It should be illegal to ride on a public road without wearing High-Viz Florencent

I'm sorry JM, but that's nonsense. We are already burdened by more than enough bureaucratic old bollox, some originating from our clown like Continental cousins, some from our own Government who employ others to tighten the control which they have over us, and I strongly suspect some to originate from those with nothing better to do than dream up yet more stringent and restrictive rules and regulations.

It's my life and I will live it as I see fit. If I still rode, I'd also still chase a fox or two, armed with a Hoss, and a dawg or two.

I agree with you, that Hi-viz is an excellent idea, at all times of the day, but to burden us with further rules and conditions, by which we live our lives, isn't on.

Alec.

Alec,

It is not just your life. Your horse may kill a driver or child passengers in the event of a collision. I am horrified that riders go out, especially in winter wearing sombre clothing.

It is a legal requirement all over Europe that cars use lights in poor visibility which includes heavy rain. I don't think that Hi-viz for riders and cyclists is over legislating.

 

[GinaGeo]

Out of interest, is it legal to wear hats on the road with no harness/strap?

Over the age of fourteen (I think) there's no law stating that a hat must be worn to ride on the road, strapped or otherwise.

I always wear Hi-viz when on the road, but I also ride and lead and ride two abreast, often it's safer.

I was driving through a city centre last week it was dark and was the tail end of rush hour. I came across two cysclists, neither had as stitch of hi-viz on or any lights. I could not seem them until they came flying past me as I was turning left, a second later I'd have hit them. Some people really beg belief.

As it is, I am going to purchase a nice foldable fluorescent tabbard I can fold up and put in my hunt coat pocket and along with a reflective hat tabbard. Quite how it's going to fit in with my mobile phone, foldable hoof pick, various bits of string and hip flask without falling out when I'm grappling to find my cap for the Hunt secretary I've yet to work out...

 

[Alec Swan]

Alec,

It is not just your life. Your horse may kill a driver or child passengers in the event of a collision.

.......

Quite, and I agree with you. H-viz or not, there are accidents involving horses on a regular basis. I'll tell you what, I've had a brilliant idea; Let's ban all horses from the public highway. That should sort the problem, and rest assured, following on from a new set of regs, which may or may not solve the problem, the eventual step will be taken whereby no horses are allowed on the public highway, at all. Would you be happy with that?

Alec.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Quite, and I agree with you. H-viz or not, there are accidents involving horses on a regular basis. I'll tell you what, I've had a brilliant idea; Let's ban all horses from the public highway. That should sort the problem, and rest assured, following on from a new set of regs, which may or may not solve the problem, the eventual step will be taken whereby no horses are allowed on the public highway, at all. Would you be happy with that?

Alec.

No, I suspect they wont.....:-D

I (personally) wouldnt dream of not riding with high viz, but I also wouldnt dream of being so arrogant as to dictate what others do or do not wear when riding perfectly legally on the roads.

Riders may not pay road tax (which incidentally isnt earmarked for roads anyway, hasnt been for a long time, and drivers pay it because of the wear and tear cars do that horses and cyclists dont to the road surface -so it is quite reasonable), but none of those roads would be there if the horses hadnt used them long before the cars - they are the reason the roads exist....!

I find that hunt riders tend to be in groups and TBH if you cant spot a combined 3 ton on horses and riders ahead of you, you shouldnt be allowed on the road anyway.

As a car driver it is my responsibility to spot slow moving road users, and to be able to stop within the distance I can see. end of.

If a car driver is driving fast enough to fatally injure a (strapped in) passenger by ploughing into a horse and rider then IMO the responsibility is down to that driver since they are neither driving at an appropriate speed nor being aware of any other road users.

 

[monkeybum13]

Most cyclists do wear high-vis.

I can't understand why hunt riders don't keep a set of high-viz leg bands and a hat cap/tabard stuffed in a pocket, so if they are riding back in the afternoon from a meet they can put the high-viz stuff on. I don't think they need have it on at the meet or during the hunting. It is only polite to other road users.

Many people do keep a hi viz tabard in their pocket for hacking home/to their box after a good days hunting

 

[thundermacd]

Re: It should be illegal to ride on a public road without wearing High-Viz Florencent

I'm sorry JM, but that's nonsense. We are already burdened by more than enough bureaucratic old bollox, some originating from our clown like Continental cousins, some from our own Government who employ others to tighten the control which they have over us, and I strongly suspect some to originate from those with nothing better to do than dream up yet more stringent and restrictive rules and regulations.

It's my life and I will live it as I see fit. If I still rode, I'd also still chase a fox or two, armed with a Hoss, and a dawg or two.

I agree with you, that Hi-viz is an excellent idea, at all times of the day, but to burden us with further rules and conditions, by which we live our lives, isn't on.

Alec.

Love your posts! And your (naughty ) postscript!

 

[Dovorian]

Swop the hip flask for a neatly folded lightweight tabard and hat band....?

I am now doomed of course!

 

[Judgemental]

It's simples. The Under Secretary of State uses his or her powers via the Statutory Instrument in the Hunting Act 2004 to make it illegal for anybody participating in Trail or Drag hunting not to be High-Vized.

Far far too many people on horses on roads putting all and sundry at risk.

If one cannot ride off-road, then give up keeping all these horses?

A decent 'Bomber Jacket' style High-Viz from say Jewson's the builders merchants is only about £20.00+

 

[ester]

trouble is.. I quite like keeping my one (not all these ) horse. One clearly needs to buy a bigger estate to have ones own off-road riding routes. . .

 

[Judgemental]

trouble is.. I quite like keeping my one (not all these ) horse. One clearly needs to buy a bigger estate to have ones own off-road riding routes. . .

There is very little purpose for people to use public roads since the ban because the trail should be laid well away from roads.

Probably the best thing you could do ester,

Yes I am advocating High-Viz as being mandatory in the so called 'hunting field', if one can call a hack round the countryside after a smelly rag, 'hunting field'.