Love, Hate or Don't care BHS Survey about Hi-Viz

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PeterNatt

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National hi-viz survey launched

The British Horse Society (BHS) has launched a national survey to discover why more horse riders and carriage drivers don’t wear hi-viz clothing.

Wearing hi-viz equipment when riding on the road can give vehicle drivers a valuable THREE seconds extra ‘reaction time’ that could save the life of both horse and rider! To put it into context for equestrians, those three seconds are equivalent to a car, driven at 30 mph, travelling the length of a dressage arena! Yet still a worryingly high proportion of riders choose not to make use of this lifesaving equipment.

The aim of the survey is to gather information about what hi-viz items equestrians use – and if they don’t, why not. The Society hopes to establish what could be done to encourage more riders to put their safety first

Horse and rider safety is at the heart of the BHS. Since the launch of our dedicated safety website, www.horseaccidents.org.uk in November, we have received more than 100 reports of road accidents. This shocking figure is very worrying for the safety of all equestrians using Britain's roads. The British Horse Society wants to help make sure all equestrians stay safe on Britain’s roads and a good place to start is to make sure they are as visible as possible through wearing hi-viz items.

Sheila Hardy, BHS Senior Executive (Safety), said: “Wearing hi-viz equipment will not only ensure that drivers on the road will see you up to three seconds sooner and can therefore take avoidance; but it will also help you to be found if you are lying injured following a fall.”

With the start of British Summer Time last weekend, equestrians everywhere will be looking forward to extra daylight hours for riding and carriage driving.

The survey will run until the end of May 2011. Anyone who responds will have the chance to win British Horse Society Gold membership free for a year, plus British Horse Society gift vouchers.

The survey can be completed online at www.bhs.org.uk or www.horseaccidents.org.uk and through the Society’s Facebook page.

For further information and pictures, please contact: Alison Coleman, The British Horse Society, 02476 840463 or a.coleman@bhs.org.uk
 
Typically, a totally flawed survey from question one. Do you use high viz when riding out? It's either a black or white answer. I use it sometimes, depending on the quality and direction of light, but there's no place for that in the survey. Honestly, are the people who make these things up really that blinkered? Therefore, I didn't continue so won't be counted.
I also think that people who are passionate about high viz, are more likely to answer than those who don't really care, therefore skewing the results. I know that you see someone in high viz, in certain situations, much earlier than someone without. However, I also know that in other situations, high viz makes no difference (again, a light, direction thing). Ultimately, it's all about education.
And, having got off my pedestal, I wear a high viz vest. A) depending on the time of day B) depending on the time of year C) depending if I go on the road and D) depending on the quantity of flies around, cos the *****s sure do like yellow...

And so the sermon ends ;)
 
I hate seeing riders and horses out on the roads without hi viz. I knew someone who fell off their horse whilst out hacking, their horse took off back home and got hit and killed by a car. Therefore I think it's equally important for the horse to wear hi viz too.
 
Hi

I do wear a tabbard with Slow Down pass wide and slow(yes I have heard the jokes)! But it does work. Even I know when I am driving just the glimpse of green makes me think POLICE! I often keep mine on when I am in a lane walking back from the field so I dont get run down.

I am not sure what insurance difference it would make but I think its responsible to stand out, not sure about all the hat bands etc though. i do think if you fell off as well in wooded area it may give ie a helicopter a better chance of finding/spotting you if did get knocked out!

will fill out survey thanks for letting us know
 
I filled it out, but agree with dooble's reservations as to some of the questions. For example, wearing hi-viz when riding out on someone else's horses varies widely for me, depending on the context and availability of the hi-viz, yet again, the question only allows a yes/no answer.
 
Will do it in a sec.

We all(!?) do everything we can to keep our horses safe and happy - boots, rugs, feeds, supplements, etc, and so it amazes me that people will ride on the road without hi viz when something so simple can go so far at protecting the horse even further.

I wear a hi viz tabard EVERY time. Even in summer because it ALWAYS makes you more visible. Ok, it might not give you a whole dressage arena if visibility is good anyway but every little helps, right? And I agree that it's not AS useful in every situation and many other factors are involved but the fact remains that it's a very simple thing to do and so it makes more sense to wear something every time just in case you need it.

I love my horses and will do everything I can to keep them safe when I take them on the road and hi viz is the most obvious and simple thing I can do.

I don't wear loads and loads of it, usually just my tabard and something on the horse (but not always and I'm trying to remedy that). I would like to see more practical options for the horse. I have a hi viz breastplate for mine but it slips about.
 
A HUGE thank you to everyone that has already filled in their responses to this survey.

For those of you that haven't yet- there are various ways that you can complete the survey, including following instructions in the pop-up on www.bhs.org.uk, clicking the link from our Facebook Page (The British Horse Society) and also by simply typing www.surveymonkey.com/s/bhshi-vizsurvey2011 into your web browser.

Please encourage friends, family, colleagues and horsy contacts to complete it too; don't be modest- if you/they don't use hi-viz equipment when riding or driving, we want to know your reasons why!

Thank you!
 
I even wear hi-viz for off road and woodland hacking. I think its definitely saved me from being chased a few times by dogs!

By wearing high viz, the dog owners can see me a long way off through the trees, therefore having a lot more time to catch their dogs.
 
Always wear mine off road. Makes me stand out and be seen, :D


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Image0099-2.jpg
 
Misinterpreted said:
horserider said:
Always wear mine off road. Makes me stand out and be seen, :D

I'm envious of your hacking. That looks lovely
Click to expand...

Thanks, we are very lucky here. The baby I'm riding is absolutely loving exploring.
Think I need to go with orange hi-viz maybe. Except when we ride through the cornfields coloured red with poppies. Ah well..
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I always wear Hi Viz. Mainly because my horse is sensible on the roads and if something does happen which isn't my fault I was wearing Hi Viz. There is nothing the driver can say to get off blame free.

I would however like to say that some Hi Viz i.e the exercise sheets, can be extortionately priced. I think that if the BHS were to campaign, reduced Hi Viz for X amount of weeks to horse owners would be a good way of coaxing more people into wearing it.
 
I think there ought to be some light weight, or mesh hi viz exercise sheets for summer wear (in fly rug type materials). My horses ex. sheets are all high viz, but for the majority of the year it's too warm for them to be worn.
I always wear my luna rider waistcoat though whatever the weather.
 
Misinterpreted said:
I think there ought to be some light weight, or mesh hi viz exercise sheets for summer wear (in fly rug type materials). My horses ex. sheets are all high viz, but for the majority of the year it's too warm for them to be worn.
.
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There is, I have one and it is fab! :D

V-bandz mesh sheet
std%20mesh%20qtr%20sheet%20yellow%2017.8.07.jpg

A sheet in the same style as the deluxe waterproof version this rug attaches behind the saddle. Made from a light-weight mesh which can be used in the summer without making the horse sweat up, or used in winter by hardy horses/ponies who do not require waterproof protection.
Machine washable.
Complete with fillet string.
The rug provides colour protection only.
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http://www.v-bandz.co.uk/EQUESTRIAN...afety/Mesh-Quarter-Sheet-with-Tail-Piece.aspx
 
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