Nearly invisible horse and rider.

LaMooch said:
I use pink after being at work watching the CCTV camera at work to see someone who was in a yellow hi-viz suddenly appear from next to hedge. That changed my mind on my hi-viz colour
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That's interesting, yellow seems to have become prevalent.

We all wear hi vis on my yard; whenever we see riders without any on, we always remark that they look really clueless and very novice to not be aware of these things. Plus several insurers now state your insurance is invalidated if you don't take precautions on the road like hi-vis.
 
I change my hi vis with the time of year, orange leaves atm mean I have currently switched to yellow. It also depends on getting contrast on your horse hence greys are definitely better in orange/pink. I don't think orange would work too well on Frank as a chestnut so he gets yellow and I wear a season specific tabard ;)
 
Faracat said:
I know where it's from as I keep pondering about buying one. ;) It's made by V-bandz. http://www.v-bandz.co.uk/category-24/WPQTR.html I have the mesh version in both yellow and pink and they are great for warm weather.
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They were at HOY's the sheet is lightweight, no lining and was £24. I am impressed with it, she has a backside like the side of a house but it fits, doesn't ruck up or twist, the breast plate is plastic and tacky but it does the job so who cares.
 
I bought my friend a reversible gilet from Aldi for her birthday, I bought her a hat band a few years ago which she's never worn (I thought it would be small enough to be ok to wear) so I know she's going to hate this :D
 
Interesting thread. On Friday evening, I was a bit later than normal coming home from work - picked my car up from the station about 7.30pm. It is dark here from just after 5. As I was collecting my car, I heard hooves on the road, very unusual for the location, and I looked around and saw two horses pass the end of the road. I have to follow a one-way system to get back to where I saw the riders on the main road, and when I got there I was obviously looking out for them. I couldn't see them at all, until I was quite close behind them. They were two mounted police, riding two abreast. The outside rider had a small flashing red light on his arm, the inner one had nothing. They both had a reflective "Police" on the back of their jackets, which were bomber type jackets rather than the usual long hi-viz and reflective coats I see mounted police wearing. It was very heavy rain and they were trotting, 30mph zone, smallish town in the Glasgow commuter belt.
I was surprised how difficult it was to see them and how close I had to get, even knowing that they were there. I like my orange on myself and the horse, and I like my flashing hat band for when the light is getting poor - I wonder why these mounted police were so difficult to see?
 
A few times I have driven past a girl riding on the road on a dark bay, wearing dark clothes and without a hat. Yes, it was the middle of the day but the only thing that caught my eye was the white markings on the horse's face. I don't really care if she ends up severely injured in an accident but she's putting her horse at risk.

I wear yellow hi viz - I use a mesh quarter sheet and I wear either a hi viz gillet or my polite coat. I couldn't forgive myself if my horse was injured or killed for the sake of a bit of bright clothing.
 
For anyone interested, Dickies currently have 10% off all their hi viz workwear, my usual 'hacking jacket' in winter is either my bright orange or the yellow fluro bomber type jacket. Totally waterproof too :) There are various jackets and coats, all much cheaper than equestrian ones :)

Can someone point me in the direct of a single colour fluro hat cover?
 
I always wear hi-viz when riding so does the horse. Driving past my horses field this afternoon all I could see at first of the black foal was his white socks as he was by some trees. Just shows how they blend into the background. I want drivers to see me as soon as possible!
 
I always put my hi viz on to leave the yard but have been laughed at by fellow liveries. It's definitely a vanity thing!
 
Dumbo said:
I always put my hi viz on to leave the yard but have been laughed at by fellow liveries. It's definitely a vanity thing!
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They won't laugh when they get hit by a car.

I am an old fashioned traditionalist, I don't do coloured saddle cloths, bling, grackles etc. Plain leather hunting style tack for me, but the roads are so much more dangerous now, everyone is in a hurry. If my life and my horses lives can be made safe, then light me up like a christmas tree.
 
If I see riders out without high vis I always think they look a bit stupid! I put my flashing lights on over my tabard/ coat if I think I may get caught out as it gets dark. My mum's friend has her horse killed on the road in broad daylight, very sad- an ex police horse who'd moved to the country for a retirement of hacking :( sports car ran in to his back legs and he had to be shot- I believe there was a case on it and it was used very heavily against her that she wasn't wearing high vis!
 
HollyWoozle - I love your matching outfits and colours, they're great!

I have the 'POLITE' jackets and they are brilliant - not only hi-vis but they have the reflective blue and white chequered bits on it too. I also have the matching headband, and my horse has a yellow hi vis saddle pad which is great - only 21 pounds from Robinsons!

I have heard that hi-vis have little effect on drivers, but cars definitely slow down when they think I'm a mounted police officer! :D
 
No one leaves my yard without hi vis, minimum on horses are leg wraps, a couple of years ago I was asked what I wanted for xmas, I opted for new hi viz and after researching it went for the orange, more visible in all lights, jesus it was bright, I needed sunglasses to to wear it, but anyone wearing it could be seen from a good way off, my rider I had couldn't understand my insistence on hi viz, till the day she forgot the time and it was dusk coming home, I went looking for her and my horse, a very dark bay, I followed her home using my headlights to hilight she was there, told her in no uncertain terms, my horses, my rules, hi viz is provided and will be worn or you don't ride, she took the warning to heart (I think she had a fright) and after that, wore hi viz, we arrived home one dark night after work and met her at the top of the drive, riding one and leading another, it was the reflective bands on the horses that got attention
 
Interesting my hi viz in pink for the girl and yellow for the boy - might change him to orange as I need a new equisafety rug.

I know many round here don't wear hi viz, the most recent is black horse and rider in dark shirt and dark jodhpurs. So many other snobs round here snub us for wearing it and look down their noses at us.
I really wish you could still buy seeu lights for the horses legs like the police wear.


I just googled and this came up
http://tail-lights.com/]

BE SEEN BE SAFE................
 
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I nearly hit a woman this evening. She was walking with no reflective gear on a busy but relatively 'country' road (no street lights, no pavement and 50mph limit). Had to swerve into oncoming traffic to miss her. Not good at all.

Please can everyone plaster themselves in neon colours/lights at anytime walking/hacking/running/cycling on roads.......your irresponsibility will ruin lives.
 
My standard waterproof is hi-viz, but not reflective, so I always stick a reflective vest over it. Horse has reflective/hi-vis leg wraps, and strips for reins/browband/noseband. I also have some little LED torches on rubbery straps that are designed to be put on bikes but which can fit reasonably well on a stirrup - I have white ones pointing forward and red ones pointing back. Ideally I'd never be out when it was dark enough to need them but, having got caught out with clouds coming down, I always keep them in my pocket to be on the safe side. I've also got reflective slap strips that I wear on my wrists, to make hand signals more visible.

I was about to buy a reflective orange exercise sheet, complete with red light on the bum, for my share, but then she retired. I'm currently trialling a new share so, if that all works out, I'll be buying him one. (There's a 4 hand difference between them, so I'm glad I hadn't already shelled out!)

It's a yard rule that you must wear hi-viz when hacking out, but some people tend to treat it the same way as the yard rule that you must wear a hat when turning out/bringing in.
 
I don't really understand why people don't like Hi-vis. I love the stuff :)

Most of mine is pink, although have some yellow and Orange as well. I have to wear hi-vis at work as I work in a warehouse, cycle to work in the dark mornings, and ride my horses. It's second nature to me to at least put a tabard on, no matter where I am going.

OH and son think it's really funny that when I am cycling in the rain, I borrow sons waterproof jacket which is army issue (cadets), so camouflage colours, and then chuck a bright pink with reflective strips vest on over the top!
 
Illusion100 said:
I nearly hit a woman this evening. She was walking with no reflective gear on a busy but relatively 'country' road (no street lights, no pavement and 50mph limit). Had to swerve into oncoming traffic to miss her. Not good at all.

Please can everyone plaster themselves in neon colours/lights at anytime walking/hacking/running/cycling on roads.......your irresponsibility will ruin lives.
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My kids and I have to walk along a pavement less road to get to the horses. We all wear hi viz to do it, no arguments!

I have got my daughter a hi viz tabard with loads of reflective strips, for walking to the school bus. She has to cross roads and we are on a commuter rat run. . she can stuff it in her bag when she gets to the bus stop.
 
Just musing after reading this thread why does it seem impossible to find a full length hi viz riding coat (like drizabone style that covers back of saddle and half your legs) I would love one for winter and misty days but I can't seem to find one. Can someone help me out?
 
I saw a very special kind of idiot on a push bike towing a small child in a little trailer thing, in the dark, no reflective at all, I'm surprised the child hasn't been flattened.
 
I will name and shame a local livery yard come riding school, St Leonards, near Launceston. This place even holds a BE event, so a decent standard you would have thought. Several times I have stopped on the rat run of a country lane where they are situated, and asked riders if they would please wear hi-viz. I can count on one hand the number of liveries/riding school clients that I have seen in any hi-viz. Not to stamp down on this is totally irresponsible. Even if they wont make liveries wear it, PLEASE make all your riding school clients, many of whom are novices, wear something. To see a string of young novice kids out on hairy (I love them btw) ponies, not wearing a stitch of hi-viz makes me very sad. The off-road riding there is so limited on hacks, you'd have though they would take road safety seriously.

I live a few miles away, on much quieter roads (I'm unlucky if I see 5 cars on a 90min hack), but always wear hi-viz, and if anyone rides one of my horses I insist on them wearing it as well. I want my horses to return alive. No guarantees even with hi-viz, but it swings the odds in your favour. A lot of hunting around here, find regualr members never wear it, even when hacking to meets in dark colours, and also tend to wear hedgerow colours when exercising.
 
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My husband is a multidrop driver, last week his route was in horse country. He came round a bend with the sun on the windscreen so difficult to see through anyway and at the last moment spotted a horse and rider. Horse was all black, rider in dark clothes, no high viz or reflective on either and scarily NO HAT! He managed to slow enough which isn't easy in a high top long wheel base van, he was driving sensibly, he always does but still difficult to do an emergency stop. He was livid about it. She endangered herself, the horse and him / his work. I just don't understand why people wont wear it! I bought 2 tabards for £1.50 (changed to orange) at a tack sale a couple of weeks ago so its not like they are even expensive!!
 
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