No hi viz...

JellyBeanSkittle

JellyBeanSkittle

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When I hack out with my friend, they refuse to wear a hi viz vest. I do as standard and am really confused as my friend is the most animal orientated person ever and a member of the bhs!!

Have tried to highlight the implications to no avail, each to their own I suppose but what implications would this have if one of us was to have an incident when out riding? Is there anything I could say to help the situation as it makes me worried for they're safety :(
 
Have you suggested a hi-vis exercise sheet/brushing boots/leg wraps/rein covers so that the horse is lit up like xmas, not them? If they want to take the chance of not being seen its up to them, but the horse doesn't have a choice and probably doesn't give a toss about what he looks like either, so Deck the Halls I say!
Because only losers wear hi-vis :rolleyes: obviously ;)
 
Try engineering it so that your friend sees a group of riders in high-viz from a distance, it worked to convince a woman I know to wear hers at all times. She saw a group of riders on one side of the valley from the other side. :)
 
When you are driving along in a car dont you always see hi viz.riders ,workmen etc.much quicker than those not.Its crazy for riders not to wear something that alerts others to their presence.It shows consideration for others,and wearing them in daylightis as important.Why not be as safe as you can be.
 
I ride out with a friend who rarely wears a hi viz. I always have one on. I forgot to take mine to the yard one day but I made sure my horse had plenty of hi viz on and I had a hat band on. I also had a light coloured top on.
People who ride without any form of hi viz are asking for trouble imo. Even in the bright light hi viz should be worn.
 
I'd never forgive myself if anything happened and we weren't wearing hi viz.
I don't understand why anyone would want to risk not being seen. Even when it's sunny the driver sees you earlier and has more time to react, which could save your horses life, never mind your own.

Least if we have it on I know I've done everything possible and drivers have no excuse for not seeing us.

As a driver I get mad when cyclists aren't wearing hi viz. You just see them so much earlier with it on.
 
Sunny conditions can be the worst, we vanish in the sunlight and shade along the side of a leafy lane. In those conditions we'll be spotted much earlier in hi viz pink than in the yellow colour.
 
I always wear my full set of pink hi viz :O)

You never know when a big cloud may come over and it may go really dark.Also light aircraft and helicopters can see you. What if you come off in a field and your horse bolts, you will be seen from above in a hi viz. x
 
It's not the law, therefore you can't do anything about those who chose not to. It's a matter of personal choice. I certainly don't get into conversations with people if they chose not to wear it, what business is it of mine? I wear it, so that's all I need to worry about.

The best thing you can do is just lead by example.

I'm sure that many would like a law brought in making it compulsory, but then you would have to think about cyclists, etc etc.....if you say horse riders need it, then so do cyclists. I bet it would be more difficult trying to fold them in on it, especially the competitive cyclists, and those with small children.

The same goes with hats. I chose to wear mine, but I certainly don't interfere or make comments if others chose not to.

Life is too short to worry about others, enjoy your own life and don't get hung up on it.
 
I wear it all the time now, but only a gilet or top, my horse wears nothing unless its very murky, and I don't ride out in the dark so no need for lights etc. I don't know why some riders ride out in misty conditions with LEDs on, can't see them unless its dark :rolleyes:

I try to get my bf to wear it, but she won't. But then again she's one of those that will wear a top hat for dressage, then all the body armour and inflatable stuff for xc - I've yet to make her realise that her skull is more important than her spine :)
 
If I ride on the road I wear hi viz and insist that anyone else I'm with does too. If anyone refuses either they or I don't go. I'm not prepared to be party to completely unnecessary risk.
 
If people want to hack out with me then they either wear hi viz or don't bother coming out with me, I would hate for them to be riding along behind me and totally blocking me/my horse so you can't see the hi viz.
 
amymay said:
I only wear it on rainy or particularly grey days.
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lula said:
i dont wear high vis in summer in good daylight myself.
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This is like saying 'I only wear a seat belt when I know I'm going to have a crash'
Wether it's sunny or gloomy you should wear hi viz. As a driver I know that I see the horse & rider quicker than when no hi viz is worn.
 
Both me and my daughter wear hi vis whilst riding. We also make sure our horses have a least one item of hi vis, mine has boots, daughters a neck strap. Remember if you part company with your horse for any reason it will be easier for drivers to spot them and avoid a collision. I personally can't understand riders who don't wear hi vis it's a no brainer to me but it's their choice. Surely giving vehicles those extra few seconds to spot you could prevent an accident.
 
I wear my hi viz jacket for hacking - even when not on the road (if we are on the road then I use hi viz exercise sheet and leg bands too). Recently came across a rider on a lovely coloured - she was in dark clothing, and it was a bright sunny day but I actually only spotted her by the white bits around the horses bum. She was going under trees and past buildings that put her in the shadows and she really wasn't that visible. I would rather wear something rather than cope with the consequences of an accident.
 
monkeybum13 said:
If people want to hack out with me then they either wear hi viz or don't bother coming out with me, I would hate for them to be riding along behind me and totally blocking me/my horse so you can't see the hi viz.
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I do the above too, I have spares and if offered and they refuse they can go on their own.
 
I don't normally wade into discussions on here, but do feel particularly strongly abou this subject. I may not be a perfect but horse and I always wear lots of hi vis out hacking.

Hi Vis is just as important in the sun as the grey as it's the bright sunny days when riders and horses disappear into the showdows (of hedges etc). As a driver I am always cross to see a horse and rider loom up out of the shadows at the last minute (and no I don't drive fast!), whereas the ones in Hi Vis are visable from a good way back.

It is all well and good to say it is up to these people to make their own choices but their choice affects not only them but also their horse and not forgetting a poor unfortunate drive who in a worst case scenario may have to live with an accident on their concience which could have easiliy been prevented by a bit of yellow cloth. Horse riding is not a fashion statement, get over it!:mad:
 
Black_Horse_White said:
I always wear it because If I'm ever god forbid in an accident the driver can't use the excuse that he didn't see me. Don't know how that would go down from an insurance point of view.[/QUOTE]

I imagine that it is a massive loop hole for them to shimmy out of.

If Insurance companies do not have 'must wear hi-viz' written into their clauses now I am sure that will pretty soon.

As I don't insure I wouldn't know, but I am sure that someone has mentioned this before, horse and rider must both be wearing at least one hi-viz item.

Personally I wouldn't go as far as not riding with someone if they didn't have it on, I no longer wear any hi viz when I am riding.
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I can't understand it anymore than I can understand horses that aren't freezemarked by their owners, or horses that are led or get turned out in nylon headcollars or drivers that don't wear seatbelts ....but still.

Had a conversation with an otherwise 'sensible' young girl the other day. I said "how come you didn't hack out with any flourescent on?", to which she replied "Oh, I came out of the school and then decided to go for a hack". As if that was a suitable answer. Duh? why not jump off said horse and go and grab something flourescent to wear.

Also people that say "its really bright out there, why do I need flourescent?". Maybe you need flourescent BECAUSE its so bright???!!!! I can honestly say I never go anywhere without flourescent on.

And food for thought...... its been proven by research that drivers have an extra 3 seconds of thinking and braking distance with someone wearing hi viz. At 30mph the distance works out to be approx more than the width of a dressage arena. Basically the difference between life and death, or death if the drivers not seen you and hasn't had time to brake.
 
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i ride with a lady who has a black cob and normally wears dark coloured clothing. She doesnt always wear hi-viz and i actually worry about her safety, her horse likes to lead and I am worried one day someone will come around the lanes too quick and not see them :(
 
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