OMG.....Adults safety comments.

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Ride safe and your uncool?

I am 18 but I will not ride without my body protector and hat. I also will not ride a horse that doesn't have safety stirrups (seen nasty accidents involving normal stirrups).

When I hack I go way over the top with reflective wear (we look like a xmas tree!) and if I'm on my own I always wear my Med Card because if something happened details are easy to find.

I get the micky took out of me by other young riders. But mainly adults?

I do ignore these comments but I can't understand adults telling me I don't need a body protector or reflective wear when hacking. I've also been told to take the running martingale off my horse even though hes so over the top with 'im going to shove my nose in the air to the point of having no control without a martingale! '
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It makes me really angry because horses are so dangerous to ride and young riders should have safety drilled into them. Some youngsters will believe these adults and possibley get really hurt.

Sorry about the rant! But theres so many serious accidents that you can't be to careful!
 
You are not uncool. I also will not ride out without hi- viz (although I draw the line at a back protector)

Ignore them, there really is no such thing as being too careful
 
I think there was talk a few months ago about riders having to wear a certain amount of reflective to comply with insurance? Can't remember the exact details.

When I hack out on Star I have stirrup reflectors, martingale reflective strips a tabard thing and a tail reflector. I also buy all my sweatshirts/polo shirts etc in the brightest pink I can find. I bought a spectacular fluorescent pink gilet from QS for £ 2, so it doesn't need to cost a fortune.

I would rather be seen a mile off personally, and I would have every respect for you. It's amazing the other riders that leave our yard with not even a tabard though.

Jo x
 
It drives me mad when people comment on what others choose to ride in
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. Don't worry about it, they'll soon shut up when they're scraping their horse's remains off the bonnet of a lorry. I wear sooooo much reflective stuff, I'd rather be silly-looking than a human pancake!
 
Same, i have always worn a back protector and when i had a bad fall a few days ago i realised really how important they are even though they can seem really annoying to have to lug about the whole time! i think that people who ride without hats are really asking for a disaster and it makes me cringe to see people jumping without any hat/back protector!
 
I'm 16 and I refuse to hack without Hi Viz. I do only have a big orange waistcoat but it is huge and orange and reflective so I am definately seen. I always carry my phone on a hack and always bring a neckstrap. However like M_H I draw the line at a body protector, I don't jump and I hate them, I feel so restricted. If you want to wear all of that Hi viz, it is always better to be safe than sorry and I agree, kids should have Hi Viz drilled into them at least! Even during the summer months its so easy to not be seen..
 
The only one of those that I wouldn't go for is safety stirrups. I find they cause pains in my ankles when i've ridden my friend's horse and the elastic bands have pinged off several times out hacking which to me isn't that safe.

Totally with you on the hi viz and the body protector though
 
I wear loads of high-viz gear and ensure my daughter does too. Ignore what others say, its better to be safe than sorry!!
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Wear what you feel safest in, ignore the others comments. I always wear hi viz jacket and hat band even when I'm going on the forest. Some people think I'm daft for doing that. My reply to them is that the Air Ambulance will find me quicker when I fall off, which seems to shut them up.
 
I always wear hi viz out hacking even if it's a sunny day. It's so easy not to be seen. I've seen people hacking out with no hi-viz on a sunny day and it's been hard to spot them !! I would rather look uncool anyday ! I worry about hacking out on my own in case anything happens but have to at the moment as my sisters horse can't be ridden at the moment. I always take my phone with me and let someone know i'm going riding out etc. I wouldn't give a stuff what people say much better to be safe IMO.
 
Good on you for being sensible. You'll have the last laugh if they have an accident but to be honest it is usually people like them that don't.
 
I don;t wear a body protector unless I am xc and sometimes hunting
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I fell totally safe on my pony and I realise I may be stupid but it is my choice. I do not wear High-voz as ALL my hacking is done off-road (Cirencester park) and only ride in full light. I don't have safety stirrups and don;t have a problem
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HOWEVER I do not see why poeple would make comments etc. Ride in what you feel comfortable in and I admire you for taking safety first etc - I just find BPs restricting and a pain in the neck
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Ignore their childish comments..better to be safe than sorry.

I always wear hi viz, even when riding on the farm. Not only can the air ambulance see me if necessary but also other riders can see us too.
 
You might want to re-consider the hi-viz lil-ponios-rock. If you should come off it might be what helps you be found, especially from the air.

OP, just ignore these un-cool people
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I'm more likely to fall off with a body protector on than I am without so i'll risk it, for general riding and showjumping anyway. I do have a bad back anyway and I feel this is the best way for me. I always wear a hard hat and if i'm first or last in a ride out i'll wear a tabard but seeing as I don't have my own horse or my own high viz thats about it.

I'm now being told that I have to wear a hard hat while out on the carriage during exersize/schooling (for work I wear a bowler tho) which i think is a bit excessive when your on roads and tracks, off road I'd get it. Its a weird double standard tho, 6ft up in the air on a waggonette brake with two youngsters in front i have to wear a bowler but 3ft up on a marathon (cross country vechical i.e. very stable) with a single horse I have to wear a hat!
 
I know that I should, it is not for a coolness reason, just preference. I usually hack with people aswell so it's not too bad.
I always wear bright things if alone. I am the first one to admit that I am stupid - but that's me
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I think you are VERY cool to wear what you do, and if I had any sense I would too
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i'm 18 and get the mick taken out of me as well for wearing a hat and tabard. i also wear a BP to hunt, jump, xc and ride any new horse until i know it really well. personally i prefer straight bones and no plaster casts. also a little girl fell off round here (9yrs old) when her mums horse spooked and caught her in the small of the back. the BP saved a bad spinal injury and the tabard helped the air ambulance locate them. the paramedics said the BP and other safety gear prevented a severe accident. stick to your guns and be safe (and bright!!!)
 
ignore them, but as you say it is ridiculous coming from adults!

People probably think I go over the top, I am like an advert for hi-viz, I always wear my hat and body protector, and I have dog tags on George's saddle and bridle with the yard and my contact details on, phone in my pocket with important numbers saved as ICE - well I am a worrier, but it just gives me a bit more confidence.
 
well i think wearing hi viz shows how much you value your horses life never mind your own summer is very bad for being seen in the bright dazzling sun, and as for riding helmets - the latest fashion round where i live (not where i keep my horse though) is riding in baseball caps - er what is the point guess it might save the brain messing up the road as much lol!
 
I think you have you're head screwed on very well, and thse adults are totally wrong!
I must admit I only wear Hi-Viz in really crappy weather. I should wear it more often.
I wear my body protector for XC, but the last time I went to practice XC about 8 weeks ago now, I hacked over and accedently left it at home.
That day I fell off and landed on my coxix anc wrist, I broke my wrist but thankfully I didnt reak my back. I was very lucky, but my back is still very sore.
I will never forget to wear it ever again, it really scared me and my poor friends!
 
After having two falls out hacking in the last 2 months, and not wearing a BP; I will always wear one in future. I have badly damage muscle in the backside! as a result of landing on the bottom of my back. I will be out of action for weeks maybe months
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I wear Hi-viz all the time not matter what I'm doing.
 
ignore the churlish adults! - we had similar at my old livery yard before I went it alone again. I am not Mrs Safety by any means BUT if my child or I hack out we do tend to wear hi viz or the horses have hi viz quarter sheet. It DOES give drivers a few extra seconds to see you allowing them more time to slow down, the difference is VERY obvious and apparent.

If we are off road then occasionally we dont wear it but mother hens comments on air ambulance finding you are spot on.

If those people that make fun got squashed by a speeding car that didnt see them, who would have the last laugh? Its rather sad that people see it as something to make fun of.

I also find that I get a hell of a lot more respect from drivers or bikes, or buses, when wearing hi viz as it gives the impression that you have made an effort to be seen, in some way they kind of appreciate it!
 
I got laughed at in the USA earlier this month for wearing a hat. I just told people I thought it was worth protecting the most important part of my body and that I would look even more dorky in the brain injury unit.

Tell them to mind their own, they won't be laughing when they're in traction.
 
Just ignore them, not worth it! As long as you feel safe and your horse then it doesn't matter. I always put hi-viz gear on my mare, to the point of making her look like a fluroscent yellow monster.

Your just setting a good example to other people and that's probably why they have made jokes, because they realise they should be doing the same!

Shoulders back, head up and ignore!
 
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