Please wear Hi-Vis and don't fumble with your phones ... please

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zeuscleoharmony

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Poodling along in my car yesterday, just as it was getting dark, along the narrow country lanes I know like the back of my hand, I encountered, down a shady incline a rider on her horse, dressed from head to foot in dark clothing, head down. When I passed her she was fumbling with her phone, oblivious to the danger she put herself in.

Lots of people use the lanes who are unfamiliar with them and it infuriates me a rider can be so selfish. In the event of an accident, not only would her horse be injured but the driver of the car wouldn't fare too well, I should imagine - enough to give anyone a heart attack.

A driver commented to me one afternoon after coming round a bend in front of me (slowly) that he would not have slowed down so much had it not been that he had seen my hi viz jacket through the trees, so he knew something was ahead of him he had to look out for.

Please, please, when you are riding, pop on a hi viz vest at least. Even when I poodle along into the forest and bridleways I wear my hi viz. In the event of an accident I would have much more chance of being seen by any rescuers and also, with lots of shoots going on at the moment, it makes us a little more conspicuous.

For under a fiver you could make the difference between being the cause of an accident or not.
 
mm, I passed a lady the other day in dark clothing when the light was going- she was on a bay horse on the phone leading a pony, smoking and had a dog running in the middle of the road!!! Hows that for multi tasking or um...suicide stupid woman

High viz sheets for the horse are also great
 
I dont wear hi viz, but even if its drizzley mist I dont ride, IMO cars can't even see hi viz through mist.
Way too risky, I am a fair weather rider
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I agree totally - you see some right numpties out on the roads! To be honest, I'm not that bothered that they put themselves in danger, but I don't think their horses should suffer from their stupidity, nor the poor car owner who might inadvertantly collide with them.
 
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Totally agree.

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Ditto, that kind of thing really p's me right off, if there was something slippy on the road or your car brakes failed and you hit them, all because you could not spot them in the low light and you had to live with the consequences yeah it really gets on my tits and you can tell!
 
yes, totally agree. i hope you stopped and told her that she was pretty much invisible and putting her horse in serious danger... if she wants to get killed it's bad enough, but no horse deserves to get wiped out on the road because of its rider's stupidity and/or arrogance.
 
I totally agree I so nearly hit a child last night on the way to bring my own horses in. She was riding a small pony in light clothing and she and the pony blended in perfectly with the hedge and grass. Not to sure what caught my eye may be movement of her irons. She is a child that is left on the yard all the time without any interest of her parents. She makes no effort to thank anyone who slows down and when you ask her please were hi viz "No why should I its so un cool!" When pointed out something to her father who was telling me off for speaking to said child was told she is far the best rider on the yard. I pointed out that having her in the indoor school with no one knowing she was in there at 7 am was not safe. His mindless answer "she has a phone!" To which I pointed out fat lot of good that would be when she is out cold and on the floor or worse. She is an accident waiting to happen but no one seems to be able to get through to her or her parents Sorry rant over.
 
You are pissing in the wind, from numerous previous posts on here regarding wearing any viz gear, "certain" riders seem to have a death wish, they would rather have their horse sceaming mangled in agony in the road, in a pool of blood, rather than have to wear something that isn't fashionable or doesn't look cool, or worried somebody might "take the piss" for wearing it.
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£5000.0 horse, £1500.00 saddle etc etc, £20.00 for a bit of viz gear, too expensive
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Unfortunately I fear your plea will, as so often, fall on deaf ears. I don't know what it will take to make riders think about this, but the answer has not been found yet.
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Needless, to say, I, too, agree with you.
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Unfortunately I fear your plea will, as so often, fall on deaf ears. I don't know what it will take to make riders think about this, but the answer has not been found yet.
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Needless, to say, I, too, agree with you.
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So sad but true
 
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You are pissing in the wind, from numerous previous posts on here regarding wearing any viz gear, "certain" riders seem to have a death wish, they would rather have their horse sceaming mangled in agony in the road, in a pool of blood, rather than have to wear something that isn't fashionable or doesn't look cool, or worried somebody might "take the piss" for wearing it.
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£5000.0 horse, £1500.00 saddle etc etc, £20.00 for a bit of viz gear, too expensive
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Pedantic, VERY well said, please please will you do us ALL an enormous favour and send this (minus swear word i guess) to H&H letters, and hopefully they'll print it, you'll get a bottle of champagne, and you might well avert a few horsey deaths on the roads this winter...
 
Couldn't agree more, our riding club has it as a rule of club events that horse and rider MUST wear Hi-Viz, sadly a number still arrive without and yet others ride out at other times without
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I wonder where you all live as after my ride the other day (on which I wore my hi viz
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) I also saw a woman dressed in dark clothing, riding a bay horse, on her mobile phone, coming round a bend. Both me and my passenger (who possibly owns the most hi viz anyone can!
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) couldn't believe how stupid she was!
 
i wear hi viz on the road no matter what weather is - summer and winter. horse has hi vis wraps on too on both right legs. Its just not worth the risk, my hi viz says kill your speed not my horse - doesnt always slow people down thou - some drivers just dont care and have even been so close they have clipped my stirrup iron - thank god my mare is so good and hasnt spooked or moved over.
I would never ride or lead a horse on the road without hi viz -
 
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You are pissing in the wind, from numerous previous posts on here regarding wearing any viz gear, "certain" riders seem to have a death wish, they would rather have their horse sceaming mangled in agony in the road, in a pool of blood, rather than have to wear something that isn't fashionable or doesn't look cool, or worried somebody might "take the piss" for wearing it.
mad.gif
£5000.0 horse, £1500.00 saddle etc etc, £20.00 for a bit of viz gear, too expensive
frown.gif


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Pedantic, VERY well said, please please will you do us ALL an enormous favour and send this (minus swear word i guess) to H&H letters, and hopefully they'll print it, you'll get a bottle of champagne, and you might well avert a few horsey deaths on the roads this winter...

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Didn't know there was anywhere to send letters to !!, I dont buy any mags or papers of any description, including H&H so
if it's in the H&H mag I cant really send it in.
 
I always wear hi-vis when riding on the road and also when I'm bringing my horse in when it's getting dark as we have to walk up a very quiet lane. Only people that have horses at the yard really use the lane but still its hard to see a dark horse and rider even if you're aware that they're going to be there and you're looking out for them!

I've had enough run ins with car drivers without giving them any more ammunition to say 'I didn't see you'.
 
Yep Im a car driver, this morning, I wish I could have videoed while I was driving. I was going along a long straight bit of road (I do it everyday dropping OH to work), and before I knew it I was passing a dog walker, lucky I drive out away from the hedge!
Oh and she was wearing Hi Viz!!!

Anyone who know's me will tell you I clock everything, I dont miss a stitch in any shape or form
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