Q About High Vis

[PotofEarlGrey]

What high viz do you consider to be 'enough'?

I have a tabard, exercise sheet, breastplate, & fly hood. As I only ride out in daylight hours, on roads with clear viewing, I tend to only use my tabard.

What's your view re high viz?
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[ycbm]

When I did ride on roads I would only use full sleeve hi viz. It's noticeable what a difference it makes.

I also wouldn't set foot on a road on a horse without a quarter sheet or a hi viz cover on my hat.

What's the downside to using all the hi viz you already own?
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[PotofEarlGrey]

That's interesting about the full sleeves.

What's the downside to using all the hi viz you already own?
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It's just sloppiness on my part, I suppose. As I am riding during full daylight hours, I hadn't thought it necessary.

 

[Cowpony]

That's interesting about the full sleeves.

It's just sloppiness on my part, I suppose. As I am riding during full daylight hours, I hadn't thought it necessary.

You need something on you and something on both ends of your horse, in case you part company. Quarter sheet and ear bonnet are ideal, plus I have leg bands.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

That's interesting about the full sleeves.

It's just sloppiness on my part, I suppose. As I am riding during full daylight hours, I hadn't thought it necessary.

As someone who drives on country roads a lot during daylight hours I can assure you that just a tabard is not always very helpful. Also depends on what colour it is. I see a lot with yellow on and quite frankly in some weather conditions it doesn't show up any better than not having it. Bright orange, pink or even red will stand out pretty well. If you are riding into the sun you will appear only as a silhouette to anyone approaching from behind. Only thing that can help in this situation are bright flashing lights. Leg bands are very helpful as they are in the driver's eyeline. Hat covers excellent too as they can give prior warning over hedges. I see some riders out who have the rear of the horse well covered but have forgotten the front. All I can say is the more the better.

 

[follysienna]

I always wear a vest, an exercise sheet and a something on the front, either an ear bonnet or browband/noseband covers. Locally two people came off their horses on the road and they were charging down a fairly busy road. Luckily they were caught by members of the public and I helped to lead them along the road home. It made me realise how important it was to have hivis on the horses too.

 

[Fjord]

I ride on a small amount of quiet lane, and then bridleways. I like something on the front and the back of the horse, in case we go our separate ways, so tail cover and neck strap. For me, I wear a tabbard or long sleeved hi viz top, hat cover and I have a high viz whip.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Orange is best on mostly green background, I wear a vest, bridle and rein pieces , a quarter sheet on back. I have leg wraps too, do not use them in hot weather though

 

[cauda equina]

It would be great if someone (BHS? Student doing a dissertation?) did a study on different (styles/colours/where they are worn including on horse and or rider) types of hi viz in different weather conditions to give some sort of definitive answer to this question, which seems to pop up regularly

 

[rabatsa]

Leg wraps can be picked up better by some motorists as they move and attract the attention.

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

Thanks everyone. Rather stupidly, I hadn't considered if we parted company...

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

It would be great if someone (BHS? Student doing a dissertation?) did a study on different (styles/colours/where they are worn including on horse and or rider) types of hi viz in different weather conditions to give some sort of definitive answer to this question, which seems to pop up regularly

Yes, definitely a good idea!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It would be great if someone (BHS? Student doing a dissertation?) did a study on different (styles/colours/where they are worn including on horse and or rider) types of hi viz in different weather conditions to give some sort of definitive answer to this question, which seems to pop up regularly

Good idea.

Meanwhile, I follow the rail and race industry and am decked out in bright orange, occasionally hi vis red too. I'm usually off road but on rare occasions I do cross a v busy A road to get to further hacking. Not just jacket but also hat cover too for self.

Def need your chosen item to be fully round your trunk, not the ones that are black down the sides, better to be full sleeved if possible.

One of my brothers is a Search and Rescue op, they wear red, he says red or orange is the most visible, particularly in our county which is more woodland than heath.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I do have a flashing martingale too which I would wear on dull days .. this is the summer mesh outfit except leg wraps if it’s roasting.

Other rugs are obviously weather dependent

 

[PotofEarlGrey]

I do have a flashing martingale too which I would wear on dull days .. this is the summer mesh outfit except leg wraps if it’s roasting.

Other rugs are obviously weather dependent

Very smart! The orange really glows.

 

[cauda equina]

I do have a flashing martingale too which I would wear on dull days .. this is the summer mesh outfit except leg wraps if it’s roasting.

Other rugs are obviously weather dependent
View attachment 119748

View attachment 119750View attachment 119751

Where did you get your rugs from please?

 

[humblepie]

I vary but if going on fairly quiet straight road with wide verges then my very bright orange jacket - it is cycling one so not too hot even in the summer and possibly a pink/orange mesh quarter sheet. If going down a busier road then the full kit, including leg bands at the back.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I have mainly off road hacking but wouldn't leave the yard without hat band and either a hi viz tabard/gilet/coat or t-shirt depending on time of year with pony wearing a high viz breast plate and parson's rump or exercise sheet depending upon time of year.

When going on/crossing roads to get further afield pony would wear leg bands too.

In the winter I add LED lights & a head torch.

Pony does wear a bright coloured bridle too which although not high viz, lots of people comment on being really visible.

Generally we use a combination of pink and orange - more orange in winter and more pink in summer - but get frequent comments on how visible we are all year round.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Where did you get your rugs from please?

The full one was 29.99 from ebay, if you want the link Ill attach when I find it lol..
The equiflector was ebay too Im sure ..

The quarter one was

WATERPROOF QUARTER RUG or sheet with long reflective stripe. Driver message on tail flap, optional lights. Pink, hi viz orange or yellow.

Fabulous tough quality waterproof PU coated lightweight quarter sheet in hi viz orange or yellow. Long reflective stripe along each side, reflective binding round the tail flap. 2 Velcro straps each side anchor under the saddle to adjust for most saddle types so no flapping. Adjustable fillet...

www.ridereye.co.uk

And the

 

[PSD]

In winter I’m lit up like a Christmas tree, I buy running led bands as opposed to horsey ones. Attach 2 together round my hat, a running vest that flashes and a flashing martingale. Also put the bands round the legs too, you’d have to be blind to miss us!

During the day I’ll wear a vest and exercise sheet (unless very hot). I did have some leg wraps but I’ve misplaced them, so must replace them. I’m known as the hi vis queen on my yard!

 

[FitzyFitz]

I always keep a reflective band on my hat and a hi vis vest in my hat bag so I can't possibly forget them as a bare minimum, but always try to have at least one hi vis item on the horse too in case we part company. Preferably one front and one back.

I do vary it depending where I'm going. There was one route where I used to live where you could always tell when I was heading that way because I'd be in full traffic cone get up, with flashing lights and body cam on

I think blaze orange or bright pink are most visible, I often struggle to see yellow vests (especially as they are often grubby!) against hedgerows or light skies.

 

[ycbm]

I do have a flashing martingale too which I would wear on dull days

Isn't it supposed to go on the horse?

 

[eggs]

On the very rare occasions that I venture out onto the roads I go out fully decked out - hat band, gloves, fleece/shirt, quarter sheet/ tail wrap, neck strap and leg wraps. I read and others have already said, that the leg wraps are probably the most effective as the continuous movement is more likely to catch the drivers eye. The ones I use are only about 3" wide so do not cover too much of the horse's leg.

I also have a florescent pink dressage stick which is very good at holding out at an angle to keep cars away from us.

 

[Blanche]

I don’t have a need for hi vis at the moment but often I see Parsons Rump hi vis advertised. Is it any good? I would worry about it getting caught on branches etc but maybe that doesn’t happen.

 

[Hallo2012]

i have a neon pink set of boots and pad for horse (always boot up so that takes no longer to put on) and he has a pink bridle.

pink hat
pink jacket
pink whip
pink quarter sheet in winter

 

[Maddie Moo]

It would be great if someone (BHS? Student doing a dissertation?) did a study on different (styles/colours/where they are worn including on horse and or rider) types of hi viz in different weather conditions to give some sort of definitive answer to this question, which seems to pop up regularly

There has been some initial research published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, looking at a novel tabard design for road safety. It was building on some prior research done into hi vis by other authors. But nothing else has come from that since it was published in 2019 though.

 

[Kaylum]

Hat covers have been really visible for me in the lorry above the hedges.

 

[Bluewaves]

A driver stopped beside horse and me one day to thank me for wearing my hi viz orange hat cover. The sun was shining in his eyes but the hat caught his eye and alerted him to slow down further.

Prompted by this thread I've just ordered a long sleeved wicking hi viz orange top. It will go nicely with my pink tabard with the 'Pass at 10 mph' message on the back.

Horse needs a pink or orange summer exercise sheet now too. He already wears pink/orange leg wraps.

 

[Goldenstar]

I wear a waistcoat or gilet in summer
A coat in winter
I don’t ride out in poor visibility
I don’t use exercise sheets

 

[Surbie]

I usually have a breastplate too, but given I hack on a black horse on busy, tree-lined residential roads with lots of speedy mums & OAPs, as well as in the woods, I may need to up my game. I'd like more showing a camera sign and the 10mph request - not that I think many will pay attention to it.

Photo below shows how much the hi-vis is needed!