Viz me up!

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Ok so it’s pretty much dark by the time I get to the yard (once I’ve got back from work, scrambled into my jods in the car and slung my tack on), so I’ve now waived good bye to mid week evening hacksing until spring *boo hoo* so it’s either use the school during the week, weekend hacking or for the moment I can still get a cheeky one in on the morning before work (if I bring in and tack up before sunrise) although it’s still very dull at 7:30 if it’s a miserable damp morning….like today!

So can I have some suggestions (or photos would be nice) of reflective and light wear (as in battery operated lights/LED etc), I’ve got a hi viz polite tabard that has some of the reflective strips on and a hi viz exercise sheet but what else can I wear on either me or the horse that makes us much more visible for motorists?

I see dog walkers and power walkers with there flashing lights on in the dark and they look really impressive and much more visible, any good ones that you’d recommend for horse riders?

Thank you :)
 
Maybe a hi-viz tail guard for him? So that his bum is also visible- obviously you are wearing your tabard anyway but a bit extra can never hurt! Likewise maybe something for his noseband so that you are bright from all angles?

Not sure about lights, maybe you could stick a head torch on over your hat! :D
 
I have a horseware tabard which is reflective and has lights in it, it is battery operated really shows up! Have also got a cheapish ligght up collar for mh dog which is like a thin tube, can be cut to size could perhaps just get some off these and attach to strirupps or something?
 
Ooooh! Ooooh! I know the answer! Someone off here recommended one of these... I now have one and I look like a mounted rave when I go out in the dark mornings...

I think Equisafety does an LED strip that can be attached to a noseband, but I thought that would be quite distracting for the horse?

(And I have been known to use a glowstick or glowing fishing lure or two in the mane and the tail)
 
arizonahoney, is it bad I now have visions of you in work boots a thong and just that vest, chipendale stylee? Your a man in my vision FWIW!

It's because you said about raving that I thought it. I'm not just weird I promise!
 
when I go out early, darkish mornings we get to wear:

Frank:
leg bands,
noseband,
breastplate,
exercise sheet.

Me:
fluorescent hat cover with reflective strip
tabard
flashing horsewear tabard
head light (on hat)
bike light on plain clipped onto the back of the tabard.

We seem to have acquired 2 orange flashing bands not sure where I am going to put those atm!

I do like to be able to show white to the front and red to the back like other road users if possible.
 
I have lots! I use the small cycle lights on the side of his head (yellow ones), 3 clipped on the end of his exercise sheet, 1 on the side of my boot, a reflective tail guard with flashing led lights, reflective brest plate with a light flashing light and reflective leg bands.
on me i have a polite tabard, head torch, reflective arm bands with flashing leds and another cycle light at the top of may tabard.

http://www.equisafety.com/equestrian/non-slip-neoprene-tail-guard
http://www.equisafety.com/equestrian/adjustable-reflective-neck-band
http://www.equisafety.com/equestrian/reflective-flashing-arm-leg-band

I think i got the bike lights from ebay, wilkinsons i think has them as well.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAFETY-CL...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item519b4b4186
 
Leg bands for the horse are really worth while as they move and therefore catch the eye easier, the same as pedal reflectors on a bike. Get some that have reflective tape not just the brightly coloured ones.

I'd also suggest a hat band or hat cover as that is high up so can be seen over hedges etc. Then either a long sleeved high viz for you or arm bands or hi-viz gloves so your hand signals can be seen.

If you can't find horsey stuff that does what you want it to look at cycling gear and running gear, they are often a bit more creative.

And finally if you get lights remember red to the rear white to the front, otherwise you will just confuse other road users.
 
Excellant stuff, thank you everyone for your replies, just been looking at them during my lunch hour ....while scoffing my lunch :D

Really like the flashing tail guards, so I'm going to get one of those.

Head torches are handy too even just for in the yard during winter so that's on my list.

Wondered if there is any sort of lighting that can be fixed onto your stirrup irons I wonder?

Yes good point about the colour of the lights depending on if they are front or back.

Thanks everyone. :)
 
I have Hi viz reflective hat band, over that I have a head torch and clipped on the back I have a red flashing cycle light that sits on the hat band. Works a treat.

I don't think its possible to over do the hi viz, personally!
 
I have some stirrup reflectors I'd be happy to sell you! Bought 2nd hand off ebay but never used them (horse now retired). They are big discs that you attach to the iron.

I also have a little reflective strip that attaches to the tail with hair clips.

Also you could try wearing a headtorch over your hat. My head torch has a blinky red light at the back.
 
And fluorescent gloves so your hand signals can be seen even better :D I've just bought some really good gardening gloves in yellow which are better than most riding gloves (tough, comfy, warm, velcro fastening at wrist) for under a tenner. Also running gloves which are cheaper at around £3 but thinner so maybe wear them over another pair? Flashy strap things from Poundstretcher are about £2, and the cheapy leg bands for horses can also be worn around your arms and legs :)
 
Have to agree with comments about reflective strips being great, but these only work of course if a car has its lights on! They are really effective though, and I use the V-Bandz leg bands which are both hi viz and reflective. If you catch them in the light they really light up, and if the horses legs are moving then they really make drivers slow down and wonder what on earth it is!
 
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