What do you wear and in what order?

henmother

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Hello everyone! As the clocks tick I am getting closer to my, able to ride date, yippee, 26 days!!
I can't ride without Bp and air jacket , I know you can't wear a jacket over your air jacket so, here is my predicted clothing order. Brassiere, thermal top, long sleeve tshirt, body protector , long sleeve top, perhaps coat? Then air jacket!
What do you do with regards to high viz? Never ride out without any high viz, but aware that you shouldn't wear anything on top of air jacket. I have a medical armband to wear to as If the unspeakable were to happen I'd need to be shipped straight to the spinal injuries unit.
Should I try and put a high viz exercise sheet on Ned! Or those kits that attach to bridle? Or boots?
Thank you for your advice and help.
 
Thankyou monkeybum13, I did buy a new large tabard to wear over top, but, how would I know it wouldn't interfere with the air jacket, if you know what I mean. I'm being super cautious and I'll probably be fine on little old Ned, but once bitten (squished into a paraplegic) twice shy.
 
I have a long sleeved flourescent jacket that I wear underneath. Will go with baggy tabard on top in the hotter weather.
 
Wear far too many layers at the moment, can't wait for spring to shed a few:

Underwear, vest, long sleeve shirt, polo shirt, fleece jumper, jeans, hiviz waterproof which has a quilted lining and waterproof trousers too if it is raining which may or may not be hi viz depending on the day :)

Regarding the hi viz, I'm pretty sure you could wear a builders tabard over your air vest as long as it wasn't too tight, riders wear numbers over them all the time when competing and it doesn't interfere.
I also try to have something hi viz on me and the horse just incase we part company!
 
I suppose the only way to be 100% sure is to sacrifice a canister and test it with the tabard on top?

I think wearing a tabard or similar is important, for example helping the air ambulance to spot you if god forbid it came to it.
 
Wow that's a lot of clothes!! I wear short sleeve t shirt then thin jumper or really lightweight jacket. Occasionally wear a base layer or gillet. Then lots of hi vis if ihacking out. You can get tail wraps and fly veil hi vis things. Or you could get hi vis t shirt or jumper or jacket to go under air jacket. :)
 
Thankyou , I think I'll go for the tabard in as big as poss without it hanging off. Going to look into dressing horse up in high viz as there is a busy fast road to go on until bridle paths.
Love my waterproof pants, will look into high viz waterproof trousers too. Thank you all, want to be safe and be seen. Will be staying in school until I get to grips with balance without working legs.
 
I suppose the only way to be 100% sure is to sacrifice a canister and test it with the tabard on top?

I think wearing a tabard or similar is important, for example helping the air ambulance to spot you if god forbid it came to it.

I have thought about doing that, as I would like to know what to expect if/when it did go off. I'm more frightened of forgetting to unhook the damn thing when dismounting and it going off and spooking horse. Meds make me so forgetful I'm going to have to get someone to say to me, unhook,unhook until it becomes lodged in my tiny mind :)
 
Thats a lot of clothes! I rarely wear anything over the top of my body protector as it feels like my movement is restricted, I can put a ski jacket over if it is really bad but normally I stick to close fitting clothes underneath.
Regarding hi viz, rather than add another layer what about a hat cover and a tail/breastplate thing on the horse?
 
You can get airbags in hi-vis now I think. If not, a tabard with elasticated sides would be good. I wear a hi-vis jacket fastened with somewhat inadequate velcro over mine.
 
Have you bought the air jacket yet? I know Hit Air do a Hi Viz air jacket, maybe this would do the trick?

ETA - cross posted with above!
 
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congratulations henmother you really are an inspiration!

i expect you already have an air jacket, but you can get them in hi-viz if cost is not a concern.

I have worn a loose tabard over my air jacket before now - if you get one of the ones with velcro at the sides and not a very big joining surface i think it would be more likely to give way if necessary. Also what about a hi viz hat silk?

if you dont feel confident with a tabard over the air jacket then how about long sleeved hi viz underneath with everything else you can find - exercise sheet, tail guard, your waterproof bottoms and hat silk.

Good luck please keep posting to let us know how you get on :)
 
If you really wanted piece of mind you could modify a fronty opening tabard with a couple of eyes then use thin cotton to hold it closed. Cotton would break if jacket activated.
 
congratulations henmother you really are an inspiration!

i expect you already have an air jacket, but you can get them in hi-viz if cost is not a concern.

I have worn a loose tabard over my air jacket before now - if you get one of the ones with velcro at the sides and not a very big joining surface i think it would be more likely to give way if necessary. Also what about a hi viz hat silk?

if you dont feel confident with a tabard over the air jacket then how about long sleeved hi viz underneath with everything else you can find - exercise sheet, tail guard, your waterproof bottoms and hat silk.

Good luck please keep posting to let us know how you get on :)

Aww thank you tobiano, that is very kind. I have a zip up tabard and a Velcro one, think the Velcro would release if jacket went off , I could try and make the Velcro less Velcroy. That is a lot if Velcros in one paragraph !!
I will be boring you all with my progress, apologies in advance. :)
 
If you go for something like this sexy little number, it comes with elastic sides - no sewing needed :)

http://www.hivizextras.co.uk/HVE269-Reflective-Tabard-136

HVE269_Reflectiv_4e9f529ea251c-228x228.png
 
How exciting for you Henmother!! I agree with suggestions of a very large builders hi-viz, the velcro on the front is generally just tokan to stop the sides from flapping, perfect for the air jaket. Screwfix do them extremely cheaply for £3.99.

(www.screwfix.com/p/hi-vis-waistcoat-yellow-small-medium-47-chest/51053) I'm not sure what size I bought but they are huge!

I have a lightweight showerproof high viz cycling jacket from Altura which has lasted me about 2 years so far and although dirty, is like new. It wasn't cheap (but originally bought for cycling) but it is fab.
 
I think it's already been said but cycling hi-viz is excellent for riding as well and there's a much wider range to choose from. Everything from tight tops (so at least your arms would be hi-viz) to baggier jackets / gillets which 'may' go over the top of your air jacket, although you may have to go up several sizes.

If you have a Sports Direct near you, they have a great stock and are very reasonably priced. My dad cycles and I ride so I get stuff for both of us and it's always been really good and very bright!!
 
You can buy hi-viz 'stickers' in long strips. I say 'stickers' as they are not flimsy normal stickers, they are very sturdy and difficult to un-stick! You could buy lots of them to decorate your air jacket with!
 
HEnmother, I'll have a look at my highviz tommorow. It is a front fastening tabard with fairly weak velcro at the front and velcro sides that are fairly weak. When I've done arial acrobatics in it in the past it has generaly come apart (and thats without the pressure of an airbag!).

I'll find out what make it is and let you know!
 
I have worn my air jacket over my hi vis. It is not ideal, but I reallly didnt want to restrict the air jacket in anyway.Looked like this -
NeroHack_zps0b6dc041.jpg


Like others have said, make sure the horse has a hi vis sheet etc on too, but for you to be seen if lying on the ground thats not helpful.

I don't do a lot of hacking, but If I did I think id look into something like this -

pro210_large.jpg%3Fv%3D1308752066



As for what do I wear? As I am mainly schooling I dont wear a lot, as it gets hot fast!

Underwear, johds/breeches, cotton camisole/vest top thing, top, fleece, light glove, hat, air jacket :)
 
I think it's already been said but cycling hi-viz is excellent for riding as well and there's a much wider range to choose from. Everything from tight tops (so at least your arms would be hi-viz) to baggier jackets / gillets which 'may' go over the top of your air jacket, although you may have to go up several sizes.

If you have a Sports Direct near you, they have a great stock and are very reasonably priced. My dad cycles and I ride so I get stuff for both of us and it's always been really good and very bright!!

I'll check them out online, good idea for sports direct thankyou. For some reason I turn invisible when shopping in my wheelchair , it's remarkable! All my shopping comes through my letterbox/door now.
 
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