why do they do it? (hi vis)

We have a pole dancer on our yard...she's really go for the hi-viz neon tassles I'm sure...

But to be serious, I too passed someone in my car yesterday on a horse not wearing hi viz and where the dark shade from the hedges comes across onto the road and you approach it as a driver from really bright sunlight into shade if does take at least 2 seconds for your eyes to adjust and spot dark horse and rider..made me catch my breath. Silly woman.
 
ester im prety sure i saw you at bworth the other week for BS. i was 99% sure it was you but didnt want to look like a spoon asking you if you were from on here just incase you wernt and u thought i was some mad person, if it was you, your pony jumped fantastic!!
 
ester said:
I have considered having a stock in my car and handing them out at opportune moments ;) :D
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I must admit I've thought about this too, I ALWAYS wear Hi Viz...I actually quite like getting the Welsh Cob matching Hi Viz kit, I think he looks quite good (unlike me!)

Obviously we all encounter those idiots on the road that will cause problems, but the number of times I've been driving home from work, or to the yard and people are riding with not a stitch of Hi Viz on...personally I think I drive pretty considerately (because I'm a horse rider) I don't think I could live with myself if I had the misfortune to have an accident with a rider because of their lack of responsibility!!
 
I think your horse insurance should be void if you don't wear high viz and I think you should have a tag on your bridle or saddle with a telephone number and your yard name and no on just in case the worst does happen
 
Can't understand why people choose not to wear hi vis. Even in this bright sunshine it is easy to blend in and not be seen. I hacked today with hi vis tabbard, hat band, gloves and refective brushing boots. Better to be seen than not!
 
I think that if you're not going to wear hi-viz you should at least wear a bikini or short skirt, my OH never misses anyone wearing that kind of attire- I think it's instinct.
 
I don't understand why people don't.

I always put Hiviz on me and my horse. She is grey so we use pink and I do get ribbed by the local riding instructor who hacks out without a spot of Hiviz. Eeeeeeediot!
 
I have to say, I am one of those riders, if you met me on a 'normal' day, you'd be cursing and swearing at me. I would have to admit, I don't ''always'' wear hi-viz. Yes, its stupid, I know, but as yet its not become habit for me to put it on.
Saying that - I do wear it on dull days, and I do wear it when Iam leading my daughter. Sorry folks - not really good enough is it?
 
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beats ruthnmeg with big stick ;) :p :D
 
Farrierlover said:
I think that if you're not going to wear hi-viz you should at least wear a bikini or short skirt, my OH never misses anyone wearing that kind of attire- I think it's instinct.
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youl love this!! i just come home from yard after a long day at david brooms for BE to see someone riding in a crop top, very short shorts and flip flops =O
 
Well good for you, take the lemons out of your mouths. I dont and never have ridden out with Hi Vis. I have ridden out for years and never had any problems, possibly because I have always had total control, also years ago there was no such thing as Hi Vis. I ride horses on the road, all be it in rural England, I have come across riders smothered in Hi Vis, they never thank drivers who slow down, O no they have Hi Vis on so they are immune to even thanking drivers who slow down. We used to come back from hunting in the dusk hours in hunting clothes, nobody to my knowledge was ever run down, it was just common sense!. No doubt you will all have a lot to say about that. Feel free.
 
My hi-viz tabard says in big bold letters 'SEX BOMB' on the back...drivers certainly slow down for me :D My friend's one says 'BOSSY BOOTS' :D

Pastie2 - why are you so proud about not doing all you can for the safety of your horse? Don't get it!
 
pastie2 said:
Well good for you, take the lemons out of your mouths. I dont and never have ridden out with Hi Vis. I have ridden out for years and never had any problems, possibly because I have always had total control, also years ago there was no such thing as Hi Vis. I ride horses on the road, all be it in rural England, I have come across riders smothered in Hi Vis, they never thank drivers who slow down, O no they have Hi Vis on so they are immune to even thanking drivers who slow down. We used to come back from hunting in the dusk hours in hunting clothes, nobody to my knowledge was ever run down, it was just common sense!. No doubt you will all have a lot to say about that. Feel free.
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not sure I have the energy, also not sure how the fact that you are in total control means that all other road users are? years ago there was no such thing as seatbelts either etc etc just v v :confused:

I don't think wearing hivis is a prerequisite for riders not thanking drivers.

I might call it luck rather than common sense.
 
pastie2 said:
Well good for you, take the lemons out of your mouths. I dont and never have ridden out with Hi Vis. I have ridden out for years and never had any problems, possibly because I have always had total control, also years ago there was no such thing as Hi Vis. I ride horses on the road, all be it in rural England, I have come across riders smothered in Hi Vis, they never thank drivers who slow down, O no they have Hi Vis on so they are immune to even thanking drivers who slow down. We used to come back from hunting in the dusk hours in hunting clothes, nobody to my knowledge was ever run down, it was just common sense!. No doubt you will all have a lot to say about that. Feel free.
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Although, in parts what you say is very true, I have met Hunters after a day out riding home in near black. I don't think its common sense that they haven't been hit/knocked by traffic, they just have been lucky! (some probably have been hit).
What HAS changed over the years is the pure volume of traffic. This means that the odds of being hit has to go up. I, too don't always ride out with hi-viz, and I admitingly chuckle at those riders who are so hi-viz'ed as they go for their ride on a lovely clear day. All they are doing is limiting their chances of an accident. Surely thats a good thing?
Now, I need to change my ways, and make it habit to put on a tabard - regardless! Its just a change, but I need to learn to adapt to the 'modern riding'.
 
Thanks Ruthnmeg, all I am saying is that if you feel vulnerable on a horse on the road, I would question the Hi Viz to justify your self if an accident were to happen and the horse was not good in a traffic situation, can you say, O but I was wearing Hi Viz. I would rather take a horse on the road that I could trust, no danger to drivers me or anyone else. I dont need a bloody tabard, if I did I would give up!
 
Pastie2

I wish it were not so. I wish I could go back to my childhood where I had never seen or heard of high vis. I wish I could go back to when people saw a horse and slowed down, not waved their fists - to the days when I hacked out anything at any time and never worried. I realise I was bought up in 'Quorn Country' where horses were common place and respected as other road users, but it used to be a similar case here in Oxfordshire until about 8 years ago.
I have hacked for nearly 40 years in all situations and on all types of horses and have, so far, never had an accident

BUT
I have seen a HUGE change in attitude. I have had people yell at me for just being on a horse: a woman stopped her car and blocked me in against another car to ask me what horse made THAT pile of droppings and if I didn't tell her what yard I was from, she'd call the police... I've had people tell me to get off the *ucking road, I shouldn't be there... And my horse is the sweetest, most polite creature. I have had people drive AT my horse because they are p*ssed off with my being there - THAT makes me feel vulnerable on a hack - not my ability or that of my horse.

I think it arises from too many people who don't think of anyone but themselves: they don't think that someone else may be around the corner, holding them up by 10 seconds. They don't think of anyone but themselves. And when they are FORCED to, because we are riding down THEIR road, they resent it and get angry. And they seem to have a fear of the countryside and those who live there.

And I do understand you kicking against that, because I do too. But I also sadly know that I have to change if I am to survive, even if it isn't fair.

I also agree with you on the following:I (especially in light of what I have said!) get mad at riders who ignore drivers. That is just arrogant stupidity.

I'm not saying it's fair, the way things have changed. It just IS. What I DON'T want, is for some f*ckwit to be believed when he/she says - "Oh! but I didn't see them! It's their fault!" . Therefore I wear hi vis.

*depressed now*:(
 
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horse 100% trusted in traffic, inc blues n twos coming round the corner, arctics, the lot

not all drivers trusted 100% to stop in time when they race round our single track lanes which 9 times out of 10 they get away without seeing any other road users, happier to encourage them to hit the brakes a few seconds earlier... or in the case of fluorescent hats, hopefully before they hit the corner as can be seen over the hedge
 
Kate Sturgess said:
Pastie2

I wish it were not so. I wish I could go back to my childhood where I had never seen or heard of high vis. I wish I could go back to when people saw a horse and slowed down, not waved their fists - to the days when I hacked out anything at any time and never worried. I realise I was bought up in 'Quorn Country' where horses were common place and respected as other road users, but it used to be a similar case here in Oxfordshire until about 8 years ago.
I have hacked for nearly 40 years in all situations and on all types of horses and have, so far, never had an accident

BUT
I have seen a HUGE change in attitude. I have had people yell at me for just being on a horse: a woman stopped her car and blocked me in against another car to ask me what horse made THAT pile of droppings and if I didn't tell her what yard I was from, she'd call the police... I've had people tell me to get off the *ucking road, I shouldn't be there... And my horse is the sweetest, most polite creature. I have had people drive AT my horse because they are p*ssed off with my being there - THAT makes me feel vulnerable on a hack - not my ability or that of my horse.

I think it arises from too many people who don't think of anyone but themselves: they don't think that someone else may be around the corner, holding them up by 10 seconds. They don't think of anyone but themselves. And when they are FORCED to, because we are riding down THEIR road, they resent it and get angry. And they seem to have a fear of the countryside and those who live there.

And I do understand you kicking against that, because I do too. But I also sadly know that I have to change if I am to survive, even if it isn't fair.

I also agree with you on the following:I (especially in light of what I have said!) get mad at riders who ignore drivers. That is just arrogant stupidity.

I'm not saying it's fair, the way things have changed. It just IS. What I DON'T want, is for some f*ckwit to be believed when he/she says - "Oh! but I didn't see them! It's their fault!" . Therefore I wear hi vis.

*depressed now*:(
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Dont get depressed dear Kate, I just wonder if Hi Bloody Viz makes a **** of differant, or is it purely horsemanship?
 
*smiles* I shouldn't but I'm afraid it does these days.....

*passes a glass of something nice to pastie2*

Still. Kick on, heels down and 8uck 'em, eh? x
 
i think it does make a difference and gives you an extra few seconds which could be the difference of someone getting hit and them managing to get to the brake on time. the majority of insidents the horses have not been the cause of the accident, there is a post below actually of someone who was hit today and had there horse put down on the roadside, and yes they may well have been wearing hi viz but by the sounds of it it was the driver. certainly when im driving the hi viz is the first thing that cathes my eye wether it be a rider, cyclist or walker. its doesnt always make a difference your right due to speeding drivers and not paying attention to the road but for those it gives an extra 3 seconds to its is it really such a hardship to wear one. even if it does cramp your style.
 
I used to always ride with HiVis on as we weren't on the nicest of roads being next to a town.

Now however, the only roadwork I do is when we go down the private road out of ours for 2 minutes to get to the bridleway that leads to the pub...only ride we really do that consists of 'loads' of roadwork. Rest of the hacking at ours is straight from our fields onto the bridleways around, no road work at all really :)

From being stabled next to the A14 previously and having to cross over the two double roundabout bridges....it's haven lol!! Any other time I'd wear Hi vis though as I do think the roads are no place for horses these days to ride safely on tbh...there's too many idiotic drivers about for my liking sadly :(

Also...I thought rider insurance had a clause in about HiVis being worn when out on public highways?
 
*grins*

You too Pastie2! No worries. But I think we all have to treat the outside, non riding world as if they were small temper-tantrum-throwing toddlers who need indulging, no matter how good we or our horses are.

Plus, as Miss Buffay says, maybe they're if they're not concentrating; a couple of extra seconds to register you may save your life - nothing against you as a rider or your horse's behaviour.

And in return, we have to be OTT in our attitude to others on the road and never, ever give them any excuse. Please.

*opens another bottle* Am out on the road tomorrow at 7am with my boy, before the heat and the Monday Morning Morons.......
 
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