why do they do it? (hi vis)

[Kenzo]

I would hate to hit a horse, it would haunt me. The horse has no choice over going onto the road, and as such riders have a responsibility to keep them as safe as possible, just the same as making sure they are healthy and that their tack fits.

If an adult rider wants not to wear high viz and gets squished - well, that's their lookout, just as it is for dafties that go riding without hats, and I won't weep for them. But I do feel sorry for the horses (which generally I prefer to people anyway...)

Totally agree, if people don't want to wear hi viz for what ever reasons then fine, if you don't care enough for your horse...fine but do please spare a thought for the driver.

If it was me driving, I know it's something I would never get over.

Surely for all the potential heartache, the pain, the loss, the worry, it's worth buying and wearing a simple hi viz tabard at least?

We have a hell of a lot of bikers on the country lanes where I live and I must admit they do slow down better than most cars, soon as summer comes and you have the nice dry weather they go out for a blast round the country lanes but on the straight parts they like to open the throttle a bit (I'd probably do the same ) so they need to see you in the distance so they have time to break and drop down gears before they frighten your horse with the noise etc.

Nobody is asking riders to dress up like a god dam traffic light and it doesn’t take much effort to slip on hi-viz tabard with a reflective strip on.

 

[minkymoo]

Totally agree thats why most of my running/riding shirts are like this

I find it easier than putting on tabards etc... and they are quick dry for when the going gets sticky ;-)

Kev

now I think this is a great idea, esp when it is so hot, think I'm going to find me one.

My OH loves me in hi-viz, says I look like a policewoman!!

 

[posie_honey]

we look like a xmas tree out on hack lol!
but i'd rather be safe than sorry - winds me up to see folk hacking with none on

 

[minkymoo]

am totally going to admit that this was 'borrowed' from another forum so apologies in advance, but I thought it was such a good point to show:

notice anything?

how about now?

just goes to show huh? Even the most conscientious alert driver wouldn't see a thing, if you look in the 2nd pic, there is someone riding their horse. Amazingly stupid.

 

[Lanky Loll]

OK I'll put my hand up to rarely wearing hi-vis, it's not big it's not clever and I'm not proud of it, I do however wear a lairy coat, don't ride out at dusk/in the dark etc, and the harness horses don't do road work so it's only ever when we have a rider on the yard which isn't often.
However moving on from that I would like to point out that hi-vis on its own isn't always enough. I was in the car with my husband at the weekend (him driving) and he totally didn't see the horse and rider in front of us DESPITE a tabard and hat cover. The lady was riding a chestnut in bright sunshine, but she was under the trees on the road so in very gloomy light. I'd spotted something moving (couldn't tell from a distance what it was ) so said to OH slow down I think there's a horse just round the bend. Because we had no headlights on (bright sunshine remember) the glowy bits on the tabard didn't reflect and in the gloom you couldn't quite see the tabard fluoresce. So I would suggest that on brighter days that the flashing light things might be more effective.

 

[monkeybum13]

am totally going to admit that this was 'borrowed' from another forum so apologies in advance, but I thought it was such a good point to show:

notice anything?

how about now?

just goes to show huh? Even the most conscientious alert driver wouldn't see a thing, if you look in the 2nd pic, there is someone riding their horse. Amazingly stupid.

Gosh, I only spotted the faint outline after you saying to look closely, what a stupid horse rider.

 

[PaddyMonty]

The most effective piece of hi-viz to wear is leg bands on the horse.
The human eye is much better at spotting movement than anything else and if you think about it, where do drivers look when driving? Certainly not 6 feet in the air.

 

[minkymoo]

I'm going to be honest, I don't 'always' wear hi viz, it does depend on where I'm going and I don't hack on my own as my OH always walks the dog with me, so not being found doesn't really apply

However, I sometimes do wear it, always on the roads, always when I don't feel the light is so good and that does include it being bright and risk not being seen if we cross the road. I do feel that you need to use common sense though, the rider in the picutes about needs a good slap for being stupid TBH.

In regards to some of the comments aimed at those who admit to not wearing it, we don't know the circumstances they ride in. If I had hacking straight off my yard, I wouldn't wear it. Why does common sense no longer prevail?

 

[monkeybum13]

Just thought I'd post these pics for those of you that might say "I ride out in good light, so hi viz doesn't matter".
These pics were taken at the same time, the first one you can seen the horses clearly and in the second one the sunlight is blocked by the buildings which is why hi viz is needed in all weathers.

Yes I know Lacey's pink boots don't stand out much but it was her first hack with us so we just used what we had, she now has a pair of yellow n.e.w hi viz boots, I just need to get my bum into gear to buy a hind set to replace the pink hinds. Typically the photo was taken when I forgot to put bands on Prince

 

[Porkie]

My moto is 'I'd rather been seen than squished'

I love my horse too much to not put hi viz on him.

Some people on my yard think I'm mad as I go a bit OTT on the hi viz, but I don't care, you'll see me flashing along the road and all sorts!! and it proved very valuable when I had a mishap a few weeks ago and my horse pee'd off leaving me face down in the dirt. Quick call to yard and they could see him galloping along the track so knew just which way to head to catch him before he got onto the road - because I smother him in yellow!! We were very lucky, we both mad it home unscathed. I'd also like to think if god forbid he had got out onto a road he would have stood at least a chance as he had loads of hi-vis on ......... 4 x leg wraps, nose band, brow band and hi-vis numnah (+exercise sheet on cooler days and flashing leg straps on dull days!!) I wear a flashing yellow hat band, tabbard, reflective whip and ankle light and falshing tabbard on dull days!!! told you I am OTT!!!)

Since my accident I did a 'hi viz drive' on my yard and did a bulk order of hi-viz numnahs (various colours). I am pleased to report that now some of the people that never wear ANY hi viz are now sporting very flashy looking hi vis numnahs so at least their horses have a little bit on! It's better than nothing in my opinion and at least I feel I've acheived something!

 

[zefragile]

In regards to some of the comments aimed at those who admit to not wearing it, we don't know the circumstances they ride in. If I had hacking straight off my yard, I wouldn't wear it. Why does common sense no longer prevail?

As has been mentioned, if you come off in the countryside hi viz might help you be found. So it's still common sense to wear it even if you are miles from any roads