Why no Hi Viz??????????????

[Toby_Zaphod]

There have been numerous posts about Hi Viz. They are usually full with people saying why they wear it & when they wear it etc.

I do loads of country lane driving in my job & regularly see riders wearing dark clothing, no hi viz either on themselves or the horse......I would like to know why?

Are there any forum members who want to admit to wearing no Hi Viz & explain why not??

 

[coss]

i do wear hi viz but know people who just don't bother and i often wonder why... if people are hacking out with me i've usually got a spare flurescent tabard that i hand them.. they don't get much choice. I don't think its as bad if they're on a grey but on a dark coloured horse it doesn't make sense!

 

[Kellys Heroes]

I never used to and to be honest there isn't a reason why I just never bothered, just young and silly - until I once saw a horse hacking past my house one night - at first I didn't even realise there was a horse there until I looked closer and it was a bay, just like my Kel and it shocked me a little. Now, every time I hack out I wear some hi viz and whichever horse I ride wears some hi viz, be it the bay or the chestnut, at LEAST a hi viz tabard and leg bands for me AND the horse!
K x

 

[Bettyboo222]

I was pondering this today with a friend and we have come up with the theory that if you ride out with no hi-vis then you musn't love your horse very much. If you get hit by a car, then chances are that you probably won't die but your horse will take the brunt of the impact and will probably be fatally injured or at least in a lot of pain.

 

[Eaglestone]

I see many riders around my way wearing excellent HiViz and look very good

However the 'Hunting Fraternity' around here, which is very high, seem to be the ones that just do not bother .... I presume not 'cool' or just in the past ..............

PS I have nooooooooo problem with the Hunting peeps though

 

[Blitzen]

I was driving home from work at 4.30pm on the 21st Dec and almost hit a horse and rider from behind. Pitch dark evening, bendy road, horse was dark bay, rider was wearing black/navy, I literally missed her by inches. I pulled over (shaking, close to tears), got out and said "do you realise how close I was to hitting your horse? Do you not own any hi vis?!" And received a mouthful of abuse about looking where I was going etc etc. Stupid woman. Either she didn't realise or didn't care that she and her horse were almost just killed. It still makes me angry to think about it now.
Fair enough, if people don't want to wear hi vis, because its not "cool", then don't - smother your horse in it instead! Leg bands, exercise sheet, rein sleeves, breastplate, the lot! Horse doesn't care what he looks like, I know for damn sure he'd rather glow like a christmas tree than be hit by a car! I'd rather look "uncool" than risk the life of myself and my horse for the sake of fashion. Its my responsibility for their safety, and I owe it to them to keep them safe!

(Can you tell that this is a pet hate of mine? Lol) x

 

[RoobyDoobs]

I see many riders around my way wearing excellent HiViz and look very good

However the 'Hunting Fraternity' around here, which is very high, seem to be the ones that just do not bother .... I presume not 'cool' or just in the past ..............

PS I have nooooooooo problem with the Hunting peeps though

interesting... It's the same where I come from... In fact I am mocked for wearing mine! Not that I care!!!

 

[Shantara]

I feel awesome in my new hi-viz full length chaps I love hi-viz!

 

[Ellies_mum2]

I do now but didn't used to as was always off road. Its from reading threads like these about near misses and in the case of a few forum users the devastating effects of being hit by cars even though they were wearing hi-viz that woke me up to the dangers. Both my horses are black so I always wear hi-viz now when I am out with them whether I am riding or not.

 

[unbalanced]

I only wear it to go on the road, and don't bother if I'm going out through the field at the back of the farm directly onto the bridlepath. It takes such a long time to put it all on! Nobody shoots around here, there is a gate between where I ride and the road and I myself am responsible for locking it so I know it will be closed. Also my pony has a flight distance of about ten yards so if I did come off if for some reason she didn't come to me (she always has in the past, and I've had her twelve years), she would be found grazing a short distance away, and fenced a long way away from any roads.
When we do go onto roads we are plastered in Polite hi-viz and at night we add flashing lights as well. I love my Polite and think it looks quite good actually . I refuse to ride with people who aren't riding hi-viz if we are going on a road, however quiet.
I am confused by people who put on a manky dirty greyish tabard, a fluorescent waistcoat and don't do it up so there is nothing bright at the front, or one of those white reflective strip tabards with the flashing lights (turned off) in the daytime. Erm, white isn't reflective you know. Why bother? Also, you really need to attach something to your horse as well. What happens if you part company and your horse makes its way home alone? One would hope the human would have the sense to walk at the side of the road and look out for traffic - the horse is likely to be spooked and cantering/galloping in the middle of the road. I have seen a friend's horse gallop up a 60mph limit road with no rider and no hi-viz (she was wearing it and standing by the side of the road where the horse had dumped her) - put a sheet or something on and give drivers a chance please.