Winter Hacking Essentials?

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casinosolo

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After a glorious week of sunshine, autumn seems to have arrived with a bang not a whimper where I am today!

Due to work I have to hack in the evenings and have been thinking about what gear I need for the dark, cold evenings to come.

I already have waterproofs (trousers and jackets), Hi-Viz Blouson jacket and bib, Reflective hat band and a Hi-Viz exercise sheet.

Any other tips on essential items? I'd really like to know what Hi-Viz everyone wears in winter - do I need LED stuff ideally?

Thanks! :)
 
I guess it depends where you are hacking- I'm incredibly lucky to have miles of off road hacking straight from the yard- I still wear hi-viz, usually just a tabbard, particularly in the winter, but don't really need LED stuff from a 'traffic' perspective... though from a being seen by mad mountain bikers who like to hoon around the woods in the dark it might be a good idea!

When I was doing road work in winter at my last yard, I wore hi-viz EVERYTHING- hat band, tabbard, quater sheet, stirrup lights on my boots, hi-viz boots on the horse, hi viz bridle bits and breastplate.... and I still felt vulnerable- but that was in the days before LED hi viz... if I had to do road work in the winter now, I'd be lit up like a Christmas Tree!! :D
 
If you are going on the road after sunset (currently 7.30pm) you must by law carry proper lights showing white to the front and red to the rear.
 
Liath said:
I guess it depends where you are hacking- I'm incredibly lucky to have miles of off road hacking straight from the yard- I still wear hi-viz, usually just a tabbard, particularly in the winter, but don't really need LED stuff from a 'traffic' perspective... though from a being seen by mad mountain bikers who like to hoon around the woods in the dark it might be a good idea!

When I was doing road work in winter at my last yard, I wore hi-viz EVERYTHING- hat band, tabbard, quater sheet, stirrup lights on my boots, hi-viz boots on the horse, hi viz bridle bits and breastplate.... and I still felt vulnerable- but that was in the days before LED hi viz... if I had to do road work in the winter now, I'd be lit up like a Christmas Tree!! :D
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Thanks a lot! It's mainly off-road where I am too; with the exception of a few quiet country roads where I rarely encounter a car. However, I do want to make sure I am visible for the few that I do meet!
 
Kat said:
If you are going on the road after sunset (currently 7.30pm) you must by law carry proper lights showing white to the front and red to the rear.
Click to expand...

Ok thank; none of the equestrian sites I have looked on sell anything like this so do you know where I could buy some?
 
Try bike shops. You can clip a light onto you boot or stirrup or round your arm but it is a legal requirement to show lights after lighting up time.

You might find it interesting to look at Pedantic's threads on night time riding, he rides on the roads after dark and is lit up like a Christmas tree!
 
Kat said:
Try bike shops. You can clip a light onto you boot or stirrup or round your arm but it is a legal requirement to show lights after lighting up time.

You might find it interesting to look at Pedantic's threads on night time riding, he rides on the roads after dark and is lit up like a Christmas tree!
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Thanks, that's really helpful - will take a look! :)
 
I got the horsewear waterproof and fleece lined ones won't ride in them as very paranoid about riding in anything other than joddies after a very nasty accident the one time I wore trackies lol the trackies had nothing to do with the accident its just an association of mine but it means my legs will be warm and snug for yard work :)
 
Pixxie said:
I got the horsewear waterproof and fleece lined ones won't ride in them as very paranoid about riding in anything other than joddies after a very nasty accident the one time I wore trackies lol the trackies had nothing to do with the accident its just an association of mine but it means my legs will be warm and snug for yard work :)
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Thanks, I'll have a look for them :) I usually get hot riding whatever I wear so may save them for yard work too!
 
I used to hack out on the roads at night in winter when I was at school (some of them unlit ones, and on a 17.3hh ex racehorse who had run the grand national, gives me shivers even now, he was a lovely boy,....and the most traffic proof horse I have ever met!) that would be 15 (or more!) years ago...and I still have my light! I remember when they first came out - same as those used by the mounted police I think! They don't appear to be made by the same company any more (pity as mine is still going strong!!) but this one is very similar http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cottage-Craft-Deluxe-Safety-Light/dp/B0051B2ZH4

You can often pick up velcro / elastic reflective wraps with flashing lights in Aldi for cheap and they fit around the Horses legs. They are great!! I love my equafleece jacket but it's no good in the dark as it's not reflective (I wear a tabbard over the top). Try http://www.highvisibility.uk.com/equisafety and http://www.rockfishriders.com/ for gear. The must have's are reflective leg wraps (the best for visibility), a tabbard, hat band and good lights. With all those on (reflective) you will be like a xmas tree! Good reflectives are often more effective than a light, especially in total darkness.
 
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For winter hacking I have -

Florescent jacket
Fleeced lined half chaps (these are a godsend!)
Waterproof exercise sheet or fleece exercise sheet depending on how wet/cold it is.
Hi viz band round my hat
Led tail bandage
Hi Viz brow/nose band
Hi Viz horse bib - way more noticable than some of the thinner martingale types http://www.v-bandz.co.uk/category-24/BIB.html

I wear most of the hi viz stuff in the summer too just to be safe.
 
Babybear said:
For winter hacking I have -

Florescent jacket
Fleeced lined half chaps (these are a godsend!)
Waterproof exercise sheet or fleece exercise sheet depending on how wet/cold it is.
Hi viz band round my hat
Led tail bandage
Hi Viz brow/nose band
Hi Viz horse bib - way more noticable than some of the thinner martingale types http://www.v-bandz.co.uk/category-24/BIB.html

I wear most of the hi viz stuff in the summer too just to be safe.
Click to expand...

Thanks, the bib looks great will add it to my list! I've been wearing my tabbard and hat band all summer too but just thought I might need something a bit more 'hardcore' for winter!
 
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