Young Horse Tabard question

miss_c

miss_c

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Hellooooo everyone!

Now then, I always wear a 'Warning Young Horse' tabard when I am riding Genie, a) because she's young, and b) drivers do actually seem to be a little bit more cautious. However, somebody suggested to me yesterday that by wearing it I am accepting liability if Genie spooks or something and causes damage to a passing car. Has anybody heard anything like this before? I have previously been led to believe that I am giving drivers an additional warning, and if they choose not to heed it then it is their fault. Would appreciate peoples' thoughts on this!

Thanks everyone!!!!
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I have always been told that wearing 'Warning Young Horse' tabard, you are admitting liabilty. A normal tabard should be enough, as the driver should be slowing down before they are even close enough to read what is written on your tabard!!
 
Ditto FranP - I was always told that a 'young horse' tabard indicates that you are expecting trouble and can then be held liable.

Much better to wear a 'please pass wide and slow' or just a 'caution horse', although I often think with this one "well, duh - I thought it was an elephant...!"
 
i think if you move into the path of a passing vehicle you are liable anyway (was what i was told)! Something i asked about as i hack a well behaved, but 3yrold out on the roads!!
 
I have heard the admitting liability thing before.

But I would still wear such a tabbard personally (or put L plates on - that really gets a drivers attention).

At the end of the day I would rather prevent the accident in the first place! If the worst happens then that is what insurance is for.
 
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somebody suggested to me yesterday that by wearing it I am accepting liability if Genie spooks or something and causes damage to a passing car

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I do not believe this to be true - no cases have been publicised identifying this as a problem. And H&H had an article on it last year where an equine solicitor thought it unlikely to happen.
 
I have also been pondering this lately! I ride a young (unpredictable) horse out on the roads and i wear a simple 'please pass wide and slow' as i heard that the young horse tabards admit liability. However, is this fact or is it an 'urban myth'? Also, IME the please pass wide and slow doesnt work, my horse was rearing in th middle of th road, i asked the driver to stop and instead he mounted a verge to squeeze past me, fecking moron
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I've been told the same, although I still ride with it on, after all I'd rather reduce the risk of having an accident and keep both myself and my horse in one peice than worry about the insurance companies arguing who's at fault.


Speak to your insurance company to double check with them, if you feel people slow down more and you are safer, then I'd continue to wear it.

You only live once.
 
Mmm, I have to agree with fran.

Tho, I have always thought they should put some kind of picture or logo on the back of the jackets, like hooves going through a car window or something that will make the drivers slow down and think of the possible results theyr reckless driving will have on their precious car as they obviously dont give a sh*t about what affect it will have on the horse/rider safety. x
 
I brought a trailer 10years ago from a lawyer specialising in Equine law. He had a client who wore a 'caution yong horse' tabbard and her insurance would not pay out (damage horse and car - but not 'technically' her fault) as she was admitting 'libality.
 
I have also heard and read in a magazine but can't remember which one. That if you have anything written like young horse, caution you are admitting liability should something happen.

If you think about like this a learner driver pays loads more insurance until they pass their test and even then till they've been driving awhile. So do you pay more insurance to take a young horse unused to traffic on the road? If the horse causes an accident then a notice on your front and back would be admitting liability imo.
 
Some time back a barrister posted that this was a myth. She said that it could equally be argued that you were being responsible by warning others that the horse was young.
So - where do I stand with my Caution Rider With PMT tabard??
 
i wear mine on my 23 year old, it it more effective than a normal yellow vest and people are generally more forgiving of her if she's being a pain. I have actually told a guy she was only 4 and this was her second hack, he was really really happy to b e able to stop the traffic and help me out, bless she's such a cow at time.

I don't agree that you are admitting liability by wearing the caution sign, it would be like saying tesco admit liability every time they put out a 'Caution wet floor' sign, they would be in more trouble for not putting them out!
 
I'm about to stomp off to the shops, just to get out of the house. I think, although I have no horse, I need a warning tabard saying "Warning Bored Horseless Woman".
The PMT one came from a local tackshop by the way.
 
p.s. I don't think Kill Your Speed Not My Horse means a lot to some drivers. How about Kill Your Speed Not Yourself - as drivers often come off worse than the rider in serious collisons with horses.
 
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How about the "Kill your speed not my Horse" tabards that are on ebay, may get drivers to think a bit more.

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I think that is a fabby suggestion, wouldn't it be great if just this post, gets a shed load of us to buy one of these tabards, certainly will make drivers think twice next time they see a rider wearing one of these.

I'm going to order mine and see if any other riders on our yard fancies one, come to think of it, how many other riders on our yards wear high viz?
 
QR - I spoke to my insurance company regarding this last year and they said it was nonsense and never heard of it but that could just be their policies.
It's not admitting liability, think about it that would be the same as learner drivers and their 'L' plates, if that was the case they would not be insured to drive on the roads.
 
Speak to your insurance company, but it would seem sensible to wear a young horse tabard and I would doubt it would be an admission of liability. The insurance co will put you straight.
 
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I believe that legally, such a sign is NOT admitting Liability.

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No, it certainly isn't!!
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Personally I think the "please pass wide & slow" ones are best to make sure that the ignorant drivers have no excuse!
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