Let’s talk about... Hi-vis
Despite the importance of being seen, many riders still choose to ride out without wearing hi-vis. Our Facebook followers share their views on hi-vis and why it’s important to stay safe.
THERE’S NO EXCUSE
Riders should wear a hi-vis vest as a minimum. I also have a hat band and my ponies have boots. I have hi-vis exercise sheets, neck straps and rein covers too! Even ven when less people are out and it’s sunny, it’s no excuse. It makes me mad to see riders without hi-vis. Both of my horses are grey so we’re easier to see, but we still wear it.
Joanna Stopher
IT’S THE SAME AS RIDING WITH A HAT
It’s sad that people still don’t believe hi-vis is important. I grew up thinking it wasn’t ‘cool’ to wear it, but now I wouldn’t dream of going out without at least a vest on and my daughter knows no different. If we’re hacking she wears hi-vis — to her, it’s like riding with a hat; it’s just what you do.
Julie Buckley
WE CAN SEE HI-VIS WEARERS FROM MILES AWAY
It shocks me how many don’t feel the need to use hi-vis. Our roads are incredibly narrow and it drives my husband nuts when we meet riders without hi-vis on — they always seem to be the ones with darker horses and wearing black. Other riders go out in full hi-vis gear and we can see them from miles away at times.
Laila Naomi Carruthers
WE’D NEVER GO OUT WITHOUT IT
My lad is dark bay and we always wear our hi-vis and would never consider going out without it. There’s a lady who has a horse near us — she’s always in dark clothes and her horse is also a dark bay yet she never wears a stitch of hi-vis.
Tracey Eves
DON’T BE A DARK HORSE
It surprises me how many people ride dark horses with no hi-vis. My pony is black. We always get kitted out in hi-vis when we go out — me on foot, the rider and the pony.
Sharon Brook YOU CAN’T MISS US
I have to have a hi-vis breastplate on my 18hh boy otherwise people just don’t see us as I’m above most people’s eye-line when driving.
Sarah Jo Jo Manton
NOT COVERED
Most insurance companies now state that hi-vis must be worn or the policy won’t cover the rider.
Brenda Craig
I’VE ALWAYS WORN HI-VIS
It’s ridiculous that anyone would ride out on roads, no matter how quiet or rural, without any hi-vis. I have always worn it even when riding around the farm at home as it alerts walkers to the fact that we’re there and then, if they have dogs, they can put them on a lead before we meet. It should be mandatory for all road users not in a vehicle to wear hi-vis.
Ann Smith
BE SEEN, BE SAFE
I have loads of hi-vis and people used to stop me and say I looked like Blackpool Illuminations. At least they could see me! I don’t wear quite as much now as I moved somewhere less foggy and much less busy. Me and my horse still wear it, though. I also ask my liveries to wear it when leaving the yard.
Anna Matthews-Revitt
THEN AND NOW
I would never go out without hi-vis on me and my horse or without my mobile phone. It scares me that 30 years ago I didn’t wear hi-vis.
Jodi Dixon
FLYING THE HI-VIS FLAG
Both of my ponies (one black, one chestnut and white) go out in mane-to-hoof hi-vis and I always have hi-vis on myself, and my hat too. Nobody else at my yard ever rides/drives in hi-vis and it really bugs me!
Carly Richardson
GOOD HABITS
We used to compete in TREC and hi-vis is compulsory kit so it’s it become a habit now.
Tamara J Habberley