STAY SAFE, BE SEEN
Whilst wearing Hi-Vis clothing is not a legal requirement, it can certainly help to reduce the chances of you being in an accident. With less daylight available in the winter months, you may find yourself hacking out in lower-light conditions or having to turn out/bring in your horse in these conditions and may have a road or lane to navigate when doing so.
To ensure that motorists and other road users have enough time to see and react to your presence on the road, it is vital that you and your horse are wearing these essential pieces of safety kit. The British Horse Society found that Hi-Vis can give motorists an extra 3 seconds to react.
Hi-Vis is not just for the roads however, as the Ministry of Defence research found that helicopter pilots can see someone in hi vis clothing up to half a mile sooner than someone without. This allows them to adjust flight paths accordingly, or in the case of a fall, be able to locate the rider much quicker.
What is the best Hi-Vis for horse riders to wear?
BHS recommend that as a minimum a rider wear a reflective vest and the horse wears reflective boots or wraps.
Any Hi-Vis is better than none. However, when deciding what colour to buy it is best to consider the area you generally ride. If you are often riding past or through a yellow corn or rape seed in summer, yellow Hi-Vis is probably going to be less effective than wearing it in orange or pink. Likewise in autumn, when the leaves are turning brown and orange, orange Hi-Vis is not going to be as effective as pink and yellow. For the greatest visibilitity it is best to wear a mixture of colours across you and your horse.
At Redpost we stock over 100 different Hi-Vis items for you and your horse.
For the Rider
WeatherBeeta Reflective Adults Harness
The WeatherBeeta Reflective Adult’s Harness is EN1150 Certified and is a multi-functional design that can be worn out riding, running or cycling on the roads to increase your visibility to other road users. Lightweight and shaped to allow freedom to move. There is carefully placed reflective tape on both the front and back along with subtle WeatherBeeta branding in a reflective print.
EQUIDRY
The EQUIDRY Reflective Jacket is a must-have for hacks in bad weather when the elements are against you! It is an oversized design that is engineered with a waterproof and breathable outer, with taped seams to keep moisture at bay. An ultra warm fleece lining throughout, plus a generously sized hood that fits over your riding hat, help to keep your warm and toasty and provide extra coverage, even when the temperatures drop. The hood is double lined (without fleece) and can be easily rolled away in the collar when not in use.
Equetech Reversible Waterproof Riding Skirt
Transform your short coat with the Equetech Reversible Waterproof Riding Skirt is a unique riding skirt, developed for riders to keep you dry throughout wear without restriction. Features include a quick release waterproof zip to the front for ease of use, a comfortable waistband with reversible fastenings and leg straps to keep the skirt in place in all weathers.
For the Horse
Shires EQUI-FLECTOR Wraps
The Shires Equi-Flector® Wraps are suitable for both rider and horse whether being worn on the arms or legs these are a must have item that will ensure you and your horse are seen when riding
Shires EQUI-FLECTOR Waterproof Exercise Sheet
The Shires EQUI-FLECTOR Waterproof Exercise Sheet is a great way to keep your horse cosy and dry in wet weather and also increase your visibility to other road users. Made with a waterproof fluorescent outer, it is equipped with a soft fleece lining and carefully placed reflective panels.
