Riding high to safety

 

It is astounding that many riders still do not wear hi-viz equipment when out on the roads and in the countryside. Hi-viz should be worn year-round, whatever the weather, to minimise danger to both horse and rider, so Let’s Talk Horses highlights why and how horse owners should do everything possible to keep themselves safe.

 

According to recent statistics obtained from the British Horse Society (BHS), between January and July 2011 there were 136 road accidents involving horses. Highlighting in stark fashion the dangers posed to both horses and their riders, these statistics include 11 horse fatalities, three severe horse injuries, eight rider fatalities and 13 severe rider injuries.

 

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Time to stop

 

By wearing hi-viz equipment on both themselves and their horses, riders give motorists up to an extra three seconds of time to notice them and take appropriate action. To put this into context, in three seconds a car travelling at 30mph can cover 40 metres – the length of a dressage arena.

 

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The BHS completed a national survey in May this year with the intention of finding out the horse riding public’s opinions on hi-viz equipment. From over 11,000 respondents, 1,312 (around 12%) admitted that they did not wear hi-viz, making them less visible and more at risk on the roads than they need to be.

 

Not only does this mean that motorists may have less time to avoid these riders, if they fall and are injured it also makes them harder for the emergency services to spot. Stressing the importance of wearing hi-viz not just on the road but also off, the BHS also highlights that as military helicopter pilots can see hi-viz riders up to half-a-mile sooner, they can therefore avoid flying directly overhead and spooking the horse.

 

Meanwhile, a further 3,467 respondents to the hi-viz survey (around 31%) who do use hi-viz on themselves said that they did not use any such equipment on their horses. In practice, this means that should horse and rider become separated, the loose horse will not be as visible to motorists. As indicated on the new BHS Reporting of Equestrian Incidents website (www.horseaccidents.org.uk), launched in November 2010, the dangers on the road are not limited to that from passing traffic, meaning that the likelihood of horse and rider parting company is not one to be taken lightly.

 

In the last ten years, awareness of hi-viz equipment and the choice of products available to the market has been growing. What is interesting is that over the last decade, the number of road traffic accidents involving horses reported to the BHS has dropped significantly despite the fact that the number of cars on the road is increasing – according to their figures, there were 269 incidents reported in 2000, compared to 60 in 2010. Whilst it is hard to say conclusively that this has been due, at least in part, to the increasing use of hi-viz, it is certainly likely to have been a factor.

 

However, if the BHS survey results are indicative of the entire UK horse riding population, this means that around 43% of them are still inadequately protected – and just one accident that could have easily been prevented is surely one too many. Says Nicky Fletcher of Equisafety: “Personally I just do not understand why people don’t wear hi-viz, especially as there are some great styles on the market. It’s the same with wearing a hat – some people still think that they are too good a rider, and that nothing will happen to them.”

 

As an added persuasion to wear hi-viz however, some insurance companies will offer better rates to riders who wear hi-viz clothing. It is advisable to check with your insurance provider what their minimum hi-viz requirements are, but usually this will amount to a tabard for the rider and leg bands on the horse. This is also the minimum level of protection recommended by the BHS.

 

Fashion with function

 

Fashion-conscious riders need not be put off – equestrian hi-viz clothing is now available in styles far removed from the unattractive, bulky work-wear of old, and much more suited to the leisure and sportswear market. The leading brands now produce jackets that are much more tailored and flattering, more practical in design and made from more high performance fabrics, meeting the same standards in both fashion and function as any quality riding or country jacket – with high visibility an added bonus.

 

Other garments include trousers, gilets, tabards, t-shirts, polo shirts and fleeces, affording you many different and attractive options for wearing hi-viz depending on your preferences. Ideally you should invest in several different products to take into account, for example, the weather, but for those on a tighter budget a quality tabard is a must. Some can be adjusted at the back to make them larger so they can be worn over a winter jacket or body protector, or smaller to give a more fitted look, making them a highly flexible option. Hi-viz products are generally available in yellow, orange or pink, but interestingly, the BHS survey in May found that yellow is by far the most popular, with 89% of respondents choosing yellow over other colours.

 

Main image courtesy of Equisafety.

 

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