On the way home the last few nights I have come across a chap riding whilst leading a riderless horse down a narrow bendy village lane in the dark ( very bad street lighting) and although he is wearing a high viz jacket it doesn't seem very effective and it is very difficult to see him until you are right up to him.

My question is , should he be doing more to make himself visable and do you think he is doing the right thing anyway by riding in these sort of circumstances ?

I must admit I wouldn't feel very safe doing this :)

Lucy
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Luminous bandages on the horses legs?? :D :D It would make most drivers stop and take notice when confronted with 4 legs coming down the road towards them :D :D

I am sure he could be doing more as he is really putting himself and the horses in danger never mind the drivers !

I was thinking about clip on lights as you have for bikes ? :D

Lucy
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Reflective bandages on both horses' legs (and maybe tails too) would be a good idea, but that's about all. You can get lights for stirrups too. As far as riding one and leading another, as long as the led horse is on the inside that isn't a problem.
:)

You can also get reflecive exercise rugs (or you used to be able to).

My question is , should he be doing more to make himself visable and do you think he is doing the right thing anyway by riding in these sort of circumstances ?

No, he shouldn't IMO. Car drivers should be taking more care to look out for hazards on the road, and he has as much right to be there as a driver, or cyclist. Yes, he could kit himself out in more Hi Viz stuff, but that won't help if the driver is not watching what they are doing and concentrating.

Remember, some people have no choice but to ride later in the day. Some liveries insist on horses being kept in a lot more over winter and this might be the only time they get to go out and stretch their legs. At the end of the day, drivers (whilst incased in their metal boxes!) need to take more responsibility for their actions and be prepared for things like this IMO :)

I have seen some local horses wearing flourescent (sp?) blankets late in the date - wondered what on earth was in front when I first encountered one - don't know where to get them, though.

Margot

I wasn't saying he was wrong in riding on the dark but you have to have lights on a bike by law so I was wondering as he is on a public highway then whether he needed more for everybodies safety :) We all know there are idiots on the road that make riders lives a nightmare in day light hours never mind in the dark :)

I was concentrating and he was very difficult to see :)

Lucy
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I think the problem is with those drivers who don't concentrate, not the ones who do ;)

Yes I agree but you will never get rid of them totally so you have to make sure that you make allowances by extra self protection ;)

Lucy
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There is masses of relective gear for horse riding these days, flourescent jackets, chaps, tail wraps, leg bandages, bits to go onto the side of reins, hat covers, exercise rugs, stirrup lights e.t.c. but as you say if the driver is not paying atttention then it wouldn't make much differnece. THe problem i find when driving down roads like that and you have someone driving towards you with those horrible new halogen type car headlamps. You can't see anything!

Yep - I agree completely. Not to mention low sunlight affects vision on drivers just as badly - and Hi Viz doesn't make much difference to that!