The Hype About Hi-Viz

Photo courtesy of Weatherbeeta

Now the nights are drawing in, we increasingly find ourselves faced with riding in conditions of low light and poor visibility. This is of course an increased safety concern for horse and rider, making them even more difficult to spot on the roads and bridleways, so ensuring you are wearing appropriate hi-vis equipment is all the more vital. Even in good conditions, the use of hi-vis can enable a motorist to spot you three seconds sooner; and when driving at 30mph that is the equivalent length of a standard dressage arena.

When riding off-road, research conducted by the Ministry of Defence has shown that helicopter pilots can see a horse and rider in hi-vis up to half a mile sooner, giving them time to avoid flying straight over the top. Additionally, if the worst should happen and a rider is thrown from their horse, rescue services will be able to spot the casualty that much quicker.

Whilst there is no law or regulation which states what hi-vis riders must wear, or that they must use this equipment at all, it is clearly in our best interests to do so. As a minimum, the BHS recommends a hi-vis jacket or tabard for the rider and leg bands on the horse, however, the more you wear the better and with such a huge range of products available it should be easy to find a combination that works for you.

With a great range of hi-vis equipment available on the market, we take a look at the most popular products:

Photo courtesy of Weatherbeeta

For the Horse:

Hi-Vis Exercise Sheets offer excellent visibility for both on and off-road riding and come in a variety of styles. Traditional exercise sheets sit under the saddle, whereas wrap-around or competition sheets fit over the saddle. These types of sheets often include a high-visibility chest section which fastens around the front of the horse to offer 360° visibility. Exercise sheets come in various sizes from pony to extra full to fit all sizes of horse.

Hi-Vis Saddle Pads don't offer quite as much visibility as an exercise sheet, as the area on show is much smaller. They are, however, a very useful alternative, increasing the side view visibility. There are many hi-viz saddle pads on the market but you can shop the Weatherbeeta Reflective Prime Saddle Pad here.

Boots or Leg Bands are recommended as a minimum for horses. Leg bands fasten around the horse's lower leg offering increased visibility and are particularly eye-catching with the horse's movement. If you usually ride with brushing boots, there is also a good range of boots available which offer the usual protection for the horse's legs but also feature hi-vis and reflective panels to aid visibility when riding out. Some of our best-selling boots and leg bands include the HyViz Leg Bands and Woof Wear Reflective Club Brushing Boots.

Bridle Sets easily attach to the horse's bridle and other saddlery such as martingles, to give increased visibility from both the front and side. Particularly useful for road riding, as when waiting at a junction or to cross a road, it is the horse's head that is often most visible to oncoming traffic. Hi-Vis Neckbands and Breastplates are also available to improve head-on visibility. The Weatherbeeta Reflective Bridle Kit is a popular choice for many riders.

Tail Sleeves/Bands Like the HyViz Tail Band are good for increasing rear visibility and easily attaches to the top of the horse's tail without damaging the hair.

Photo courtesy of Weatherbeeta

For the Rider:

Tabards/Vests are the minimum hi-vis a rider should wear when riding out. They are lightweight and are ideal for use all year. They are affordable, from the basic hi-vis tabard to the more specialist vest designed specifically for equestrian use which will often feature slogans such as 'Please Pass Wide & Slow'. Browse the Weatherbeeta Reflective Hi-Viz Harness here.

Jackets and Gilets like the HyViz Waterproof Riding Jacket provide a more stylish and technical alternative to the traditional tabard. These are particularly popular during the colder winter months and often benefit from being padded for warmth and/or waterproof and breathable for extra comfort and warmth.

Hat Covers and Hat Bands are designed to fit over most standard riding hats. Again they help to increase visibility and are particularly useful when riding along roads or tracks with high hedges or fences. The HyViz Hat Band is perfect to slot over your riding hat and is great value for money.

Arm/Leg Bands are strips of high visibility material, often with reflective strips or LEDs. These wrap around your arm or leg and some are also suitable for use on the horse. When riding on the roads, armbands are particularly useful when signalling to turn, regardless of weather conditions. The HyViz Rider Arm/Leg Bands are elasticated and easy to fit and wear.

Hi-Vis Breeches have also become more readily available. These breeches give great side view visibility and the addition of reflective panels also aids visibility for road riding.

Photo courtesy of Weatherbeeta

For the Dog:

It's also important to remember it is not only you and your horse that can benefit from the added safety offered by hi-vis equipment and clothing. The same applies when walking your dog at dusk or at night.

Hi-Vis Dog Coats like the Weatherbeeta Reflective Dog Coat are useful for walking in low light, both along roads to help drivers see you and your dog sooner but also to help you keep sight of your dog when free-running, particularly in wooded or overgrown areas.

Hi-Vis Collars and leads are also useful, particularly those with flashing LEDs. Whether out walking or just on the yard, these collars help make sure your dog is seen and safe.

In conclusion, as is clear to see, Hi-Viz equipment greatly increases visibility when out and about, helping to reduce accidents and could ultimately save lives. So with such a wide choice of Hi-Vis products available, why would you choose not to wear it?