Horse Riders Urged To Wear LEDs And Hi Vis

The majority of horse riders are aware of the importance of wearing high visibility clothing when out riding, particularly in the evenings and mornings in the winter when it’s still dark.

However, one lorry driver has suggested that this isn’t enough, and recommended that riders also invest in LEDs for both themselves and their horses.

Horse & Hound reported on the plea from Stuart Standing, who recently had an encounter with a horse and rider where he only saw the pair moments before reaching them, even though the rider was wearing a high vis jacket.

As a result, Mr Standing suggested that riders should invest in LEDs to make them more visible to drivers in low-light conditions.

“It is only too easy to fix and the other outcomes are too horrible not to fix it,” he told the publication.

In fact, the website pointed out that the British Horse Society (BHS) is already advising riders to wear lights in addition to high visibility and reflective items of clothing. The organisation suggests two red LEDs on the rider’s shoulders, as well as a light on either side of the horse’s flanks facing backwards.

Riders and horses should have white LEDs in the same configuration facing forward as well, the BHS recommends.

Earlier this month the RAF handed out high visibility clothing to riders around its Peterborough base to ensure that riders can be seen by pilots of its Chinook helicopters, which will be flying out of RAF Wittering this month.

Speaking to Horse & Hound, group captain Tony Keeling explained that because Chinooks will be unfamiliar to many in the area, they wanted to make sure that the local horse riding community was aware and fully informed before commencing flying.