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Vital with safety reflectors on both horse & rider
The late summer has hung in a fragile thread in the hope that autumn may be able to wait just a little longer, but now September is here. All horse owners probably have a hate/love relationship with autumn where wonderful autumn days with sun are mixed with days of constant rain and mud. The darkness falls earlier and earlier in the afternoons with each passing day - and all of a sudden it is dark before we have even gotten home from work or school. After a long day at work or school, we horse owners have to go out to the stable to take care of our four-legged friend, regardless of the weather. The stable is dark and muddy and there is often a lack of good lighting around the stable. This brings us to the vital topic - Safety reflectors!
During the dark days of autumn and winter, it is, to say the least, extremely important to wear good reflectors in the right places so that you and your horse are properly visible. We have probably all sat in a car and swore at pedestrians in dark clothes without reflectors that are not visible in the autumn darkness when they cross the road. The same goes for you and your horse! Maybe it is the case that you imagine that you have time for a ride in the woods before darkness falls and choose to ignore the safety reflectors? Think again! Darkness falls faster than you think, and even at dusk, a horse and rider is difficult to see for your fellow road users. Put on you and your horse safety reflectors so that you are visible - it's a matter of life and death.
When you want to make sure that you and your horse are visible, it is important to keep in mind that you need to place reflectors on both you and your horse so that you are visible from all different directions. If a motorist comes from the front, it is not enough that you put a reflex in the horse's tail. You need reflectors that are visible from the front, back and side for best visibility. It is easiest for your fellow road users to perceive reflexes that move - for example on the horse's legs, on the reins or your arms. This is because they are more easily noticed by the light from, for example, the oncoming car. Then the driver can perceive in good time that you will have time to slow down to pass you safely. A rider with reflectors is perceived at a distance of about 125 meters, while a rider completely without reflectors is only perceived at a distance of about 20-30 meters. So, therefore you should always use safety reflectors!
In conclusion, you should keep in mind that:
♥ It gets dark faster than you think - always use safety reflectors if you ride out in the afternoon and do not know for sure that you will make it home before it gets dark.
♥ Test your safety reflectors! Reflectors get old and then do not work as good - therefore hold up a new reflector next to an old and light with a flashlight. Big difference? - replace! Otherwise keep and use.
♥ Make sure that both you and the horse are visible from all different directions - from the front, from behind and from the side.
♥ Always have safety reflectors on the horse's legs - this is so that motorists can see that they are meeting a horse.
♥ Always use safety reflectors on both you and the horse - if you would fall off your horse, it is important that both you and the horse are visible if the horse should come loose.
