Horseback Riding Safety During Hunting Season:
Orange Is In:
By Maranda Kolesinskas

Wearing orange may not be a fashion statement, but it can save your life. Hunting Season is upon us again and it is time for horseback riders to share the woods with hunters. There are several suggestions that I would like to make to help keep everyone safe, but the most important one is to wear orange, lots of it.

Did you know that wearing orange is not just a good idea; it’s the law in many states across the country. In Rhode Island, for instance, hunters and all other trail users (hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders, etc.) are required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from the third Saturday in October to the last day of February and the last Thursday in April to the last day in May, every year. If you are caught not wearing orange, you can be fined $100.00. Know your state’s laws and know when hunting season begins and ends. Each state has a government web site with lots of relevant information. Try a google search or contact the your state’s Environmental Management Dept. In Rhode Island it is www.dem.ri.gov.

Why orange? It is very visible. Fluorescent orange looks particularly bright to humans because it absorbs UV rays that we can’t see and turns them into longer wavelengths we can see. And it looks like nothing else in nature. Wearing this color prevents hunters from mistaking a person or their horse for a game animal. Since people have been wearing orange, accidents have decreased tremendously. The color is so closely associated with hunting that it is often called “hunter orange” or “blaze orange”.

Since it is clear that orange, florescent orange, makes us more visible, we should wear as much of that color as we can. In this case, let’s not worry about fashion faux pas. This color saves lives. You can dress your horse in orange too. Consider a bright saddle pad or maybe a bandana tied to your horses bridle or tail. I have seen bright “Vet Wrap” used in creative ways.

You might be thinking that this is going to be a big expense, but really it’s not. A sweatshirt can be bought at Ocean State Job Lot (if in Rhode Island), or your local department store, such as Wall-Mart or K-Mart. for as little as $10.00. The Bass Pro Shop has vests from $5.99 to $54.99 and orange knit hats are only $4.95. Orange bandanas can be found in craft shops for as little as $1.00 and Vet Wrap is only 99 cents a roll at most tack shops. Look on EBay for good deals on saddle pads and hunting jackets. Some tack shops have safety gear, but I found shopping sporting good stores and department stores to be less expensive.

Wearing orange is the single most important thing you can do to stay safe but certainly not the only thing. Here are a few other tips to consider:

• Never ride alone. Take a friend; it’s more fun too.
• Tell someone where you are going before you head out.
• Make some noise. Hunting season is not the time to be silent. Keep up a constant chatter or even sing. Your horse won’t mind.
• Tie bells to your saddle or purchase Bear Bells.
• Always have a cell phone with you and keep it on your person, it won’t do you any good if perchance you get separated from your horse, and you stashed your phone in your saddlebag.
• Avoid the woods during peak hunting times, such as dawn and dusk.
• Stick to the main trails and fields and avoid the thick wooded areas where it is harder to identify you and more likely to be hunters.
• What NOT to wear = brown, tan and definitely not white, for those colors could easily be mistaken as a deer. Also camouflage should be avoided.
  

Don’t be afraid to venture out and explore the woods during this beautiful time of year. Do however be careful, it’s important to respect the rights of the hunters and share the woods. Consider these tips when embarking upon your trail-riding this hunting season. Enjoy the woods and ride safe!