Tail Lights aim to keep horses and their riders safe when the sun goes down

If a tail light for a horse sounds like a punch line to a joke, trust us, it’s no laughing matter.

Founder Sami Gros created the Tail Lights Rider Safety System to protect humans and horses after her horse, Afar, was hit by a car on a dusk ride.

A consumer version of her LED front and tail light safety system for mounted police has launched on Kickstarter.

The system includes front and tail light units, a tail wrap, a remote control and a rechargeable battery pack with six light color options and modes that include steady and flashing.

Do the horses mind?

“I’ve put it on every single horse I can get my hands on,” Gros said. “It is designed with the safety and comfort of horses in mind. It moves with the tail, so it’s not uncomfortable.”

She said she has tried it on hundreds of horses so far, without any nays.

The basic system retails for $270. The campaign runs through Dec. 10.

Since launching the pro version in 2013, various mounted patrols in the U.S. and Canada have bought it. The LAPD is currently testing it.

Sgt. Jeremy Bassett of the Albuquerque Police Department said by email that when he first saw Tail Lights, his reaction was, “No way I am putting those lights on my horses.”.

But one of his officers had almost been hit by a drunk driver the month before, he said, and “I thought about how many times we have had close calls with vehicles almost hitting us while on patrol at night.”

“The next day I bought 10 units to try on our horses. It has been the best and safest investment when it comes to night-time safety for my officers and horses.”

Info: Tail Lights

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