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Equine Speed Limiter

Stop those silly jockies killing themselves
  (+4, -5)
(+4, -5)
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If you fall off your bike at 20 mph your head hits the ground at 20 mph plus a bit gained in KE in the 5 ft fall. If you fall off a horse at 20 mph head hits the ground at 20 mph plus KE from the 12 ft fall. QED horses are far more dangerous than bikes and should all be fitted with speed limiters (or made lower).

Therefore we need 'HorseOSlow': I propose a device like a large dog blanket (but with air holes) that drapes over the horse and has vertical stays to hold a very strong bungee cord just clear of the horses leg reach at a canter. At any higher speed the legs encounter the elastic cord and are restrained from accelerating the horse. Plus in the event of a horse to horse impact these will also act as horse bumpers.

To all those equine folks who complain about cars on roads - Stay in the fields then - but with new enlarged 'HorseOBump' ('HorseOSlow' with a bouncy castle attached as each end) simply bounce those pesky motorists aside!

Want to take you horse on holiday but cannot afford the air fare? The you need 'HorseOBlimp' (I'll let you work this one out for yourselves).

Plus 'HorseOGimp' (ever seen Equus?), 'HorseOSkimp' (save on those unnecessary Vets bills.) and who can forget 'HorseOHemp' (brings a whole new meaning to a stone in your hoofff man).

No rabbits were harmed in the making of these products.

eight_nine_tortoise, Mar 26 2009

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       By that logic, people would be forbidden to use high ladders, as there is no ladder-velocity X small enough to make X+KE = bike-like   

       I like the solution, but the problem is weird.
loonquawl, Mar 27 2009
  

       I guess the height of the ride is inclued, as it is specifically the head, the impact velocity of which seem to be of interest. Still, the horse is probably on stilts.
loonquawl, Mar 27 2009
  

       If the saddle were slung beneath the horse (think recumbent bicycle) you'd solve the whole +KE thing altogether (though probably have to review the whole hoof-in-face thing instead)
zen_tom, Mar 27 2009
  

       //If the saddle were slung beneath the horse //
...it would make steeplechases a whole lot more watchable.
coprocephalous, Mar 27 2009
  

       +   

       Also love [zen_tom]'s recumbent saddle. You may have difficulty seeing where you're going though. I suppose an alternative would be to have a harness-like saddle which allows one to depend beneath the horse head-first as when flying a hang-glider.
squeak, Mar 27 2009
  

       Next time harm some rabbits already.   

       //review the whole hoof-in-face thing instead//   

       I'd be more worried about horse's tackle-in-face.
DenholmRicshaw, Mar 28 2009
  

       pretty sure the horse wouldn't be too happy about it either... waterskis perhaps ?
FlyingToaster, Mar 28 2009
  

       Quite, 21Q. If you want a horse keep off the roads, they are for cars (who don't feel crashes).
eight_nine_tortoise, Mar 28 2009
  
      
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