Anyone ride (hack) in the dark / dawn / dusk?

CBFan

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For the first time since I have had a horse, I find myself in the position where I am really short of time / daylight to ride and since we have no arena, it's hacking only. The latest I can go out in the morning is 7am and be back in time to go to work so obviously, it is only just getting light when I head out... am I bonkers to even consider it? High vized up to the hilt and with a head torch... I have about 100metres of quiet country lane to ride down before I can get totally off road... Am also looking for a sharer to do the weekday riding...
 

Suelin

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I hacked out my horse at 5 am for 2 winters. Frankly the earlier you go the better (less chance of seeing any traffic, depending on the road of course) We are in a quiet area so I could see any car lights for a long way which gave me time to get out of the way if necessary. Although in that time I think I only ever saw 2 vehicles and feel fairly sure that the drivers thought they were seeing a ghost!! White horse with black clad (at the time) rider, must have looked very spooky. In this day and age I would recommend that you use all the hi-vis available and lights as well. I found my horse became totally non spooky because he couldn't see what to spook at, bonus indeed from my lovely Arab. A 100 metres is nothing really, I'd go for it if I were you.
 

ester

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yup, full hivis - sheet, vest, hat band, leg bands on horse, breastplate, noseband, flashing led vest, flashing leg bands on me, head torch.

I have been told am more visible then than not.

But I have only ever done it where I am only in restricted light for a short distance, on specific roads, even more so now we have direct off road hacking - although issue with headlight on a rainy night was I couldn't see due to the steam coming off the pony!
100 m of lane I would absolutely do with appropriate dress and agree mornings usually quieter than just after work/you often see the same people every morning so they start to expect you.
 

Annagain

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I'd probably risk 100m of quiet road but no more. We have two riders in our area who go out every evening in the winter - not at dusk, but in proper full on darkness. They do wear lots of hi-viz but don't have lights. They do about a 2 mile circuit of the roads not just a small section to get off road, usually in rush hour. These are exceptionally busy, twisty, country lanes which were never designed to take the volume of traffic they have on them and which are used as rat runs for people getting to and from work. They've caused uproar and have been abusive to any drivers (many of whom are fellow riders) who suggest there's a better time for them to be riding. Even if they did it in the morning it wouldn't be so bad as roads don't get busy until about 8, but at 5.30 in the evening they're just asking for trouble. I don't get them risking their horses like that. They have a choice, the poor horses don't.
 

Hanson

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We hack out all winter in the dark providing the ground is good (no ice etc).
Both horses wear hi vis quarter sheets and leg wraps.
Also they have light on martingale sand saddles and fillet string of rug. You can use clip on lights for bicycles.
We wear head lamps and hi vis jackets with lights. I also have a torch on a ribbon around my neck for when we come to a bend in the road to give drives a warning there is something ahead.
The horses are fine with the dark, in fact seem less spooky!
We do have to do some road work but as we are early (6am) the amount of cars we meet are minimal and are locals who get to recognise us.
I've been told by a regular cyclist that we meet that he can see us better in the dark than in daylight, which is reassuring.
I love it as you get to see a whole lot more of wildlife and it's so peaceful.
But I do go out with somebody else and pick my routes carefully to minimise the risk as much as possible. Whilst I feel safe, I am conscious that I'm going out when people are in a hurry to get to work and done of the lanes we have to ride on to get off road are used as cut throughs.
 

3OldPonies

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They do wear lots of hi-viz but don't have lights.

I thought that lights were a requirement for after dark riding. Agree too - the poor horses don't have a choice if the riders want to try and get killed that's their affair, but no need to drag neds into it. I've only ridden at dusk on the road and round here that was scary enough, and me and my boy look like a hi-vis catalogue pic when we go out.
 

RunToEarth

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No - there isn't enough hi viz in the world to convince me to put both myself and my horses in that much danger for the sake of exercising them - the roads are dangerous enough as it is without horses in the dark FGS.
 

ester

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I think we've had this convo before RTE, we are both still alive fwiw ;) and I still don't see it as an awful lot different to me being on my bike at those times as I have a very traffic proof pony.

Only do dusk/first light on any of our 30 mph village roads, dark is woods only and only on well known tracks. We do keep waking one particular pigeon up as we walk under his tree at the mo though.

Annagain that is what I mean by only on appropriate routes and that it is a very specific thing to do for each area.
 

Annagain

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I think we've had this convo before RTE, we are both still alive fwiw ;) and I still don't see it as an awful lot different to me being on my bike at those times as I have a very traffic proof pony.

Only do dusk/first light on any of our 30 mph village roads, dark is woods only and only on well known tracks. We do keep waking one particular pigeon up as we walk under his tree at the mo though.

Annagain that is what I mean by only on appropriate routes and that it is a very specific thing to do for each area.

Yes - I would probably do what you do, but not what they do, if that makes sense!
Thinking about it I think they may have head torches, but nothing that helps you seen them from behind.
 

ester

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which is even more important!

I only use head torch on road so that it is obvious which way I am travelling for cars etc.
 

CBFan

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No need for that... You're perfectly entitled to be against it but no need for 'FGS'....

I am very much on the fence over it. I would never ride my horse out in the pitch dark but just wanted feedback from others as to whether it was sensible to consider it at dawn, with only a very short, straight stretch of road work where we might see one car of a morning. I'd never do it in rush hour on rat runs - that is just insane!! but from what others have said I am not totally bonkers for considering what I am... Still undecided...

Thanks for all the feedback!
 

Christmas Crumpet

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Yes i ride in the dark - its the only way I can keep my hunter exercised in the winter as I work full time.

We go out at 6.30 a.m from head to toe in hi viz and a really good head torch. We live in a rural area where you can see the cars from about a mile away so plenty of time to get in a gateway. I normally just see the milkman.
 

Merrymoles

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I don't currently but would consider it as we are only 100 yards from a bridleway too and it is a quiet 30mph village street with street lighting. I might consider it first thing in the morning when, with luck, it would be light by the time I rejoined the road to complete the circuit but, if not, I would turn round and use the bridleway as the stretch of road back is 60mph limit and very bendy.
 

stormclouds

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I'm going to have to start doing this on weekday mornings - luckily am off road (minus a couple of driveways) but as long as you're completely hi-vised up/glowing in the dark, I think it's fine. I'd say more so in the morning when it's getting lighter, rather than in the evenings when it's getting darker.
 

FairyLights

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I used to about 30 years ago. I loved it. the dark is so enveloping and comforting. I lived on the edge of a town and could hack along a couple of country lanes with a few street lights. it was good to look down on the town and see the streetlights and traffic headlights.
Now I live in a village and although I would love too I wont as we do get the odd car along the lane but in the dark they are going fast to get home and the driver wont expect to see a horse so I feel its too dangerous. If I could go straight out onto the hill then I would be riding in the dark.
 

RunToEarth

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I think we've had this convo before RTE, we are both still alive fwiw ;) and I still don't see it as an awful lot different to me being on my bike at those times as I have a very traffic proof pony

I know - hopefully you don't take offence - I have no idea what your hacking is like, but ours isn't great in a morning, so it's just a no for me - too many idiots about.

No need for that... You're perfectly entitled to be against it but no need for 'FGS'....

!

You asked for thoughts - I feel quite strongly about it.
 

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If hacking on the road, I am very careful what light I hack out in. Always fully hi vized up. Bright sun light can be as bad as poor light. I would never hack out in poor light first or last thing, it doesnt matter how well dressed you are. The thing is other car drivers, rightly or wrongly, dont expect to see horses on the road in the dark.
 

ester

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but they do expect to see cyclists, and around our way joggers/walkers. Fwiw I do find that they are more considerate when I look like a christmas tree.

No offence RTE, as I said I think it very much depends where you are/what animal you are on. It was doable at my old house and am very lucky to have access to pretty much direct offroad now, I take the lights even if offroad just in case anything were to happen so I could be found.
 

Holzdweaver

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Id much rather hack out in full dark than in half light, any lights we wear are way more visible in the dark, in half light, id want a lot more bright hiviz on too.

I hack out with a similar setup with a headtorch on, battery powered superbright leds on front and back (red on back of exercise sheet, white on breastplate), a red bike light on tail cover, as well as the reflectives iv put onto pretty much everything, i bought some stick on reflective tape, the stuff they put on boats, its amazing at glowing with any light source at a great distance, instead of that awful flat stuff which doesnt reflect until your in headlights.

I have even got a tabard with reflective writing on the back just saying 'horse rider' so people headlights pick it up and know what on earth the bobbing lights are from a greater distance so they can slow down accordingly, and give me a bit more room instead of assuming im a walker whos going to step in.
 

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Yes we do evenings a couple of times a week but you can see us coming from miles away. We have a stretch of v.busy village road to go up if want the bridleways or the opposite is 1/4 mile of country lane to get to the fields. It is the only time i will hop up onto the foot path to get off the road, if ponies poop then we get off and clear it off onto the road. Village road does have streetlights as well.

Hi Vis to the max, breastplates, leg wraps, construction issue fluorescent reflective bomber jackets, tail guards, bridle wraps. Torches on ponies browbands, lights on all four legs, lights on our boots and arms. Walking xmas trees far brighter than any cyclist i've ever seen.
 

budley95

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I ride out in the dark, but am very lucky to have direct access to a TROT route. Last year I hacked out with a torch in one hand and reins in the other. Will be getting lots of lights this year. I started a thread the other day about LED neckstraps and somebody found a lovely LED martingale which Bud will soon be modelling out on our hacks - going with lighting us both up this year and still wearing Hi viz :)
 

khalswitz

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I do. I have direct off road hacking along an old railway line, but do meet lots of cyclists so I always wear a hi viz exercise sheet and tabard plus white light on front of helmet and red light on rear.

I do occasionally end up hacking home from our lessons in the dark in winter, which is along a very long, straight, quiet road, and with that get up I've never had a problem. I only have to cros the main road rather than ride on it and people spot me very quickly and are good at stopping/slowing to let us cross (it's a 40 zone so not too fast).

Personally, with lights and hi viz (and most importantly REFLECTIVES as that is what shows up in the dark!! I have a navy waterproof sheet that is just as visible as my fluoro yellow after dark thanks to the reflective bands, however obviously fluoros at dusk/dawn are far better) and a steady horse in traffic I would definitely. If horse is spooked by headlights then don't bother, not worth it.
 

Tnavas

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Many years ago I used to drive my harness horse to work - I didn't have a car at the time and was working at a harness racing stable - so horse transport was fine. Lots of hi viz clothing - was actually great fun - bit cold in the middle of winter but really fun way to get around.
 

EmmaB

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I wouldn't risk it at night but I would do it in the morning. Like someone else said, less cars around in the morning and its only going to get lighter, not darker!

If you only have a short stretch of road before you can get off then I don't see the prob as long as you're all lit up!
 

stencilface

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Nope, no way would I risk mine and my horses life for a hobby to get hit for a pointless reason. Great if you're entirely off road, but if you even have to step foot on a road its not worth it.

I have done 50m on a road in the dark in the past, to hack back from the nearest arena, but I had my mum follow with her hazards on the whole way, and I did it once, never again, far too risky, what if you fell off?
 

MerrySherryRider

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Driving in the dark on evening, OH had to put his car hazard lights on and escort an idiot hacking in hi viz. Her jacket had reflectives on but she was not visible to traffic. It was only because he was driving slowly and was familiar with the way a horse moves that he was able to identify what the obstacle was before he ran up her backside.
A friends father had to do the same once and said it was as scary as when he was once towed off a motorway.

Is it fair to put a horse and other motorists at risk because of a hobby ? Drivers identify cyclists because in the spilt seconds of recognition and decision making, they recognise the movement of a bicycle. A horse is unexpected and the increased time it takes to identify the unexpected could mean the difference between taking the right action and hitting the horse. A horse travels slower and needs more clearance to pass safely, so the critical judgement by the driver needed is very different.
 

Carrots&Mints

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HI VIS up to the eyeballs, we got some flashing red lights from poundland as well just make yourself seen!! Also, try not to go out on your own!! Good luck and enjoy!!
 

wiglet

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Theoretically, I could hack in the dark - we go straight out onto farm tracks, no roadwork necessary. The farmer/land owner requests that we don't ride on his tracks in the dark evenings though - he has lots of tractors/machinery moving around the lanes and he doesn't want us in the way. We could ride very early in the dark though - the farm workers don't begin until 8am. Fortunately my working hours allows me to ride in the daylight :)

I would never ride on a road in the dark - no matter how much hi-vis or lights I had on. Drivers just do not expect to see a horse on the road in the dark - far too dangerous IMO - just not worth the risk.
 
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