evening exercis without manege or lighting

When I didnt have this.. it was to either get a friend to ride or arrange to get into work later and stay later so I could ride first thing. also got very good at riding and leading so we could all help out....Horse at that time was on tick over regime over.

But having said about having a school and lights... if you are not under cover then the elements can still defeat you. The flooding has kept us out even though our school drains quickly.
 
We have to ride early in the morning as we don't have a school or lighting either. So hack out lit up like Christmas trees to keep the horses ticking over.
 
Hack out looking like a christmas tree
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Actually, once the horses get used to the idea it's quite pleasant. The initial stages of winter when you are in the dusk zone seem to be spookier than the pitch black. I don't like it on my own but only 'cos I have a really dark path to go on. However, a headtorch on the hat helps with that and company makes it totally fine. In fact there's one person who will go into the school and work in the dark. The rain is a bigger pest!
 
I have never even thought about hacking in the dark... does anyone actually do this. Mine are on full turn out so do get fairly good exercise in the field and I normally only do three days a week at uni or placement and work nights so I can go out during the day.
 
Yes we do! A well known Eventer once said to me that he works on the basis that if he can see then so can the horse - it makes sense. I've always dog walked in the dark and now I'm taking the occasional hack
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I have to get up at 5.30 to get to work for 8.30 as it is, so I cherish my evening rides round farm tracks in the pitch dark. It is so quiet and pleasant, horses have far better night vision than we do, so I just let her pick her place. Once you get used to balancing yourself without the benefit of a noticeable horizon I think your security in the saddle improves. I have hi-viz on myself and a headtorch, my pony and the dogs who come with me all have hi-viz jackets and the dogs have flashing lights too. The jets keep away if I put my headtorch onto flash! It's just the weather that stops me these days
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If I can do mornings I hack out at about 6.45 and get back for 8am so into work for 9 (half hour drive, even managed a shower this morning)

I am lucky I dont have much on road, very quiet road I normally see one car- going to walk his dogs same place I am going and I look like a xmas tree.

If it is evenings then if muddy I ride round the edge of our field (about 3 acres) if not too muddy then I school or lunge. I am not overally fussy on the ground tbh and it stands up quite well as we leave a section of it as longer grass etc.
 
my friend has two to exercise so rides one in the morning round the fields, and the other in the school, then swaps every other day so they don't get bored of just schooling. other things you could try are loose jumping, doing a bit of 'handy pony', like investigating things, doing obstacle courses etc.
 
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