Getting horses in from grazing in the dark

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pinkcatkin

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Now that we are using our new 6 acre field with a new entrance near our stables, my friend and I have decided that our horses will have to put up with being brought in in the dark. It is only about 100 yards from field to stables but the field is over a slight incline so you cannot see the stables or the lights from their field gate.

Before, if we were not able to get them in before dark we left them in the bottom paddock right next to stables so really easy and short distance to bring them in.

We left it until just about dark yesterday and took torches so that they get used to them. They were not too bad, just a little spooked by the bloody pigeons flippety flapping in the hedge, but shortly she and I will both have to manage alone.

They are very settled and happy in their new field and yesterday were still grazing and had to be called down to the gate, so it's not as if they are milling around and dying to come in, on the contrary they are too happy stuffing themselves.

Anybody got any good tips for this sort of thing - suppose we should get head torches?
 
My friend and I bring our horses in when its dark most evenings in winter - we normally take nights about so we both get a break. We don't generally have a problem other than finding them if they're not waiting for us!
 
i get my boy in,in the dark,we dont use torches and its great as they are at the gate waiting,i prefer to do this than walk up over the field to get him !!
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Mine live out...I do them wearing head torches (very bright) which they are all used to now...they just shut their eyes when the light is on them
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I also take a big torch to the field so I can find poo for poo picking (how sad am I?)
They'll soon get used to torches...
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I remember trying to find poos in the dark last winter but gave it up and had to spend the extra time next morning, not much fun, but necessary.... This new field is large and very long just at the moment until we get it topped and harrowed in the spring so I don't think we can poo pick until its is more user friendly. (We had some brandy yesterday to celebrate not having to poo pick for a bit!!!!).
 
Are there just the two horses in there that come in at the same time? I just shake a bucket of feed if its dark and i cant see mine, but it is just my two in the field so.......wouldnt recommend this is its a field full!
 
If you can find the horses without torches I woulnt bother.... they wander about all night if they are out 24/7 in the pitch black so they dont care.......
 
Are you addressing me?
I don't have trouble finding mine in the dark...they wait for me am and pm at the gate as I feed them twice a day and bring them hay/haylage.....
But I do need a torch to make sure I'm feeding the right feed to the right horse...as they all have ambitions to eat each others' feed (grass is greener syndrome
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I use one of these Lantern thing... and it works great
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I just pop it down by the gate and call him. He normally comes and he's fine about the light. A few of the people on the yard use head torches and if I didn't have this lantern I would give the headtorch a try
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Quote:
But I do need a torch to make sure I'm feeding the right feed to the right horse...as they all have ambitions to eat each others' feed (grass is greener syndrome )

Ahhh mine are like that! The problem is one is on yearling cubes and the other is on 16plus mix!!!!
 
Thanks for that. We have two biggish mares and one small and very sweet Section B companion. Our problem is that they are usually a bit yee ha! When they shared a field at livery many, many years ago, the YO couldn't ever bring them in together as she went skiing! They are quite naughty girls really but at least my big girl is completely food orientated and if you put her head in a bucket she is as good as gold. My friend's mare is not at all a foody and is extremely highly strung. So it is a question of getting one in at a time if you are alone.
 
i used to get my horse in with a torch but found she didnt like the light shining near her (shes a bit weird like that!) so now just use the torch to see where i`m going and when i get to the field turn it off
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Horses actually see better at night..their eyes are designed too..so they wont worry about the dark!!!
But maybe head lamps would be good for you!!!
 
if the big ones are strong, i'd put bridles on them both and bring them in together, with the little one following behind (as long as it's just from field to yard, all enclosed, and nowhere near a road, obviously). much safer and easier than trying to get them through the gate one at a time in the dark, when the others want to come in too, imho. if the little mare's usual stable is open and ready, i reckon she'll put herself in... mine always do, given the chance.
*prepares to get shot down in flames for suggesting something so dangerous*
 
If you can see without a head torch I'd really try not to. Your horse will be able to see better without you shining a torch and it ruins your night vision as well. Yes you'll be able to see the 4ft in front of you but around that will be pitch black and you're much more likely to have problems. I get D in in the dark every night and don't have problems despite it being about a 300m walk past 3 gates and a scary tractor
 
Yes Kerilli, all enclosed and off the road and little one goes and finds her feed automatically. Just worried I will get pulled off my feet!!! They really are naughty sometimes but usually a stern vocal telling off does the trick! we used to have to lead them together down the road for about 1/4 mile and we never had any problem with them on the road, it is just when they have turf under their feet!
 
I get my boy in using a head torch...they are fab but make sure you get the LED one as they are much brighter and more useful...they are like a bright glow rather than a direct beam.
I have a field stable in my field and no elec and I manage to do my horse chores - water, haynets and mucking out with my head torch in the pitch black every day during winter.
My horse went bonkers when I first used a torch but soon got used to it.
 
I have a 12 million candle power torch that I use to find them (its sooooo bright!) and then use a headtorch for bringing them in. If the moon's out its easier without a torch, but I tend to fall on my face if its really dark and I don't have a torch
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