Hacking at night within the confines of the yard/farm – what products do people buy and use please for added safety and visibility?

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PONYPC

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Hello, after an amazing summer of hacking, the evenings are drawing in and school work is beckoning. We are very lucky on our yard to have off road hacking around the edge of our fields and bridleways and byways through our yard. So apart from crossing a lane if we do a complete loop, there is no real roadwork needed. So really interested what products people were illuminating themselves and their horses with please and any type of head torches ect used please?
 
Flashing lights. The soft silicone ones.

White front, red rear, attached to broadband or breastplate for front and rear on quarter sheet.

I've used flashing cyclists armband lights too round the horses legs too.
 

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I've used the little red and white lights that Birker2020 has linked, found them very good. Didn't like a head torch, with the pony's action they bob around too much, also horses can see better than us in the dark and your eyes will quickly adjust to even the least moonlight.
 
Hmm if it was me I'd do hi Viz and maybe a not very bright led light on chest and tail. Anything bright, flashing etc will be really messy for the horse and you. It's probably a case of just trying your way if you don't have roadwork and is unlikely to encounter fast cyclists etc
 
A really good torch! So you can see around you if you need to or check on the horse in case of a loose shoe or whatever.

A whiteboard - write your route and the time you left and leave it on your stable door or in the tack room, just in case.
 
I ride in the dark around quiet roads to the village near our yard.
I use similar to these attached to my right stirrup white facing forward red to the rear - https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bi...MI7pjjlIXyjwMVjJlQBh2xjgqhEAQYBSABEgJEkfD_BwE

I then wear a silver reflective coat with a flashing tabrd over the top
Coat - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Proviz-Men...words=proviz+reflect360&qid=1758739020&sr=8-8
Tabard - https://www.amazon.co.uk/kwmobile-L...ashing+light+tabard,aps,83&sr=8-10&th=1&psc=1

I wear a head torch over my hat this ones very similar and as its flat doesn't bob around to much- amazon.co.uk/Lepro-Rechargeable-Adjustable-Waterproof-Lightweight/dp/B0CLDK89HV/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.50ef6012-fc26-40fb-8b64-d180e326dbff%3Aamzn1.sym.50ef6012-fc26-40fb-8b64-d180e326dbff&crid=3CJ45DY37G6CT&cv_ct_cx=rechargeable+head+torch+uk&keywords=rechargeable+head+torch+uk&pd_rd_i=B0CLDK89HV&pd_rd_r=8942dc08-2837-4986-91ca-343f961c2be2&pd_rd_w=7yycA&pd_rd_wg=nXGCP&pf_rd_p=50ef6012-fc26-40fb-8b64-d180e326dbff&pf_rd_r=PB1NMFXASGP6B392958Z&qid=1758739139&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=rechargeable+head%2Caps%2C86&sr=1-5-4ab648ba-44b3-436b-8ee5-705efb8a8e28-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

And i attach and old light from a head torch that flashes red to the band of the above at the back of my hat.

My horses wears one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breastplat...e&qid=1758739307&sprefix=,aps,89&sr=8-22&th=1

I want to get some light up leg bands for the horse.
The head torch and martingale are rechargeable.
Very little of what i wear/use is designed for horses so fairly cheap and a lot is from lidl/aldi in the special buy section - cycling stuff is great.
 
I hack on private estate with no road work. I just wear hi viz coat and exercise sheet. Lights mess up your night vision and aren’t necessary if you’re not on roads. I know my routes very well so don’t need to see perfectly
 
I would not use anything with an actual light because it will mess up your and your horse’s night vision. If not going on the road, the most important thing is that your horse can see clearly. I rode in the dark when I last had a job that required it - in the arena and in fields. My horse could see fine, so long as we were away from the lights of the yard.
 
I used to use silicone flashing LED armbands, threaded onto nylon dog collars. My ankles, his fetlocks, also pinned either side of the reflective martingale, white at the front, red at the back. Also plaited a strand of tail and clipped a small red light through it, together with two LED torches fastened to the underside of the stirrups. Used to do a lot of winter roadwork, and yes, we stopped traffic - which was the intention! Be prepared for spooky, high alert horses - they seem to love the adventure.
 
I hack out in the dark. I bought an LED hi viz vest for myself. I really good led head torch and he has red bicycle lights for his tail. I only go round the valley so quiet roads which are access for the houses and farm down there so very quiet.
 
I have all the lights, but only put them on if it's cloudy (it's pitch black out there), I'm likely to see traffic of any sort, or come across mountain bikers (we get a lot at night around here). Horse has leg bands (reflective and with tear drop red lights at the back), a reflective neck band that has lights on, plus a mercury high viz sheet. This year I've also gone for a Pioneer Endurance hi viz orange bridle with reflective nose and browband. They also do reins and breast plate to match, but I haven't got those (yet...). I use a Petzl Activ Core head torch, but again, only if I see or hear someone out on the forestry and it also has a red light option, which is good for close up vision and doesn't wreck night vision.
 
Thank you so much everyone, i have just purchased on amazon

Led Head Torch Rechargeable, Super Bright Headlamp Flashlight 230°Wide Beam with Adjustable Spotlight, Motion Sensor, Waterproof Lightweight Headlight​

Topward Running Vest High Visibility Reflective Gear, Mens Hi Viz Vests, Lightweight Adjustable 360-degree​


and 100 Cm Horse Rechargeable LED Light Strand Tail Wrap Different Modes from ebay

now just looking at led breastplates and think i will be sorted and happy to hack around the farm and bridleways, my house is quite chill, although yesterday did a squeal and a bronk having gone out for ahack on my return from holiday, so all very exciting.
 
I can't find the picture of us fully lit up, but I used to put cheap cyclists armbands round Bobbi"s legs and round my boots or arms, plus use an led breastplate and something on my hat. I had a light in Bobbi's tail and sometimes clip on lights on the stirrups or reins. Essentially so we could both be seen from all angles, the farmer once commented he could see us from the top of the drive, which was about a quarter of a mile away. Which was the idea!
Screenshot_20241008_135314_Gallery.jpg
 
I used to get up early and set off in the dark as the first section was off road. By the time we were riding on the roads on the way back it was light enough to be seen. Much safer than riding at night as at least you know it only gets lighter. If you are riding on private land, do you need extra lights etc? The horse's night vision is supposed to be very good.
 
Whilst I agree with everyone saying you don't need lights to see consider how you or the horse will be found if you part company. You in particular are harder to find, something with lights will help immensely.
 
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