Hacking in the dark?

ShowJumperBeckii

ShowJumperBeckii

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so i want to hack ebs for about a week before going back into the school and trying to get her listening but now the clocks have gone back it gets dark at like 5ish and i dont get to the yard til 3.15 muck out ect, but i was told you can ride in the dark as long as you still have hizi stuff on but surely thats just dangerous? or would it be ok? :confused:
 
Its not something I would consider even with hi viz - can you ride first and then muck out? Make the most of the little light you have left once you get there?
 
Get to the yard, groom, tack up, hack. You'll have plenty of time to be back before five. But deck yourself out in high viz! Then muck out etc, when you get back.
 
Be careful! Years ago when I was at school, I'd hack out my little pony after school in the growing darkness, and hated it. Back then the roads weren't so busy, and hi viz was all in the future. All I had was a little stirrup light, battery operated, which was about as useless as a nun in a punch-up, and I'd go for miles trotting along the dark lanes on my little pony.

I wouldn't do it now though, not even with hi-viz, not on my road at home coz its a rat-run.

You can get battery-operated flashing light units which will make you even more visible, think Equisafety do them. Well worth it I would say.
 
Defo not hack in dark - its suicidal, especially if you hack on country lanes.

Get home, ride (and make sure wear hi viz) and then muck out etc.
 
i didt think you could be me and mate were saying theses people NEVER were it and i said thats dangerous cause its dark shes like no its fine if your wearing hizi? strange

yep we are down country lanes too x
 
i would NEVER hack out in the dark. your horse could be as bombproof as possible and decked out like a Christmas Tree but drivers will not be expecting a horse and rider to be out in the dark and might not react fast enough. no chance.
(a lady near here and a child and pony got killed trick or treating in the dusk a few years ago.)
i wouldn't even hack out totally off-road in the dark, fwiw.
 
Ride and then muck out - you don't need to do a mega groom either before you ride - just clean the saddle and girth area and the bridle area. I would wear hi viz at any time out hacking, but it might be worth getting some cheap arm bands that runners wear and which flash to put round your arm or leg.
 
Just don't hack out in the dark. hi-viz, or no hi-viz. Its asking for problems, especially with traffic how it is. I just wouldn't dare. Try and ride before you muck out, but do not risk it during late dusk/sunset...
 
In the OP defence there was a thread here a while ago about hacking in the dark and they had attached a head torch onto ponies bridle, still something I wouldnt do. Been caught out a few times; me and the horse slightly poo'd ourselves.
 
My daughter got caught out once, after hunting. I turned out in the car and followed close behind, headlights and hazards on, so she was illuminated from all ends. Also took a high viz jacket with me. Not ideal, but needs musted at the time.
 
Legally you can ride on the roads after sunset providing you rare displaying correct lights, white to the front and red to the rear.

However it is danagerous and to be avoided, especially on unlit roads.

OP I would ride first when you get to the yard. Just do a quick brush off then tack up and go. Do all other jobs when you get back.

But as the light will be fading and there is a risk that if you had a problem you could be caught out in the dark take extra precautions. Wear lots of High Viz on you and the horse, and get lights, either for your stirrup, boot or arm. Look in cycling shops if you can't find them in tack shops.
 
I used to when I was at school. But it was around the well lit estates, and always in company. We only had 1 stretch in the dark and it was on a wide straight road.
We also went out covered in hi-viz and lit up like xmas trees.

No one I know (even the women I used to ride with) goes out in the dark anymore

I agree with everyone else. Give her a quick flick off and ride first - still covered in hi-viz and with a couple of light just in case you get caught out. Then do your mucking out and jobs after.
 
You can get those flashing LED lights that can be seen from a long way away. Def not ideal, but throw on the tack and go out first. Have stirrup lights, white to front, red to back, leg bands on horse and something on its rear, because it will be people coming up behind that will be the biggest danger.
 
Ride first, than muck out.

fwiw if I'm riding in the afternoon/evening in the winter (not the dark!) me and nag are head to toe in hi viz and then ontop I wear a flashing LED tabard, a flashing hat band, carry a flshing whip, nag has flashing leg bands. Must get some more lights for stirrups and to put on tail flap of rug.
 
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