Hacking in the dark

[throwaway2022]

Thinking ahead to the days getting shorter ? My daughter is going to miss out on a lot of riding if we don’t hack in the dark (no arena). Pony is a saint and not spooky whatsoever, any advice on how to prepare for a hack in the dark? Would you long rein him first or just crack on? I can always stick them on lead rein initially. Do you wear a head torch?! Any tips would be fab.

We have direct access to off road hacking, no roads or traffic involved.

 

[Barton Bounty]

If i was hacking in the dark I would probably do a few walks in hand first just for eye adjustment sake, and put on a headtorch and probably something round the ponys neck and on the tail that lights up

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Riding in the dark is no picnic so if you must stick to the off road stuff. Put on all the reflective gear you have , horses have pretty good night vision but car drivers don't. Good Luck

 

[planete]

Some horses are happy riding in the dark, some are not. Walking in hand is definitely a good idea to find out which kind the pony is.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I used to do it years ago when I was in Epping Forest but we only did a very short 40 mins max ride on a really well known route, we literally had 5 mins of road work on a fairly quiet lane to get onto the bridleway.

It really does depend on the horse one of mine in fine ridden in the dark the other one is not his not even great in a flood lit arena.

We wore hiviz battery operated flashing vest, stirrup lights and hiviz on the horse.

 

[Hallo2012]

hack in the dark all winter and never had one react badly.

100% off road so no cars to worry about. Know the ground well so still canter and have no problems navigating small gaps, dips etc.

 

[ester]

I've hacked in the dark but only when I've had minimal to no roadwork to do so. I've also always done it early mornings as quieter, and you know the light is only going to get better.

Headlight mostly required so as not to hit your own head on a tree branch IME. But I always stuck with white/ish in front and red lights behind when doing any road work. Multiple of each, green LED breastplate for front too.

My main concern would have been something happening and not being able to locate horse/people not being able to locate me easily in the dark but pony v. good and less spooky in the dark, and see note about mornings so getting lighter.

 

[ponynutz]

As much hi viz as you can possibly get - the ride on rugs are excellent as are the boots and you can get flashing head and bridle bands as well as lights that go on your head and back of the saddle that not only help people see you but help you to see too.

I attached bike lights to hat and back of the saddle.

Agree some don't mind and some do so would also suggest an in hand walk beforehand (or you get on to test ride if you can)

 

[Red-1]

I have done a fair bit of this, in all conditions.

I use loads of High Viz. I do use lights, bright ones, but only if in well lit areas. However, if going off road, I tone the lights right down as I find the horses see better when it is either light or dark, not when a bright torch type light changes the light randomly.

I dislike riding in the dark on unlit roads. I find that vehicles don't see you in oncoming headlights as your lights are simply not as bright, however many you put on. If I had to, I would dress brightly with many lights, as good as I could get. But then I accept that the horses may not be able to see as well as I would like due to the varying light and cars still may lose sight of us in any full beam headlights that may be oncoming. I sometimes ride on road in the dark, no streetlights, to get to a local competition venue, but have Mr Red follow in a car to give a protective barrier.

I find that, off road, they seem very sure footed with no lights.

My baby horse did a darkness ride this summer, to go for a sunrise beach photoshoot. He was instantly surefooted on a rutted and, to him, unknown track. The other 12 or so horses were also fine. None of us had lights, none of the horses knew the track. I think their eyes adjust better than ours. For off road riding I would feel comfortable, but still only walk unless you know the track very well!

 

[Julia0803]

A friend and I had to do this over the last winter as we were both rehabbing and had to do up to 1.5hrs walk daily.

We went out early morning as it was getting light, the only bits that were dark-ish were on well lit straight residential roads with clear sightlines, where the cars were having to go slowly anyway as there are always parked cars down one side so cars have to go slow to weave in and out. By the time we got to the end of that road (15 min from home) it was light enough to be able to see us without the lights.

We were absolutely bedecked with lights and high viz, inc reflective strips on the high viz. Lights on hats, body lights (at chest height with white in front and red on the back), LED breast plates on the ponies. We then used flashing LED arm bands on the horses legs, plus on our stirrups. Another attached to the tail and another wrapped around the browband. (It took a long time to tack up!!) So from whichever angle someone saw us there were moving, flashing lights and reflective strips if they had lights on.

We actually found cars to be far more considerate and slow right down from a distance away - the could clearly see SOMETHING coming but always weren't always sure exactly what it was. We had many comments that people thought a pair of Christmas trees had suddenly sprouted legs!

I wouldn't, and didn't, do it on quiet country lanes- on the basis that cars expect the road to be clear unless they can see headlights shining around corners. It would be too risky as they would be going too fast until it was too late to see us. However, on the straight but slow road with street lamps and open lawns on either side it didn't feel too risky and we never had any problems. Neither pony was at all worried by this routine.

 

[Cragrat]

I hack in the dark every winter. I have no arena, and work full time, so no choice. I have done this for at least 20 years. I have very quiet roads, moorland and woodland. The fields are unusable once they are too wet.

The horses cope fine - mine now are TB's and ex-racers. I use LOADS of hi-viz, on me and the horse, but only turn my head torch on if I hear a car coming. A head torch really screws up the horses vision.
I don't hack even on our quiet roads when it's dark AND raining//foggy/lextra low visibiilty

One very old mare got to the point where going through the woods was a bit difficult for her in the dark - I suspect age affected her night vision. Otherwise, the horses can see much better than me, and they are familar with the routes from day time hacks. I wouldn't introduce a new route in the dark , but probably more for my benefit than theirs.

One car driver complained that all my hi-viz lit up so much he had no idea what I was until he got closer. I pointed out that he had a least seen me from a good distance away, which he did agree with

 

[maya2008]

I used to do this round the local (large) housing estate. Fully lit roads, lots of hi viz with reflective strips. Never had a problem.

 

[Bernster]

Depends for me - Will there be much road work? And are they well lit? And how busy?

Personally, I wouldn’t do it as I don’t feel safe enough. But if I did, I’d go out in hand a few times and then lead rein then walking along. Horse, rider and escort lit up like a Xmas tree with hi vis but also front and back lights preferably back ones that flash to catch the eye. Colours at each level to help drivers gauge what’s coming ie horse’s legs, bum, neck, rider’s body and hat. Thankfully there’s lots of kit available for horses or from bike shops.

 

[twiggy2]

In the situation you descrube with no road work I would take the po y out and see how it is, my biggest problem was meeting off lead dogs in the dark, lots of hi viz and lights on you and the pony helps

 

[paddy555]

I used to ride each evening in the dark over open moorland as I had no choice to get the horse fit. Definitely no lights. Turn the horse's head away from any lights, you don't want to upset it's night vision. Take a light she can switch on if she meets someone.
Try a few rides late evening when it is starting to get dark. Ride home when it is dimpsy, then go out when it is dimpsy and come home in the dark.

Horses cope amazingly well in the dark. They become very responsible. We rode over commons with large rocks strewn everywhere. The horses saw them all. We didn't. Don't forget riding in pitch dark when you can see nothing you are entering the horse's world. He can move safely, you are just the passenger. Enjoy it, riding in the dark is a wonderful experience if there is no traffic to worry about.

 

[cauda equina]

Well there's a new thing - I didn't know about dimpsy

 

[Cragrat]

Enjoy it, riding in the dark is a wonderful experience if there is no traffic to worry about.

THE most magical rides I have are in the dark, especially with a good moon. My all time favourite is when the fields are dry enough. One has a nice hill, perfect for a gallop, My TB just floats anyway - you can't even hear his hooves. When I really let him go, he lowers like a sports car, and flys over the ground seemingly without touching it. He is so smooth, and in the dark, I just trust him and enjoy it. I call them my magic carpet rides. I grin for weeks afterwards

 

[Barton Bounty]

THE most magical rides I have are in the dark, especially with a good moon. My all time favourite is when the fields are dry enough. One has a nice hill, perfect for a gallop, My TB just floats anyway - you can't even hear his hooves. When I really let him go, he lowers like a sports car, and flys over the ground seemingly without touching it. He is so smooth, and in the dark, I just trust him and enjoy it. I call them my magic carpet rides. I grin for weeks afterwards

This sounds like something I want to
Try ?

 

[gryff]

I've always found that busy, main roads were by far the safest way to ride at night. Very well lit and cars were used to having to look out for commuter cyclists on the road. I feel more vulnerable now I live very rurally.

 

[Bob notacob]

I tape led pen lights to Bobs Browband. This helps prevent him getting dazzled by head torches etc.He illuminates what he looks at.

 

[Esmae]

I used to ride in the dark in the very early mornings. 5am time. Never saw traffic (very rural here) and my horse was absolutely fine with it. I had no choice at the time but I really enjoyed it.

 

[throwawayaccount]

hacked in the dark a few years ago, as the yard i was at didn't have floodlights. it was a pain, hi-viz'ed to the eyeballs and with flashing lights, with one strapped to the saddle . luckily it was around quiet roads that were street lit,

they were some of the nicest rides i had, but not sure i'd do it again!

 

[Orangehorse]

I think I would take a torch, but not use it except an emergency as both your's and the horse's eyesight would adapt to the dark. Avoid places where you know there are low branches! Maybe walk for the first time, and put some sort of high viz/light on you and the horse just in case you parted company. Tell someone how long you should be.